Comfort plus white meter heating from Scottish power

RegentS

I tried to switch last year but Scottish Power stopped the switch. They advised me that the only way I can switch is if I change to 1 meter or change my heating system as they control the input to the heating. Is this correct?
I have asked what their cheapest option was. I currently pay £100 pm. Their best deal was £99.56!

TCA

I'm investigating this on behalf of my mum and dad who also have Comfort Plus White Meter with Scottish Power. Seems to be a special meter unique to Scottish Power, designed for use of storage heaters, with a 3-tier tariff for day, night and controlled circuit. Everything I've read so far says that it's impossible to switch providers unless you get the meter changed first by Scottish Power, at a cost of course.

There is however an old thread on here, see below, where someone has managed to switch to nPower but doesn't like the ongoing management of the new account was proving plain sailing:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4674173

footyguy

Do not attempt to switch supplier with that type of metering.
Attempts by others who have tried invariably end in tears.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I think that the biggest problem is that other suppliers don't offer a three rate tariff, not necessarily that SP won't allow a switch.

Canuckmomma

We have been trying to get off the 3 tier meters for years. We got the free heating system put in years ago and what we were not told is that we were locked to Scottish power. We live in a electric only village and get ridiculous bills anywhere from 200-400 pounds. Lots of tears and phone calls made and still no luck. Please share if anyone has luck changing

molerat

You are not locked in to SP, it is just that your metering is not supported by anyone other than the local area distributor. It is quite easy to get off the tariff and switch suppliers. All you need to do is get your meter changed to a single rate or E7 unit and get an electrician in to change the wiring as necessary at your cost.

footyguy

Canuckmomma wrote: »

We have been trying to get off the 3 tier meters for years. We got the free heating system put in years ago and what we were not told is that we were locked to Scottish power. We live in a electric only village and get ridiculous bills anywhere from 200-400 pounds. Lots of tears and phone calls made and still no luck. Please share if anyone has luck changing

I have already shared my advice on this situation earlier in this thread; it has nothing to do with luck.

So I'll just wish you good luck with what you decide to do :cool:

Richie-from-the-Boro

You were given something for free in return for being imprisoned on a high cost, non-tranferable agreement. You pay twice the cost of a meter change each year. Pay youself to change the meter - get a competitive E7 tariff from a different supplier or even from SP themselves - it'll be cheaper and the shackle will be gone. Best of luck.

footyguy

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

You were given something for free in return for being imprisoned on a high cost, non-tranferable agreement. You pay twice the cost of a meter change each year. Pay youself to change the meter - get a competitive E7 tariff from a different supplier or even from SP themselves - it'll be cheaper and the shackle will be gone. Best of luck.

No one is imprisoned/shackled, just no other supplier (who knows what they are doing) will touch it with a barge pole - see post#6 by molerat
The vast majority of these complex meters were originally installed at a time when we were all imprisoned/shackled to our local electricity board.

Richie-from-the-Boro

footyguy wrote: »

No one is imprisoned/shackled, just no other supplier (who knows what they are doing) will touch it with a barge pole - see post#6 by molerat
The vast majority of these complex meters were originally installed at a time when we were all imprisoned/shackled to our local electricity board.

I know all about the metering and tariff and was once on the 'weathercall' system.

"Shackle' - a form of control
.Imprisoned - captive

Both of those words I used (verb + adjective)/were descriptive and fit the context in which I used them. Thanks for the lesson in grammar .. .. not needed. You are free to choose your own words, I of course will always choose my own. Have a nice Sunday.

ex2t633w

We are on SCOTTISHPOWER , with storage heaters, all electric, plus immersion heater

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it was costing a fortune each month so we got the immersion heater switched OFF completely, and just switch manual timer for water on for 2 hours a DAY

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our bills SHOT DOWN !! It was the immersion heater being controlled by SPOWER that rocketed up the bill, and we were ending up with a tank full of heated water which we did not need as 2 pensioners, but had paid through the roof for .