EDF - Moving Away from Economy 7

ikr2

We have an Economy 7 meter but with no storage heaters we rarely exceed using 28% of our power on E7. Our last bill was 24%. That is despite my best efforts with timers to ensure the washing machine, tumble drier, dish washer are used during E7 hours - and trying to have showers before 8am.

So Economy 7 doesn't pay for us. EDF say we need a (free) new meter to move to the standard tariff. That seems a bit of hassle. I'm sure in the past, other suppliers have just combined the two meter readings when I have changed to a standard tariff.

Can energy firms insist on a new meter rather than the pragmatic approach of combining readings? What happens if a future owner decides Economy 7 is for them? The meter would have to be changed again. This policy seems to only benefit meter installers and manufacturers.

Slightly OT but some good news on our bill from EDF today. The mild winter means they have cut our DD from £132 to £87. I think our new cavity wall (installed for free in March 2013) and use of 6W LED GU10s in the kitchen all helped too. I do think we all have to watch out next winter: if we have "normal" temperatures people will get behind if the DDs stay this low.

apt

Yes, they can insist on a new meter. Some companies are willing to add up two readings, others are not.

dogshome

OK - Please understand that when an Energy Co. offers to implement a Standard meter tariff for power put through an ECO7 meter, it's a cheap fix that will cause problems at a later date.

All Elec meters are registered on regional data bases on which yours is logged as an ECO7 meter.
If you Switch supplier or sell your home to a new occupier, referal will be made to the Data Base and your new Supplier/Home owner will by default be on an ECO7 meter tariff.

If EDF are saying they will swap the meter for free say YES PLEASE, as the change to a Standard meter will be logged on the Data Base and be the default meter for your own Switches and later owners of your home

Bark01

dogshome wrote: »

OK - Please understand that when an Energy Co. offers to implement a Standard meter tariff for power put through an ECO7 meter, it's a cheap fix that will cause problems at a later date.

Its known as a totaliser. Ofgem are specifically asking suppliers to use totaliser set ups in supplier cheapest deal calculations where time of use customers would benefit switching to a standard meter.

OP if you speak to EDF specifically ask for them to investigate totalisers. Not all ec7 meters can be totalised though so they may still say no and force a physical meter change

ikr2

Thanks for your replies. The meter is free and there is no way we can make E7 pay so I will ask for a new meter.

matelodave

A new meter will make it easier to swap suppliers in the future so it will benefit you if you want to change at some future date. Most most suppliers will only put you onto an E7 tariff if you've got a two rate meter and will then charge to change the meter if you want to go onto a single rate.

Four years ago we moved house and there was a two-rate card meter in situ. We wanted a single rate credit meter and had to get it done in two bites. Firstly they swapped the card meter to a two rate credit meter and then that was swapped to a single rate (it was actually reprogrammed - but it still took an extra visit to get it done).
Fortunately we were with EDF at the time and they did it all for free - most suppliers charge over £50 a meter swap. We then changed suppliers and have changed twice since.

frankie

I am with EDF and when I recently moved house I too inherited E7. A call to EDF to remove E7 was all that was needed. About 2 weeks after requesting moving off E7, an engineer came round, removed some meter components and within 2 days my account had registered the change.

All for free, in Norfolk area.