Landlord/agent won't let me change energy tariff

Andy_WSM

oconnell87 wrote: »

ok....never mind you don't seem to understand

It's you that doesn't understand. The heatwise setup forms a part of the heating system. Take it out to change to a different set of tariffs and you are changing the landlords property as some of the internal cabling will need changing.

You are free to move to any suppliers heatwise (or economy 10) tariffs, but these are limited as only a few suppliers will provide for them.

tomla

Do you understand what a heatwise meter means to you, Like when you should use electricity - its cheaper during the 10 off peak hours!

Do you understand storage heaters, do you have the timers set correctly?

HappyMJ

oconnell87 wrote: »

ok....never mind you don't seem to understand

Have you asked the supplier if they could add all the meter readings together and charge as if you were on a standard tariff? Some suppliers allow that and it won't require a meter exchange.

macman

oconnell87 wrote: »

The point I'm making the landlord didn't mention that I was on a heatwise tariff or that I couldn't change so I can't be expected to pay for the change....I'm not doing it because I fancy doing it....I'm being over charged. If it was in the contract that I was on a heatwise and if I wanted to change it would incurr a cost fair enough, but they haven't and to tell me I can't change is illegal it's on the office of fair trading website

He doesn't have to. No, you failed to ask what the system was.

Cardew

oconnell87 wrote: »

The point I'm making the landlord didn't mention that I was on a heatwise tariff or that I couldn't change so I can't be expected to pay for the change....I'm not doing it because I fancy doing it....I'm being over charged. If it was in the contract that I was on a heatwise and if I wanted to change it would incurr a cost fair enough, but they haven't and to tell me I can't change is illegal it's on the office of fair trading website

Let us try again.

You are not being 'over-charged'! You believe(wrongly IMO) that another form of electrical heating would be cheaper.

In your first post you asked this question:

I read on the office of fair trading that a landlord cannot dictate which utility supplier a tenant chooses and they haven't put anything in the contract so where do I stand.?

Everyone who has replied have given you basically the same advice.

1. You can use any supplier who will cater for your heating system.

2. You cannot expect the Landlord to pay for changes to your wiring. Especially as in most people's opinion the present system is better that your proposed system.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi oconnell87

Thought it might help if I gave you a bit of general info about Heatwise meters.

Heatwise meters were specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters. They give 10 hours of cheaper electricity each day for your central heating and water immersion heating needs. This is at night, in the afternoon and during the evening.

The Heatwise unit sits alongside a conventional meter. This can be either a single rate or Economy 7 meter.

Heatwise automatically switches the storage heaters/water heaters on and off at set times. To do this, it will be wired into the heating/water heating circuits at your flat.

If you've an Economy 7 meter, there'll also be a 7 hour period each day when all electricity usage is charged at off peak rates.

Additionally, there's a boost button (usually orange) to give you an extra 1 hour of hot water, should you need it, at any time. If the boost is used outside of the off peak periods, though, this usage will be recorded on a separate register and charged at the higher prices.

I'm afraid, as Heatwise is somewhat of a hybrid set up, we only offer the one tariff.

Other suppliers may be able to offer a better tariff but you'll need to contact each one to see. Heatwise isn't available to switch to on the comparison sites.

It's possible to change from Heatwise to a more conventional set up. However, this may have implications for your heating and hot water.

For this reason, I always advise customers thinking of doing this to ask an independent approved electrician to check over the set up first.

As others have said above, there may be some electrical work needed to make such a change possible and to make sure there are no adverse effects to your heating/water heating.

We're currently charging £51.06 to change a meter and the cost of any electrical work is also the responsibility of the customer.

Going to a more conventional meter will give you access to more tariffs, both with us and the other suppliers.

I know this doesn't help with your discussions with the landlord but thought it might be of interest. Let me know if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

wakeupalarm

Even if the OP wanted to change the meter doesn't he/she need the permission of the landlord first before he goes messing about with the landlords wiring?

By the sound of it its a purpose built flat rather than a conversion but imagine the OP wanted Gas installed in his flat, I pretty sure he can't just arrange it himself with his energy company and dig up the whole street and half the building even if he paid for it himself.