Scottish Power and Economy 7

cazcl

When I started using Scottish Power Sept 2012 I "SPECIFICALLY" rang up TWICE (the first time was a lady didn't seem to know and took a while to check so a few days later I rang again and a different lady knew straight away) both said the low (over night) rate started between 12.30am to 7.30am.
Now, after a chance conversation with a friend, I was told to physically check when low rate (over night) starts. On doing so I find that low rate (over night) does in fact operate between 10.30pm to 12.30am and 2.30am to 7.30am. Therefore when I was setting my appliances to come on around 12.30am I was in fact using "normal" (more expensive) rate electricity and not "low" (reduced) rate electricity.
I WAS MISLED and instead of trying to save money I have been paying more.
I sent SP an email 8/4/2014 - still awaiting a reply.
Anyone any views on this?

Cardew

The Economy 7 timings are nothing to do with the Utility companies but are set by the Regional Supplier.


i.e. if you are in, say, the Midlands, then the timing is the same regardless of your supplier being British Gas, Scottish Power, E-On EDF etc.


So when you started using Scottish Power in Sept 2012 the timings would have been no different for your previous supplier(in the same property of course)

What are the Economy 7 peak and off-peak periods?


Economy 7 - cheaper electricity at night

The Economy 7 cheaper rate period typically falls 7 hours between 10pm and 8.30am, but that period can vary across the country. Most variations depend on the type of meter you have, and what time of year it is (British Summer Time etc).

The easiest way to find out your exact Economy 7 hours is to look at your meter. Meters can vary, so on some meters it will tell you the hours next to the meter or on it.

For other meters you will need to take a note of your supply number which you can find on your meter or a recent bill and you can check your region on the map below.

Cardew

You should note that the areas/companies shown above in frugalmacdugal's post are the Regional areas.


So where it states 'Scottish Power 22:00 to 08:30am' it is referring to the South of Scotland regional area and means 7 hours in that 10.5 hour period.


Electricity supplied by Scottish Power, the electricity company, varies according to where you live.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

sorry I removed my reply as you had given times already, here it is.

you are still getting 7 hours of cheap rate, and your storage heaters and immersion heater would still be on cheap rate.

There are different times for different areas of the country.

What are the off-peak times of my economy 7 meter?

With an economy 7 meter you get cheaper electricity during the night. This may be controlled by a timer in the meter itself, a separate timer or a radio signal.


The actual times of the off-peak period vary, but you'll always receive at least 7 hours in each period of 24 hours at the cheaper rate. Suppliers don't hold any information on the exact times of your meter, so the best way to establish the off-peak period is to look at your meter around the times shown below. Please note that the times on the meter are always set to GMT and don't change when the clocks go forward or back.


The below list gives examples of possible time periods but times can vary depending on make and model of your meter/time switch and the local electricity distribution area that you live in:


• Eastern = 23:00 - 07:00am
• East Midlands = 23:00 - 07:00am
• London Electric = 23:00 - 07:00am
• Manweb = 00:00 - 08:00am
• MEB (mechanical meter) = Summer time - 01:00 - 08:00am Winter time - 00:00 - 07:00am (Radio teleswitch meter) = Summer time - 01:30 - 08:30am Winter time - 22:30 - 00:30am and - 02:30 - 07:30am
• Northern = 00:30 - 07:30am
• Norweb = 00:30 - 07:30am
• Scottish Hydro = ( All meters have different settings)
• ScottishPower = 22:00 - 08:30am
• Seeboard = 22:30 - 00:30 and 02:30 - 07:30am
• Southern = 23:30 - 06:30am
• SWALEC = (All meters have different settings)
• SWEB = (All meters have different settings)
• Yorkshire = 00:30 - 07:30am

matelodave

Some systems have separate time switches, some it's built into the meter and some are remotely switched by the electricity distribution company so you actually need to check your own meter, especially if you've had any long term power cuts as the timeswitches or meter clocks can sometimes be out by several hours.
This might be to your advantage if it gives you cheap rate leccy at a more convenient time, but not if you have been relying on it switching at a specific time.
You haven't been mislead, they've given you the information that was available to them - read your T&Cs, they don't guarantee the switch times. All they offer is that you'll get at least 7 hour cheap leccy normally during quite a wide time window. You really must check your own switching times as they could be different to the published times and not even same as the bloke next door.

cazcl

EDF my previous provided was 10.30pm to 12.30am then 2.30am to 7.30am hence the reason I contacted SP at start of supply to check times with them. So when I was told "twice" by SP and looked at the distributors map and both say 12.30 to 7.30am I am still expected to check the meter myself?
How many other people out there are in complete ignorance after checking with their supplier and quoted the wrong times.
Something not right there.

espresso

cazcl wrote: »

EDF my previous provided was 10.30pm to 12.30am then 2.30am to 7.30am hence the reason I contacted SP at start of supply to check times with them. So when I was told "twice" by SP and looked at the distributors map and both say 12.30 to 7.30am I am still expected to check the meter myself?
How many other people out there are in complete ignorance after checking with their supplier and quoted the wrong times.
Something not right there.

If you do not have storage heaters and are setting appliances to come on to use E7 'cheap rate' you would most likely be better off on a single rate tariff, because you will be paying more per unit for the other 17 hours of each day!