Official MSE Economy 7 Guide discussion

pineapple

Joanneauker wrote: »

and they are refunding 7 years difference. Does anybody has a rough idea how much this could be please
Last year I used: 4011 kWh in total( £738)
Made up of 3242 kWh @ 18p per kWh
769 kWh @ 6.8p per kWh
The new rate will be 11.4 p standard
Thanks in advance

Good to know. I had no idea suppliers would refund in these circumstances.
For the approximate annual charge at current rates you need to mutiply 4011 x 11.4. which is £457 approx. So the difference is (£738 - £457)
Say around £300 In theory you would multiply that by 7 but it's not that simple. The total difference depends on your actual useage, what rate they are going to bill you at for each of the 7 years and possible standing charge differences. I have no idea of typical unit prices going back 7 years. However I would be hoping for upwards of £1,000.
PS are they charging you for the meter change? Some suppliers leave the old one in and just add up the units at normal tarif.

pineapple

yumzone wrote: »

Hi

I have moved into my flat last week and have found that i am spending approx £5 every 24 hours. I have no idea if that is good or bad?? I live in a one bed flat with a storage heater in my bedroom and a storage heater in the lounge I have only had the heater in the lounge switched on.

just some questions for concern:

• Should i have the heaters on as and when i need the heat or stack it up on a night time tariff?
  Is my boiler eating all my electric? Should i have it powered up at certain times?
  My shower is always powered up? Should i turn it on as and when i use it? i.e. turn of the power switch?

I really have no idea about this but £5 a day seems like a lot to be paying??:exclamati

Wow that seems huge.
First if you just moved in, check you are not on their standard most expensive tarif.
The old type store heaters work by storing up heat at night which you then release during the day. You can alter the flow of heat during the day but that's not the same as being able to switch them on as and when. However some modern dual function ones can also tap into day time rates and so double as an (expensive) electric heater. Is this the type you have? If so you would be better off maxxing out the storage heat function and minimising the use of peak rate heating..
What sort of boiler do you have? Ideally you need a well insulated water storage tank that you can heat up at night.
If it's an electric combi you will just have to be economical with it's use.
I doubt that an electric shower uses much in standby. Not enough to explain those bills.
You need to check what your off peak times are and use as much of your electric as possible during those times.

Grthji

Are smart meters compatible with storage heaters? Since having a smart meter fitted the time switch was removed so my storage heaters are on constant charge unless I physically switch them on/off during off peak times.

pineapple

Grthji wrote: »

Are smart meters compatible with storage heaters? Since having a smart meter fitted the time switch was removed so my storage heaters are on constant charge unless I physically switch them on/off during off peak times.

According to this site they aren't compatible
https://www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-answers/topics/smart-technology/smart-meters/what-happens-if-i-cant-have-a-smart-meter-installed.html
I would have a word with your supplier

Grthji

If only it was that simple, since having the smart meter fitted I have switched supplier and neither of them will help.

pineapple

Grthji wrote: »

If only it was that simple, since having the smart meter fitted I have switched supplier and neither of them will help.

Well I googled it and found various forum discussions with conflicting advice.
From
'It works with E7 but not with storage heaters'
to
'The meter will charge at E7 rates automatically for electricity run during that period'
to
'The consumer has to set the E7 timings and the tarif on the smart meter themselves'. :eek:

Suppliers, whether or not they fit meters themselves - are usually the front person for meter issues. So I would have thought that there is an onus on the supplier to make customers aware of any issues if they agree to a smart meter.
Is there a rep for your previous supplier on here? Or do they have a Facebook page where you could post about the problem?
And have you checked that your storage heaters are drawing on the E7 rate when you switch them on manually?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Anything, anything at all, this side of the tails is 100% the householders responsibility. Everyone wants anyone else to be responsible for advice and costs - no one in their right mind, individual or organisation will or can advise you. Only you the householder can know the type of wiring and control that is in your very individual and personalised property and what will and will not work.

pineapple

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Anything, anything at all, this side of the tails is 100% the householders responsibility. Everyone wants anyone else to be responsible for advice and costs - no one in their right mind, individual or organisation will or can advise you. Only you the householder can know the type of wiring and control that is in your very individual and personalised property and what will and will not work.

I agree in part. But we are getting smart meters pushed on us. I would hope that if I had a special set up like an E7 meter the supplier would advise accordingly. At the very least the installer should be mentioning the fact that there may be an issue with the storage heaters.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

pineapple wrote: »

Thanks Malc
Well I'm in no rush to jump ship.. The current rate is very competitive and it would have to be a big saving. Plus that's not the only factor. I used to be a sheltered housing warden and it always seemed to be the same suppliers that tenants had problems with so I'm a bit cautious of certain others
PS Shame about the meter swap idea. We'll just have to swap houses!

Morning pineapple. Glad you're okay with your current deal.

Bit drastic on the house swap!

Malc

unitetowin

I wanted to share my experience with British gas today. I realised that I am on an economy 7 tariff and meter (pre-payment) and knew that it wasn't suited to my usage as I don't have storage heaters and use very little energy in the night. I have been on this tariff for 7 years!I called today to enquire if I could get it changed and was told I've been paying too much and they booked an engineer for tomorrow morning to change to a single rate. I asked about the overcharges and they are refunding 7 years difference. Does anybody has a rough idea how much this could be please
Last year I used: 4011 kWh in total( £738)
Made up of 3242 kWh @ 18p per kWh
769 kWh @ 6.8p per kWh
The new rate will be 11.4 p standard
Thanks in advance

I reckon they might owe you about a third of what you've paid roughly.