Official MSE Economy 7 Guide discussion

Buzby

It doesn't. It is just preferred as there is no way you can use power that is not rated at Off Peak (E7) to heat your water. However, this is never done with water heaters because if you use all the stored hot water in a morning bath - you have no way to reheat the tank until the next overnight session.

A timer that permits you to restrict the use between 0000-0700 BUT allow you a 'boost' when you need hot water mid-day at standard rates.

You pay your money and make your choice!

Cardew

Someone has got it wrong.

If you have the more modern system of ALL electricity on the off-peak tariff for the 7 hours of the E7 tariff, then it is fairly easy to fit a timer to the immersion heater so it only comes on during those 7 hours. The timer also has a facility to switch on for an hour or so during the peak period if you need more hot water.

NPower will have no idea how your house is wired, so can confirm nothing. If fact what you have been told is a contradiction.

If you are advised to put appliances on at night to take advantage of off-peak rates, then all electricity in the house is using off-peak during the 7 hours; and hence a timer on the immersion heater will do the trick.

Connecting the Immersion heater to the same circuit as the storage heaters means it will only operate during the 7 hours, and you would need to fit an additional immersion heater to the tank if you wanted extra hot water.

k66

We always used an immersion heater timer but it had to be dedicated immersion heater timer to cope with the required power 3kws. Bought from a major DIY store for about £25. The switch has an override facility to boost during the day if needed.

In our home all electricity that is used during off peak time uses the cheaper rate, we only have one meter but it has multiple readings.

Since having solar panels installed we changed from a 3kw to a 2 kw immersion which comes on when we are generating above 2kWh(not often at the moment). A normal type timer is used with this lower power immersion heater to boost the water temperature at night time.

We have been on Economy 7 for 36 years, having storage heaters and timers for our appliances.

pottermiss

Thanks everyone, it's starting to make more sense now.

Can you tell whether all electricity in the house is using off-peak during Economy 7 hours by looking at the way the meter's wired?

ChumpusRex

pottermiss wrote: »

Can you tell whether all electricity in the house is using off-peak during Economy 7 hours by looking at the way the meter's wired?

E7 works by recording ALL electricity used in the house as off-peak during the off-peak period.

There will be an indicator on the meter which shows which rate is currently active. It doesn't matter how the meter is wired.

(This assumes that you do have E7, and not one of the rare special heating tariffs).

Cardew

ChumpusRex wrote: »

E7 works by recording ALL electricity used in the house as off-peak during the off-peak period.

There will be an indicator on the meter which shows which rate is currently active. It doesn't matter how the meter is wired.

(This assumes that you do have E7, and not one of the rare special heating tariffs).

Not in all cases!

Some properties only have storage heaters and immersion heaters wired to get off-peak electricity. The rest of the power consumed in the house is on the peak day rate 24/7.

In fact years ago this was the normal system. Called by several names including 'White Meter'.

Also someone posted recently that they live in a new build block of flats, and exactly the same system exists i.e. only storage heating and immersion heater are supplied with off-peak electricity - all the rest is peak rate 24/7.

harryhound

Am I right in thinking that the standard single tariff is going up 7 - 10%
BUT large heating users are facing a 12 - 15%, just in time for winter, increases because they are on Economy7 or similar ?

mambury

PLease help.....
I have just bought a house (not moved in yet as currently in rented, long story) with E7 and Storage heaters. My only experience of storage heaters was a long time ago in my drunken youth which resulted in very expensive electricity bills from not knowing/understanding/caring how they worked.
My questions are:
- how do I find out when the storage heaters are timed?
- what is the most effective (finacially and comfort) way of using the heaters?
- is it possible to have storage heaters in bathrooms? House doesn't currently have one. Im planning some renovations and wondered if its worth putting one in if possible.
- I think the current supplier (not yet had a chance to check) is BG. I think I am an average user of electricity but I do have two kids (one of whom is a stinky near teen!). I have looked at tarrifs etc. but I am very confused about what would be best for me. If the price rises were not so close then I would wait and see how my usage works out but I don't want to be caught out paying 10% + more than I should. I work during the day but I can be home from 4pm as I work in a school. I am planning on fitting a woodburner (if the builder says yes!) so I am not too worried about evening heat.
- How can I tell if all the electricity I use will be off peak, not just the heating ??

I am very aware of cutting down my usage etc from previous houses.


Thanks in advance.
Mambury

PS - I am in the South West, village with no gas and not enough money to change the heating system other than hopefully add a woodburner (if the builder say yes!)

Drivelectric

Storage heaters aren't popular now and Economy 7 is rarely promoted, but electric cars could reverse the trend. A car can use 25KwH or more during the night, so would be an ideal candidate for E7. On the other hand some suppliers, such as EDF, offer tariffs which they claim are specifically tailored to electric vehicle users. I'm not convinced; has anyone done the calculations?

Cardew

Drivelectric wrote: »

Storage heaters aren't popular now and Economy 7 is rarely promoted, but electric cars could reverse the trend. A car can use 25KwH or more during the night, so would be an ideal candidate for E7. On the other hand some suppliers, such as EDF, offer tariffs which they claim are specifically tailored to electric vehicle users. I'm not convinced; has anyone done the calculations?

The Nissan Leaf battery has a capacity of 24kWh, but to give greater range it is certain that batteries will have greater capacity in future. If you have the odd £80k to spend the Tesla battery already has 85kWh.

The EDF claims are centred on their 20:20 tariff i.e. 20% off their standard tariff?? between 9pm and 7am.

Unless you cannot charge a battery during the Economy 7 off-peak timings, I cannot se how the 20:20 tariff could compete with a competitive Economy 7 tariff.

After all 24 kWh, even if the car battery is completely flat, is only the capacity required of a single large storage heater(3.4kW output) on max input.