Getting the best price deal when you have 2 electricity meters

C&C

I live in a flat which has 2 electricity meters - one for 'Off Peak' usage, the other for 'Standard Usage'. I believe it would be cheaper to move to one of the cheaper tariffs - but they seem to be based on having one meter. The advice I've had from two mainstream supplies is they would replace the 2 meters with one (free of charge) - but I would have to organise an electrician to connect the supply up to the domestic circuit (which I can't get anyone to quote me for). I can then apply for one of the cheaper tariffs. Can anyone confirm this indeed is the process to gain access to the cheaper tariffs, and approximate costs involved to connect from the meter to the domestic circuit? Has anyone done this - was it worthwhile? Thanks.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


With some suppliers - BG and Eon for example - you can switch to a single rate(24/7) tariff with two meters(i.e. Economy 7 meters).


They achieve this by adding together the consumption shown on each meter(or display) and the total treated as a single amount. e.g. 3,000kWh on peak rate and 1,000kWh on off-peak would be treated as 4,000kWh on a single rate tariff.

footyguy

C&C wrote: »

I live in a flat which has 2 electricity meters - one for 'Off Peak' usage, the other for 'Standard Usage'. I believe it would be cheaper to move to one of the cheaper tariffs - but they seem to be based on having one meter. The advice I've had from two mainstream supplies is they would replace the 2 meters with one (free of charge) - but I would have to organise an electrician to connect the supply up to the domestic circuit (which I can't get anyone to quote me for). I can then apply for one of the cheaper tariffs. Can anyone confirm this indeed is the process to gain access to the cheaper tariffs, and approximate costs involved to connect from the meter to the domestic circuit? Has anyone done this - was it worthwhile? Thanks.

I can confirm the advice you have been given is correct.

Attempting to switch supplier with your existing set up will invariably end in tears.

Wolf3

as others have posted the advice you have been given is correct to gain access to the cheaper tariffs. with your current meter setup you should only have access to a single tariff and switching to some of other suppliers ends in tears as they cannot support this setup.

Changing to a single E7 meter will open up the market for you, however as advised an independent electrician could be required to rewire the circuit for you. I don't know the cost of getting an electrician to check it for you and they may not even be required in some cases. the only reason you are being advised by the energy suppliers is the simple fact if they change your meter and the heating is not connected to the correct circuit, it wont work and you will not be able to have the old meters installed again.
I'm presuming your property is heated by storage heaters for you to have the off peak meter, your current off peak meter will supply 7 or more hours of charge during a 24 hr period dependent on its setup. As a caution the E7 will only give 7 hours in total charge for the same 24 hour period, reduced from what the previous off peak meter provided, some older storage heaters don't receive a full capacity and will not provide the heat required.
If the property is not heated by storage heaters then get your off peak meter removed asap, the off peak meter is not required and you will be paying an extra standing charge for a meter that is not used

C&C

Thanks for all the replies - very helpful.