Dual rate electricity meter with single rate tariff

bodorange

Hi,
We have a dual rate electricity meter but are not on an economy 7 tariff and haven't been for some years. We're currently on British Gas Dual fuel fixed May 2015, having switched the electricity from Eon several years ago & several BG tariff changes since.

I submit rate 1 and rate 2 from my meter to my BG account & the single tariff rate gets applied to the aggregate usage, so billing looks correct. It seems to work fine despite being on a dual rate meter.

When we moved away from economy 7, I had expected to submit the aggregate value from the meter. But the website continued to present 3 fields (gas, rate 1, rate 2). So the account seems to be in some hybrid state, I guess due to them knowing the meter type installed.

I am now looking at switching energy company rather than just another BG tariff, and having read in several places that you must have a single rate meter in order to be on a single rate tariff, I'm wondering if something's liable to go wrong when switching. Perhaps a new provider might not be able to handle us having a dual rate meter whilst being on a single rate tariff? Or, even if I did submit the aggregate reading to the new provider, it might break continuity from the last rate 1/2 readings given to BG.

I'd rather not have a new meter installed and prefer to keep the dual rate meter for its breakdown of day/night use.

Is this likely to be a problem?

Advice gratefully received. Thanks.

macman

Some suppliers will support a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter, some won't. Simple as that. If the new supplier won't, then ask them to change the meter in return for your business. Nothing to lose. Failing that, you'll have to pay around £60 for a meter change.
If you are not using NSH's and an immersion heater, then it's unlikely that E7 would be cheaper, so I can't really see the benefit in knowing the day/night split, the percentages of which you already know from your historical billing.

bodorange

Thanks macman. So it seems like the requirement to have a single rate meter is purely administrative, depending on how the supplier is set up. From historic usage, I can see we would occassionaly do better on E7. I'd prefer not to change the meter and will take your advice and check with prospective suppliers first. If they cannot support it, I will look elsewhere. If I find it's restricting my options to much, I may have to get a new meter. I was thinking of Sainsbury's Energy and as they are a rebrand of BG, they may be support it.
Cheers.

Cardew

E-on and OVO cater for a single tariff on a dual rate meter, and Scottish Power do not.


Quite a few posters on MSE, including myself, have gas and electricity with a two rate meter and chose to have an Economy 7 tariff.


I use approx. 25% electricity on E7. This is not difficult as in summer our electricity runs to 08:30(BST) and 07:30 in winter(GMT) and the cheapest dual fuel tariff for me is an E7 tariff with SP.


The point I am making is you shouldn't dismiss the idea of reverting back to an E7 tariff as it just might be the cheaper option. The differences between E7 tariffs from the various companies is huge. Having a dual rate meter gives you flexibility.


It is also often cheaper to get gas from one company and E7 electricity from another company.

[Deleted User]

How about a switch to Sainsburys Energy , which is still British Gas so no exit fees. Much cheaper rates than BG and a really good Eco 7 rate of approx 4p/night 12 p day. They can also bill single rate but their eco7 rate may be good enough to revert back to normal Eco 7

bodorange

Thanks Cardew & sacsquacco. That's convinced me to keep the dual rate meter and, if I go with a sinlge rate tariff, make do with the limitation it puts on my choice of supplier. I will make a point of letting those that I do contact, that can't support it, why I'll have to look elsewhere.
Cheers.

macman

Make sure you specify single rate when you switch. Otherwise you will automatically be placed on E7, since your meter serial number will be registered as E7.