Wasting Money With Off-peak Electricity

lordbretby

Many houses are fitted with 'off peak' (Economy 7 / White Meter) electricity time-clocks, which switch between high-rate and low-rate recording of the meter(s), at the appointed hours - which are nominally about midnight and 7am.

Whilst newer time-clocks contain batteries, for back-up power supply, older time-clocks are powered only by the electricity supply itself.

Thus every time there is a power cut, the time-clock stops - and the change-over times between high/low and low/high rates become later and later. (As an example, the cumulative effect of power cuts to my house means that my low-rate period is now between 6am and 1pm !!!)

So instead of automatically (and very diligently) setting your washing machine, dishwasher, bread-maker and immersion heater to come on between midnight and 7am - look at the electricity time-clock for its opinion of 'time now' - and set your appliances to come on when you are actually switched to low-rate.

The electricity provider knows when it has cut the power to your premises - and it is up to that company to either re-adjust your (sealed) time-clock, or change it for a modern 'battery back up' type.

The lesson is very simple : check your time-clock, rather than waste money by assuming that off-peak electricity is automatically between midnight and 7am.

...... and these time-clocks don't change when BST starts and finishes either !

nick74

Most E7 time clocks have a battery back up, at least in theory. I think the problem often is that the battery ages and holds less charge, eventually reaching the point that it doesn't work at all.

I remember at my mum's old house in Derbyshire, the E7 clock was over 12 hours slow, meaning that the off peak power was during the afternoon and evening - very useful !

espresso

lordbretby wrote: »

Whilst newer time-clocks contain batteries, for back-up power supply, older time-clocks are powered only by the electricity supply itself.

Thus every time there is a power cut, the time-clock stops - and the change-over times between high/low and low/high rates become later and later.

The older timeswitches have a clockwork spring reserve, usually of 100 hours to cover most power interruptions.

Cardew

My E7 meter is 19 years old and the clock is still on the correct time and it has never been altered(original seals are intact) - lots of power cuts in that time.

MATH

My E7 meter is waaay out. I get off-peak leccy 6:30am - 1:30pm BST and it has been this way for 10 years:j. Despite ringing my supplier twice, no-one came out to reset the clock so I make sure all my high drain appliances and water heating are done before lunch, keeping my off-peak usage at a healthy 75% without having storage heating.

david29dpo

my mum has hers between 8am and 3pm, great! npower dont care!