Advice re E7, storage heaters and key meters.....

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.

I have since found out today that the property has a key meter which I intend to change to a standard account. However I understand that this takes time and I am concerned that I will miss out on any fixed rate deals around at the moment. Can anyone offer advice re this situation also?

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!)

mambury

anyone???.......

[Deleted User]

You have to establish yourself when the meter has switched to the cheap 7 hours to make the most of eco 7, hopefully your storage heaters are wired automatically to those cheap 7 hours. If you have a digital meter it will either.. scroll around low/normal and total (T) indicating which rate is in progress by a blinking curser or reading, or some just default to show the reading in progress when you view, so if you look at it in the day hours it will show the day rate.These sort of meters just show 1 or 2 or T for total. Old style analogue meters with a low and a normal will have a little winow with a red portion indicating which rate is switched off. A lot of their timerswitches are so far off the correct time ( indicated by a pointer at the bottom of the circular dial ) your cheap 7 hours could be at anytime in the 24 hr cycle not just between the hours of 12 am and 7 am. another way of spotting the cheap 7 hours is to see which rate advances in the daytime hours. Its important you find the cheap rate hours as the day rate is horrendous on these meters making an electric shower,ironing ,washing /drying etc too expensive on the day rate which will be more than 17 p per kwhr .

macman

Your local DNO determines the E7 cheap rate hours (in your case that'll be Western Power Distribution).
Older installs put in a dedicated circuit for the NSH's and immersion heater connected to a separate or dual rate meter. Modern ones will give you all usage during the cheap rate hours at the lower rate. Your electrician can advice what you currently have.
How are you using the key meter at present if you don't know who the supplier is-you must have your own key? If you use the old key you may be paying someone else's debt.
If you want a credit meter, then the cost is typically £60.