Switching to Standard Tariff from Eco7?

IceColdRum

Hi,

I've just arranged for our electricity (prepayment meter) to be switched to E currently this is due to switch like for like so keeping our Economy 7.

Our bungalow uses an air source heat pump which runs our heating in combination with an immersion heater and in the summer solar water heating on the roof.

having read this recent thread I have learnt that physical changes may need to take place with our imersion heater and how it's connected to our electricity supply before switching to a standard tariff https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5407965

Would this be something our landlord would look at (Housing association) or something we would need to arrange ourselves?

Thanks in advance :beer:

CashStrapped

It is unlikely that major changes are required. I had a flat which I rented changed from an E7 meter to a standard meter and no further setup changes were required. No costs incurred.

Go ahead with the meter change. If there are issues, they will be flagged up at that time. We would not be able to comment on specific setups as it all depends on how it is all installed in the first place.

If you are renting, even though switiching tariff is the tenants prerogative, I would make the landlord aware out of courtesy.

If there is a cost involved for fitting a new meter or any subsequent works, then this will usually be paid for by the Landlord. However if it is somthing you have specifically requested, then you may want to come to an agreement, especially if it saves you money in the long term. Having said that....if the tariff is unsuitable for the current setup, I would expect the Landlord to be more inclined to pay (if the costs are small)as it will keep the tenant happy.

IceColdRum

Thanks CashStrapped

I was told by the member of staff at E that they could change from Eco 7 to their standard tariff with no changes other than sending a code to the key next time we take it to a shop?

is this not the case?

CashStrapped

As I said, it all depends on the setup, age and type of meter you have.

If that is the case, that it may indeed be that easy.

Is it a prepayment meter?

IceColdRum

CashStrapped wrote: »

As I said, it all depends on the setup, age and type of meter you have.

If that is the case, that it may indeed be that easy.

Is it a prepayment meter?

Yeah it's a prepayment meter

Richie-from-the-Boro

IceColdRum wrote: »

Hi,

I've just arranged for our electricity (prepayment meter) to be switched to E currently this is due to switch like for like so keeping our Economy 7.

Our bungalow uses an air source heat pump which runs our heating in combination with an immersion heater and in the summer solar water heating on the roof.

having read this recent thread I have learnt that physical changes may need to take place with our immersion heater and how it's connected to our electricity supply before switching to a standard tariff https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5407965

Would this be something our landlord would look at (Housing association) or something we would need to arrange ourselves?

Thanks in advance :beer:

Be careful my friend unless the ASHP & Solar were installed by the housing association or you are shared ownership you might not want to inform your housing association. If you are shared ownership you are a mortgagee / owner for the purpose of ownership and all wiring etc is your responsibility. Best of luck.

CashStrapped

Well, to make an even bigger saving, consider the option of coming off a prepayment meter. This may be difficult if you have a poor credit history or debt on the meter.

Prepayment is the most expensive (least competitive) way of paying for your utilities.

----Separate Question

How do you actually use the immersion currently. Is it on a timer? A manual switch? Or is it on permanently at the switch and just relies on the thermal cut off to regulate when it is on and off?

Also note Richie-from-the-boro's post above, he makes a good point. Are you a tenant of a housing association. If so, who installed all the solar and heat pump systems?

IceColdRum

CashStrapped wrote: »

Well, to make an even bigger saving, consider the option of coming off a prepayment meter. This may be difficult if you have a poor credit history or debt on the meter.

Prepayment is the most expensive (least competitive) way of paying for your utilities.

----Separate Question

How do you actually use the immersion currently. Is it on a timer? A manual switch? Or is it on permanently at the switch and just relies on the thermal cut off to regulate when it is on and off?

Also note Richie-from-the-boro's post above, he makes a good point. Are you a tenant of a housing association. If so, who installed all the solar and heat pump systems?

Being on prepayment meter is not my choice but my mother's, she refuses to consider any other form of payment. I just happen to be the named bill payer because when we moved in the meter was in debt and sse required the person phoning to become the new bill payer to remove it (I was the only person available at the time)

As for the ASHP and Solar these were all installed by the local HA around 5 years ago I believe, a number of their properties have them so they must have taken advantage of some government grant I imagine?

As for the immersion I'm not sure and I'll need to take a look later.

matelodave

Have you looked at the balance between peak and off peak consumption. In my opinion that heat-pumps aren't ideal candidates for E7 tariffs as they are normally running nearly all day and would therefore be using most electricity at the peak times when it's most expensive.

Mine runs all day and then slows down overnight so I use significantly less electricity during the off-peak times than at peak times. Even if I managed to persuade my wife to do the washing and tumbledrying overnight I'd have trouble taking advantage of E7 rates.

I reckon the best way is to get the cheapest single rate tariff.

System

Beware. Having gone through a similar situation for my MiL a few years ago, the HA gave conditional approval for the change. That said, HAs are like landlords so they are only responsible for maintenance and repairs - not wiring changes. It was a condition of the tenancy agreement that permission had to obtained in writing and the condition placed on the change was that we would pay them to revert the property back to their letting standard when the tenancy lapsed. Similar conditions were placed on the fitting of aids in the bathroom and a stairlift. In the event, when MiL passed away, the HA had a tenant who could make use of the improvements so we didn't have to pay for their removal. We did though pay for a meter change.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Most HA's on any contract other than an outright 100% equity purchase own the fabric of the building whether single house or block of flats. For example on Shared Ownership the outside and roof can never belong to you. This would be the case whether single house unit dwelling or block of 6 flats with a shared roof. ASHP and this arrangement sounds like Scotland - and Scottish laws are different - so check !