Economy 7 on during day

Blythswood

Hello

I bought a flat and was surprised to find that the Economy 7 off-peak rate came on at 9am and stayed on till 4pm. The consumer unit was changed and I asked the electrician about it. He said that in flats the times could be staggered to avoid a power surge. The managing agent has confirmed this saying "The older economy 7 meters can cause a power surge, potentially tripping the fuse, if they all come on at the same time. I understand that modern economy 7 meters are designed to avoid this problem by coming on sequentially."

He suggested that I talk to the electricity supplier about fitting a more modern replacement meter. Many electricity suppliers are now keen on fitting ‘smart meters’ which, if there is a good enough signal, automatically send meter reading information back to the electricity supplier."

However, I think I would be mad to change this meter as it seems to be a huge advantage to have off-peak rates during the day. I've been told that "The meter can be changed quite simply, the supplier will set up the tariff, economy 7 etc and the meter changed back after twelve months if not wanted. To have a new meter upgrade will be beneficial to the property."

That's all very well but I don't think they would change it back to the current settings.

My question therefore is "If I change to a card pre-payment meter will my Economy 7 hours change?"

stator

Yes, if you change the meter they will set the hours correctly when installing it

Are you absolutely 100% sure it's on the night rate during the day?

Moneyless

We had economy 7 during the day time as well, but in our case it was due to a mechanical clock controlling it, and every time there was a power cut the clock stopped, and only came back on when power was restored, so over a few years the clock was approx. 12 hours out of sync, loved it, we told the supplier, and they did nothing for quite a while, but eventually they put a digital clock in, which got the correct time from the atomic clock when power came back on each time, but we did have a LOT of power cuts.


As to your change to prepayment, I doubt in itself that will cause a reset, BUT, if the guy fitting it see's the time difference, he may either change it back again, or report it back for higher instruction to be dealt with in the near future, but no matter what they do you can't be held responsible, so enjoy it while it lasts I say, but it is only a matter of time before they change it anyway, I've had it done twice in properties I was in, the supplier changes them something like every 10 years, to ensure they are up to date and accurate, so I assume the private sector would be the same, don't know if this helps or not, but I suspect there will be no definitive answer as it all depends on the fitter, as best I can see anyway.

footyguy

Blythswood wrote: »

Hello

I bought a flat and was surprised to find that the Economy 7 off-peak rate came on at 9am and stayed on till 4pm. The consumer unit was changed and I asked the electrician about it. He said that in flats the times could be staggered to avoid a power surge. The managing agent has confirmed this saying "The older economy 7 meters can cause a power surge, potentially tripping the fuse, if they all come on at the same time. I understand that modern economy 7 meters are designed to avoid this problem by coming on sequentially."

He suggested that I talk to the electricity supplier about fitting a more modern replacement meter. Many electricity suppliers are now keen on fitting ‘smart meters’ which, if there is a good enough signal, automatically send meter reading information back to the electricity supplier."

However, I think I would be mad to change this meter as it seems to be a huge advantage to have off-peak rates during the day. I've been told that "The meter can be changed quite simply, the supplier will set up the tariff, economy 7 etc and the meter changed back after twelve months if not wanted. To have a new meter upgrade will be beneficial to the property."

That's all very well but I don't think they would change it back to the current settings.

My question therefore is "If I change to a card pre-payment meter will my Economy 7 hours change?"

Yes it's possible the clock controlling when your E7 hours are is incorrect, although quite strange for it to be that far wrong.

E7 is designed to soak up spare electricity, yet you are getting it during peak consumption hours.

I don't understand why you would want to change your credit meter to a PPM :huh:
Other than that, the supplier is unlikely to change the meter until it comes to the end of iot's natural life (about 20 years if not otherwise proven faulty); if you insist on having the meter changed earlier expect the supplier to charge you. You cannot choose the make and model of meter they will fit.

Blythswood

Yes, I am sure. Three newer storage radiators were fitted by the electrician and also I had a new hot water tank with an immersion heater. It all seemed very odd but the electrician didn't seem too surprised by it.

We had a good look at the clock and could see when it turned the heaters on at the low rate.

macman

If the incorrect hours suit you (and your bank account) better, you are under no obligation to report it, and the meter reader will certainly never notice it. Modern teleswitched meters avoid the problems of older mechanicial timeclocks, of which there are probably mllions on the wrong timing.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a load of old bull from that electrician. As I ve said on here many times and witnessed it a million times , with an old analogue 24 hour timerswitch the cheap seven hours can be anywhere within the 24 hours. It probably depends on how many power cuts its had. Its a good thing only if you re aware of where the seven hours is. I ve met many diligently taking their off peak electric shower not knowing they re on the double price day rate.
P.S. macman, I ll spot it but guaranteed none of my mates will

Cardew

My old mechanical clock is sadly only 20 minutes 'slow'.

It isn't affected by power cuts - it has been that way for 26 years since fitted.

[Deleted User]

Cardew wrote: »

My old mechanical clock is sadly only 20 minutes 'slow'.

It isn't affected by power cuts - it has been that way for 26 years since fitted.

Thanks Cardew, I dont actually know for certain why so many are all over the place, someone on here said it was a power cut but if that was the case yours would ve been way out also. I ve seen half a dozen today where the night rate is on in the afternoon. Transposed billing is always happening especially when I come along and note the correct timings to upset the applecart

Scrounger

sacsquacco wrote: »

... a good thing only if you re aware of where the seven hours is. I ve met many diligently taking their off peak electric shower not knowing they re on the double price day rate.

I trust you did the 'honest' thing - and advised them to take their showers a bit later?


Scrounger

[Deleted User]

Scrounger wrote: »

I trust you did the 'honest' thing - and advised them to take their showers a bit later?


Scrounger

I certainly do ! if they re in, some are livid about it though Its a bit of brain masher working out the actual times the cheap rate will come on. I tell them to keep an eye on the meter itself to watch when it does the switch. Scottish Power surprisingly are the only supplier I work for who are remotely interested where the 7 hours cheap rate lies and ask us to note what time the timer switches are set too. None of my mates bother tho because they ve no idea what a timer switch is.