Economy 10 questions

pilatesclare

We have recently moved into a new house and the previous owner was with Eon for both gas and electric. We registered with Eon when we arrived and were put on their standard tarrifs for both fuels.

We wanted to move onto a cheaper rate but when I phoned them they said we have an Economy 10 meter and therefore have complex metering and only one rate is available for both fuels.

As we have gas central heating, Economy 10 isn't really going to work for us. I called them up to see if the meter could be changed but they said that due to the way it is wired they couldn't do it as the whole house would need rewiring! Does anyone know if that's correct?

Has anyone else had this or can offer advice. We are worried we will be paying a lot especially over winter (also it is 30p per day per fuel standing charge!!!) Many thanks.

Owain_Moneysaver

The whole house won't need rewiring, but your existing meter(s) probably have two or three outputs to separate consumer units for general / peak / off-peak heating.

A single rate meter will have a single output and you'd need your own electrician to reconnect your various consumer units to it.

Unlikely to be more than £150 depending on the materials required and where you are. If it's a quick easy job could be half that.

Bark01

check this thread and my post regarding totalisers.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66728766#Comment_66728766

lstar337

Bark01 wrote: »

check this thread and my post regarding totalisers.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66728766#Comment_66728766

While useful information, totalising is still going to restrict the number of sensible tariffs as most suppliers will not do it. I only know of 2 that will add the two registers together.

Since they are never going back to dual rate, better to get it all sorted in one go.

pilatesclare

Thanks guys. Good to know the whole house won't need rewiring! I'll speak to my electrician and see what he says.

footyguy

pilatesclare wrote: »

We have recently moved into a new house and the previous owner was with Eon for both gas and electric. We registered with Eon when we arrived and were put on their standard tarrifs for both fuels.

We wanted to move onto a cheaper rate but when I phoned them they said we have an Economy 10 meter and therefore have complex metering and only one rate is available for both fuels.

As we have gas central heating, Economy 10 isn't really going to work for us. I called them up to see if the meter could be changed but they said that due to the way it is wired they couldn't do it as the whole house would need rewiring! Does anyone know if that's correct?

Has anyone else had this or can offer advice. We are worried we will be paying a lot especially over winter (also it is 30p per day per fuel standing charge!!!) Many thanks.

E10 yet you have gas & electricity supplies?

Sounds like the previous owner only did half a job/bodged it.
The survey really should have highlighted this before you bought and allowed you to find out all the costs of finishing the job properly beforehand (so you could use it to discount the asking price accordingly)

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi pilatesclare

Hope the move into your new home went well and wasn't too stressful.

I'm sorry you were given some duff information when you called us. We can certainly change the meter.

As Owain says, the whole house won't need re-wiring. You're doing the right thing by involving your electrician though. I always recommend asking a qualified electrician to check over the set up before changing a multi-rate meter like Economy 10.

Hope my post on the thread Bark01 links to was useful.

As I say there, Economy 10 meters are specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters and water immersion heaters. To work, they're wired into the dedicated heating/water heating circuits at properties. For this reason, it's always best to do as you're doing and ask an electrician to take a look.

I suspect, as you've gas, there won't be a problem having a conventional meter fitted. If you do, we're currently charging £51.06 to change the meter.

This will give you access to more tariffs, both with us and with the other suppliers.

Although we're able to add the day and night registers together and charge as a single rate on conventional Economy 7 meters, we're not able to do this with Economy 10.

Whilst you wait for the meter change, try to take advantage of the off peak period where all electricity is charged at the cheaper rate. Might save you a bit.

The actual times these cheaper rates are active depends on the region and type of Economy 10 meter fitted. We'll be happy to let you know these times if you're unsure.

Hope this is of interest pilatesclare.

Malc

pilatesclare

footyguy wrote: »

E10 yet you have gas & electricity supplies?

Sounds like the previous owner only did half a job/bodged it.
The survey really should have highlighted this before you bought and allowed you to find out all the costs of finishing the job properly beforehand (so you could use it to discount the asking price accordingly)

I imagine when the houses were first built they were fitted with storage heaters. It certainly wasn't the previous owner who did it as she did absolutely nothing (including cleaning!) In the three years she was here. We also have a very old (circa 25years) combi boiler so I think it was all done some time ago.

Malc, thank you for the info. So how does it work? I get the electrician to re wire the relevant bits and then ask eon for a new meter? Sorry, I haven't come across this before! Many thanks.

Owain_Moneysaver

You'll need to get an electrician to advise on what needs to be done. It may need to be coordinated with the meter change because the electrician won't be able to break the seals on the meter, and the meter changer won't wire into your consumer units.

Your electrician may be able to provide an isolator, to which the meter changer can connect your new meter (leaving you without power to the house circuits), and then follow the meter changer to connect everything up again.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

pilatesclare wrote: »

Malc, thank you for the info. So how does it work? I get the electrician to re wire the relevant bits and then ask eon for a new meter? Sorry, I haven't come across this before! Many thanks.

Morning pilatesclare

As Owain says, always best to have the electrician on hand when we come to change the meter.

Each situation is different so impossible to tell exactly what work will be needed but, if they're there, they can make sure anything that needs doing beyond the meter is taken care of.

Appointment availability depends on how busy the meter guys are in your area. If you give us a call, we can soon let you know when we can visit.

Hope this helps.

Malc

Bark01

lstar337 wrote: »

While useful information, totalising is still going to restrict the number of sensible tariffs as most suppliers will not do it. I only know of 2 that will add the two registers together.

Since they are never going back to dual rate, better to get it all sorted in one go.

Every supplier has to offer it, its in the new license conditions under supplier cheapest deal. However I don't think its top of OFGEMs priority list.