heatwise - more like unwise

misty_moo_2

I have heatwise in my home. Its a rented house off the council. My bills are crippling me. I'm a single mum working full time with 2 children. We live in a small 2 bed house in a village were gas is not an opinion. My electricity bills are 179 a quarter during mild weather. However in the colder months its sky rockets to nearly 800 a quarter. I have spoken to eon and the council and both say tough pretty much. Now I wouldn't mind if I was melting at this price. However we ate still under two quilts and wrapped up in jumpers dressing grown and under blankets. I turn the input to max at night and 1 output. I change the output to middle when we are home. I can't believe that I can be stuck with this rubbish with nowhere to turn and struggle to pay the bills :mad: I have already used blocks on doors and windows to block the draft. Have 2 sets of thermal curtains on each window and doors. Does anyone have any idea how in gods name I can reduce my bill without freezing mine and my kids butts off???
I'm so depressed about this need help as they just keep raising the price on these tariffs its ridiculous.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi mistymoo

Heatwise meters were specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters. They give 10 hours of cheaper electricity during every 24 hour period for heating/water heating purposes.

These 10 hours are split into three periods. These are at night, in the afternoon and during the day.

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

If you've an Economy 7 meter, there'll be a cheaper 7 hour period each day when all electricity is at the cheaper rate. This will be during the night slot.

You may already be doing this but, if not, I'd try to use as much electricity as you can during the cheaper night period. I do understand this time slot isn't particularly convenient so have a look to see if it's possible to use timers to take advantage of the night rates.

Heatwise meters have a boost button that gives you an extra hour of hot water whenever you need it. However, if you use the boost, please be aware that if this is during the more expensive period of the day, boost usage will also be charged at the higher prices. This would bump up your bills.

Looks like you're already doing a lot to try to cut back on usage. We can help you make sure you're only using as much as you need to.

Have a chat to our Energy Efficiency team. Tell them about your property and appliances. They specialise in helping people cut back on their usage and will be happy to advise.

Check out our website, too. More good tips here on how to save money by saving energy. In particular, have a look at the new 'Saving Energy Toolkit' and the 'Interactive House.'

Hope this is of interest. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

misty_moo_2

Thanks for the advice will check out the website.
I do know how the system works and try to use more electric at night than during the day when the price is so high.
I just don't understand how I can be using so much electricity when the house is still freezing.
I know I'm stuck with it as no-one else supplys heatwise. Which is total unfair.
Eon and the council don't seem to care that they have got me over a barrel. Surly in this day and age I should have the right to have a choice like everyone else.
Without it costing me the earth to change the system in a house that doesn't even belong to me.
I've had many arguments with eon and the council concerning this matter but as long as eon get their money and the council get their rent no-one seems to care or even want to help.
Thanks again
Moo

Richie-from-the-Boro

To be using £250 per month [x 6 = £1500pa winter] and £50 per month [x 6 = £300pa summer] is about £100pa more than the UK average energy use.

- what is your payment plan with your supplier ?
- it should be £125 per month every month including the summer months
- and direct debit, an e-account, and you supply internet meter reads every single month of the year
- E10 is the luxury and more expensive version of E7 so switch from an E10 to an E7 tariff
- E10 is a captured market, hardly any suppliers, hardly ever able to swap, and very high pricing
- no one should ever need the output damper open during the night it just wastes cheap[er] energy
- you in your position should never use the boost button, that too is a recipe for a higher bill
- your % of day to night rate needs to be examined, it may merely be you need small rads changing to big rads

(1) Energy efficiency and (2) tariff and are two different areas to be looked at. In your case you are (3) using far too much of the core rate expensive electricity or are (4) very very badly insulated with single glazing etc. You need to tell the group how many of what type of cheap rate storage heaters you have.

Bark01

Not sure if it helps, but there is at least one other supplier offering heatwise.

For some reason EDF support heatwise but only in the East Midlands region. A link to the rate card is below. Google is always your friend!

Not sure what the E.on prices are so don't know if EDF are competitive!

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/documents/product-terms/Time-of-use-tariff.pdf

misty_moo_2

The house has double glazing although it is very old
Down stairs I have already been told by the council that they are the biggest heaters they do.
I never use the boost function as I know this would cripple me further.
I tend to only keep the heating on at night between the cheap hours. During the day I switch them all off until evening again.
Although when the temperature outside is below 1℃ I have to leave it on during the day or I might as well sit outside because it would probably be warmer.
I do were possible do everything right as I know how its works. Because of years arguing with eon after a year I actually spoke to someone there who could tell me roughly how it works. Although I will say most if not nearly all of them including managers that I have put through too, don't have a clue and can't even explain the bill they send out to you!
I will check if edf will supply but because of how it works I know I'll have the same issue just a new supplier.
Thanks for feedback
It does help to have a rant and get it off my chest even if nothing changes

Shazam_2

Hi misty moo

I have carried out stock condition surveys of properties a few years ago and have seen some very poor insulated homes.

Ask your council for an energy efficiency rating of the property and make sure your loft has at least 1ft or 30cm of insulation.The ceiling can lose a lot of heat if not. Climbing ladders can be very dangerous don’t do it if you are not 100% safe.

You don’t say what the age and type of property you have. Older properties can be more expensive to heat due to their design. Victorian properties may have solid walls (no cavity that can be filled), high ceilings (that's where the heat will be) and suspended wooden floors that may not be insulated.

Double glazing is better than single but windows may only make up a smaller portion of area to lose heat from. Ceilings, walls and floors are larger areas that need to be insulated if possible. If you renting from your council you need to get them involved.

The key to paying smaller bills is insulation, insulation, insulation! Energy companies will keep raising prices even as demand drops since they have to ensure investors get their 10-20% return on investment. By now many homes could meet passive house standards but the poor energy companies would scream.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

misty_moo wrote: »

I know I'm stuck with it as no-one else supplys heatwise. Which is total unfair.
Eon and the council don't seem to care that they have got me over a barrel. Surly in this day and age I should have the right to have a choice like everyone else.
Without it costing me the earth to change the system in a house that doesn't even belong to me.
Moo

Hi Moo

I do understand the frustration in being tied to the one tariff with us. I'm not sure which of the other suppliers support Heatwise and, due the metering, they don't appear on the comparison sites.

Bark01 mentions EDF but might be an idea to ask the other suppliers, too. You'll need to contact them individually and give them your unique supply numbers.

These numbers are known as the Meter Point Administration Numbers or MPANs and can be found on your bills. They're 13 digits long and yours will begin with 11.

Please be aware, unlike conventional meters, Heatwise has two MPANs and you'll need to let the other suppliers have both numbers.

I would still, though, have a chat with our Energy Efficiency guys to see if there are ways we can help save you energy.

Hope this helps a bit.

Malc

ellajuk

I agree with Shazam, Insulation is top priority. Block off those draughts, use bubble wrap on windows, lots of newspaper under carpets. cling film in the lining of curtains, get thick foamy wallpaper on the exterior walls of your rooms etc Im sure theres other ideas on here too. Check to see if you can get loft insulation top up, or cavity wall insulation. Hope things get better for you.
It could also be worth asking someone to check the heaters out to see if they are working properly ?

Richie-from-the-Boro

misty_moo wrote: »

The house has double glazing although it is very old
Down stairs I have already been told by the council that they are the biggest heaters they do.
I never use the boost function as I know this would cripple me further.
I tend to only keep the heating on at night between the cheap hours. During the day I switch them all off until evening again.
Although when the temperature outside is below 1℃ I have to leave it on during the day or I might as well sit outside because it would probably be warmer.
I do were possible do everything right as I know how its works. Because of years arguing with eon after a year I actually spoke to someone there who could tell me roughly how it works. Although I will say most if not nearly all of them including managers that I have put through too, don't have a clue and can't even explain the bill they send out to you!
I will check if edf will supply but because of how it works I know I'll have the same issue just a new supplier.
Thanks for feedback
It does help to have a rant and get it off my chest even if nothing changes

? What is your payment plan with your supplier, you should be paying £125 per month every month including the summer months. Pay by direct debit, with an e-account, supplying internet meter reads every single month of the year is the cheapest tariff for you. Trying to go elsewhere is usually a waste of time & energy. Getting the cheapest tariff delivery per the above is the only way you can save any money other than changing to an E7 tariff.

Cheap storage is like a bank. Either you have enough 'night' energy stored at cheap rate or you will pay more. Ask your landlords for an extra storage heater in your living area, this will allow you to (1) change tariff from E10 to E7 which will bring (2) immediate savings and allow you to go to different and more (3) competitive suppliers and will position you where you have enough cheap rate stored heat not to need expensive supplementary core price heat .. .. And no one should ever need the output damper open during the night it just wastes energy when the dwelling is sleeping, the RADS will put out radiated heat all night long, opening the damper just releases convected extra heat.

It works best if you can store enough [kWh's]cheap stuff, it will last longer if you never ever open the damper, and a payment plan of CAC ÷ 12 ≈ 12 equal monthly payments.

Cliddy

I found this thread and thought my "story" might add some value at least as a warning. Especially as there appears to be an EON guy "listening." Which they certainly aren't in the office.
I fairly recently bought a house that I now know to have Heatwise with EON. I assumed it was a standard meter as only 1 of the 4 readings ever changed. To this day I don't know if it included Economy 7. But I do know its a higher rate than standard !
Due to all the recent threatened increases I looked for a new deal. I chose the decent M&S offer. In 1 post delivery on 1 day I received a letter from M&S welcoming me and all was good.
The other letter was from SSE (who "provide the power" for M&S) saying they couldn't take me on because of the meter. It was at this point that the penny dropped that I had a non standard meter.
So I tried EON themselves to get a better deal. They wouldn't even provide a new quote due to the meter.
So I took them up on the only way forward, which was to replace the meter for a standard one. At a cost to me of £52.
This I had done about a week ago.
Up to now, except for particularly lousy communication from EON on the subject, the problem is fairly straight forward. Not forgetting the lack of readings on the old meter !!!

But now they are saying it will take 28 days to change my record. This is a double wammy, firstly I continue to pay the high Heatwise rates, but far more importantly I am stuck with EON while all these price rises go on around me and I am unable to switch out of EON. This has to be verging on criminal.
So lessons learnt (too late). Check if you have Heatwise (or perhaps even Economy 7) and don't really need it.
Swap it to a standard meter ASAP if prices are going to go up. Too late for current batch I would suggest.
Due to a fairly standard requirement I have never had a problem with my gas or electricity supplier because I have never had to contact them with a problem.
Funny that on my first problem EON gives me this level of service.
As an aside EON have a frustratingly bad email system.
You write to them via their web email system.
They respond by direct email to your personal email service, but not including the original issue. Consequently when they misunderstand or fail to respond to a point, you have to go back to their email system and start all over again.
If I save 1 person from all this hassle and cost this will have been worthwhile.