Comfort plus white meter heating from Scottish power

macman

A typical immersion heater will heat to it's set temp within 2 hours, and, if properly lagged, will retain that heat throughout the day. And, in winter, any residual escaping heat serves to heat the property anyway.
So I find it hard to believe that your bills have reduced by so much (by how much?) by turning off the immersion heater. Since you are now presumably running it on peak rate in the day for 2 hours, that will be more expensive than running it for a full 7 hours on E7 cheap rate, since the day rate is typically 400% more expensive.
If your claims are correct, then either the tank 'stat is faulty, or your immersion heater is wired for peak rate only.

Mr_h

Hi,

There was a Comfort plus meter installed in my flat when I first moved in. The 3rd rate only powered a single storage heater in the hall, and I saw little point in this arrangement. After several phone calls to them I learnt that I first needed to install a fire-board to the wall before a Scottish Power engineer would be willing to change meters (due to safety reasons).

I paid myself for a fire-board to be installed by an independent electrician. There was no actual cost charged by the Scottish Power engineer to replace my meter to a 2-rate meter.

The immediate advantage is that I can benefit from a greater choice of Scottish Power tariffs. My fixed rate is due expire this in March, and I'll be looking to move to another supplier (due to a number of historical billing issues that I've had experienced with SPower. Hope this helps.

Hejira

I have this tariff despite not having storage heaters and the cost is extortionate for a 2 bed terraced house. Despite new double glazing and underfloor insulation the bill for the current year is approaching £2000. The wet electric system I have does not allow you to switch water heating off and run central heating so this doesn't help. Any ideas to deal with this as I'm not sure switch to economy 7 would help even if possible?

molerat

Wet electric heating is possibly the most expensive system available apart from burning £10 notes but your tariff is probably the most suitable for you. Find how many total kWh do you use across all registers and put that number into a comparison site to see how much a single rate tariff will cost.

Greg00451

macman wrote: »

A typical immersion heater will heat to it's set temp within 2 hours, and, if properly lagged, will retain that heat throughout the day. And, in winter, any residual escaping heat serves to heat the property anyway.
So I find it hard to believe that your bills have reduced by so much (by how much?) by turning off the immersion heater. Since you are now presumably running it on peak rate in the day for 2 hours, that will be more expensive than running it for a full 7 hours on E7 cheap rate, since the day rate is typically 400% more expensive.
If your claims are correct, then either the tank 'stat is faulty, or your immersion heater is wired for peak rate only.

It's nowhere near 400% more expensive, at least not now.

I'm on a Comfort Plus Control tariff with SP (2 meters, one for 24/7 normal domestic use and one for heating which is only on for 3 periods of the day, seems to be 5.30-7, 11.30-14.00, 17.00-22.00). On "Help Beat Cancer Fixed Saver June 2019 Online" the Standard rate is 15.337p/kWh and the Control rate is 9.655p / kWh.

I'd be interested in getting rid of this setup because Scottish Power are a useless shambles of a company and I couldn't go through another complaint and ombudsman situation again. There's a reason they're consistently voted the absolute worst for customer service.

hoorayhoo

Hi,
I am also a comfort plus user with 3 meters. I thought I would give another data point as I have found this thread useful. I only have one storage heater in the hall the rest are manual wall heaters. 3 bed flat with hot water that is heated at night on night rate.
Usage is around 5500 kWh split over 3 rates and with Scottish power last year it cost £810 inc vat.

I trawled other providers and so far have only discovered one other "Our Power" which seem to target customers with 3 meters. Their web site allows you to put in all 3 meter readings for the year and they give you a got a quote. They were more expensive - around £828.

If there are other providers please share them. I would like an alternative to Scottish power.

Thanks

Terresa

hoorayhoo wrote: »

Hi,
I am also a comfort plus user with 3 meters. I thought I would give another data point as I have found this thread useful. I only have one storage heater in the hall the rest are manual wall heaters. 3 bed flat with hot water that is heated at night on night rate.
Usage is around 5500 kWh split over 3 rates and with Scottish power last year it cost £810 inc vat.

I trawled other providers and so far have only discovered one other "Our Power" which seem to target customers with 3 meters. Their web site allows you to put in all 3 meter readings for the year and they give you a got a quote. They were more expensive - around £828.

If there are other providers please share them. I would like an alternative to Scottish power.

Thanks

I would refer you to post #3 and post#6 of this old thread. The same applies now as it did then, and the situation is unlikely to ever change for those reducing numbers on such legacy tariffs.

cynic-al2

Note that after a CMA decision in 2017, any supplier with over 50,000 customers is obliged to offer a tariff (single-rate) to anyone on a restricted meter (ie Economy 10, Comfortplus/Total Heat total control). I'm not sure if they only have to offer 1 such tariff, and I suspect you won't be able to get their cheapest tariff.

alwynshaw

Hi...brief history....I purchased my flat in September 20 and there were 2 night storage heaters installed..  I had these removed and new ATC electric radiators installed. Since September to date the cost of running 2x 500kw...1x 750kw and 1 x 1500kw rads set only at 15 degrees has amounted to £505. This property is not occupied as yet as it is a holiday let and nobody has stayed due to COVID.  There is a comfort plus white meter installed and I would like a smart meter put in. If I have to stand the cost of doing this I will. Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.

Gerry1

alwynshaw said:

I purchased my flat in September 20 and there were 2 night storage heaters installed..  I had these removed and new ATC electric radiators installed. Since September to date the cost of running 2x 500kw...1x 750kw and 1 x 1500kw rads set only at 15 degrees has amounted to £505.

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately you've made a BIG mistake by changing from NSHs to electric radiators that presumably use daytime electricity.  A smart meter on its own won't reduce your bills, least of all with a holiday home where the users won't give two hoots what your bills are, it's a red herring.  You have a system that's cripplingly expensive to run, so realistically the only damage limitation available is the cheapest single rate tariff you can find, plus better insulation.

Restricted Meter Good Practice Guide.pdf

Ofgem RHT to single rate

Sorry to be so blunt but unless you can get gas or use oil/ASHP/LPG that's the harsh reality of the situation.