Stuck with Eon! Need to switch but one meter is an RHT Meter. Help!

footboy

Hi there

We're unfortunately stuck on Eon's bog-standard electricity tariff as we have an RHT meter and a Standard meter.

The trouble is other providers don't have a tariff for the RHT meter and one can't simply switch one's Standard meter over. Effectively whilst we still have the redundant RHT meter we are locked into Eon.

Only the central heating unit runs through the RHT meter which, as we haven't used it, hasn't advanced, quite correctly, for nearly a year.

Everything else, boiler, lights, plugs, everything that isn't the hot air heating unit is on the Standard Tariff.

Is it enough to get the RHT meter disconnected and deregistered? I'd prefer this option so that any new occupants in the future could have it reinstated with the minimum of fuss.

Or, do we have to have it completely removed in order to switch our standard supply to another supplier?

Thank you for any guidance, Eon aren't very forthcoming on this matter! I've tried numerous avenues which have all settled to a steady silence.

I've completely done all the shocking maths as a part time bookkeeper so now the only query I have is bolded above.

Thank you!
Steve

CashStrapped

Those meters are somtimes classed as complex meters or legacy meters and have a legacy tariff that only your supplier supports. You cannot switch from it.

To be able to switch you need the meter replacing. However, this may/can cause issues with your home set-up. Sometimes the way the flat is wired can have knock on effects.

If you have storage heaters, these are often the cheapest way of heating an ell electric flat. So if you do not use them, then this may be at your cost.

The cheapest option would be to replace the meter with an E7 meter. This would still give you use of the storage heaters and give you a competitive night tariff rate.

Again, this may or may not have knock on issues with the flat wiring. You may want an electrician to inspect it.

By getting a standard meter and not using the storage heaters, you may find this is the most expensive way of heating the flat. Especially if you have storage heaters as an option.

footboy

There are no individual storage heaters. It is a house not a flat. Not all rooms are served by the heating.

There is just the one overly massive storage heater that blows air via an electric fan through ducts in the house.

I tried multiple combinations of settings over several months.
Please. I've done the math. Trust me. It is NOT worth putting on but I don't want to take that option away from someone else.

So, back to original well thought out and irevocable query... please see bolded text in original post.

Cheers!

CashStrapped

As per my second post.

You can only replace the meter with either a single rate meter or an E7 meter. This will then allow you to switch.

However, dependant on how the house is wired, this may or may not cause issues.

Once that meter is removed, as it is a legacy meter, it cannot be replaced or put back in. It cannot just be left in position and re-activated at a later date.

So any future people would be stuck with either a standard meter or swapping to an E7 meter (although e7 is probably not suitable for this type of heating arrangement).

To be honest, a standard tariff for that set-up may not be that bad.

The idea with the RHT meter is that you use the warm air heating at the specific cheap times during the day, as long as the timer is set correctly. However, with little competition, the tariffs are usually poor.

If you are renting, you will need the landlords permission to swap a meter.

footboy

MSE covers E7 / E10 meters and I was able to dis-count that straight away.... however, if there is little or no standing charge this could be an option.

We own the house.

It's an odd situation because it is cheaper to use fan heaters as and when we need the heat and we actually feel the benefit - not only have I done the maths I now have evidence and proof in a working situation. We're using simple 2Kw electric heaters which are as close to 100% efficiency as is possible.

So, it kind of goes against what we have been marketed and told.

RHT isn't cheaper because the heating system is pitiful and a huge number of KWattage. You are in effect charging up a 15Kw system everyday (just in case needed) when you only need a 2Kw fan heater on the go turned down to 700w and on a thermostat coming on every now and then.

It's like owning a landrover to go to work when you only need to catch the bus.

Furthermore, although you get the electric stored cheap you then have to use standard electric to blow the stored heat around the house.... Those weeks of testing and retesting were crazed as you can imagine. Having tested all the variables, when I eventually turned the thing off, the combined meter cost per day dropped 50%.

Madness. So with the current system and not wanting to spend £1000s on a completely new system we're left hoping the first of the two bolded queries is possible to avoid the counter-intuitive, yet factual proven and sound decision, to have it removed completely.

In the '70s they thought the future contained plentiful and virtually free electricity hence our current predicament.

CashStrapped

Well, it is good that you have gone through all the options and done the figures.

A long term investment is getting a gas connection (unless it already is connected. Then getting Gas central heating. While there is the initial outlay, this often makes the house more attractive if/when you sell recouping the cost that way.

Other than that, it is the options you are aware of.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

[FONT=&quot]Good morning footboy,

First of all I'd like to say sorry that we don't appear to be very helpful when you called us.

CashStrapped has given you some excellent advice so far, so thank you very much.

I'll try and just list what can and can't happen in this situation and try and keep it simple.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]RHT meters were designed for all electric properties with storage heaters or other types of electrical heating. To work, they’ll be wired directly into the heating/water heating circuits at properties. Unless manually overridden, this lets the meter automatically turn the heating on during the off peak period and off again afterwards. During the off peak times, all electricity used for heating/water heating that goes through these dedicated circuits is recorded on separate meter registers and charged at off peak rates. With RHT, there’s two meters. One records normal usage like lights, TV etc whilst the second covers usage for heating/water heating connected to the dedicated circuits.[/FONT]
You're correct, many other suppliers won't support this type of metering set up and we do only have the one tariff available.

If you wanted to have a choice of suppliers and tariffs, you would need to arrange to have both the standard meter and RHT part removed, we can't just take away the RHT.

We can arrange to have the meter changed to a one rate or E7 meter, but there may be some additional work with the wiring and that would be up to you to arrange an electrician for that work.

We do actually have a specialist department here at E.ON that deal with complex meters and arranging changing the meters and help guide you on what else may be needed. I'm really sorry that we didn't get you through to these guys in the first place.[/FONT]

I can certainly help though, if you'd like me to

Thank you.

Helena

footboy

Hi Helena

Thanks for getting back to me.

I'll need to look at the costings really closely. Basically to keep costs down it looks like we're well and truly scuppered.

It makes most sense to carry on as we are, accepting our standard charge isn't even Eon's cheapest for the same electric, set our minds to damage limitation and weather the storm of ever increasing prices.

If the special dept can provide you with some idea of costings - they must have dealt with similar situations, I'd be happy to receive that general info here. I need others' insight and of course it will be useful to more people than just me.

Thank you
Steve

footboy

CashStrapped wrote: »

A long term investment is getting a gas connection (unless it already is connected. Then getting Gas central heating. While there is the initial outlay, this often makes the house more attractive if/when you sell recouping the cost that way.

Do you know the best place for a quote on this?

In any case It sounds from Hrlena like I'd still have to get the electric meters changed too.

I think any subdtantial change will be beyond us especially as in the long term we see ourselves elsewhere...

I'm feeling under siege and very wary of trojan eon horses!

:-)

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

footboy wrote: »

Hi Helena

Thanks for getting back to me.

I'll need to look at the costings really closely. Basically to keep costs down it looks like we're well and truly scuppered.

It makes most sense to carry on as we are, accepting our standard charge isn't even Eon's cheapest for the same electric, set our minds to damage limitation and weather the storm of ever increasing prices.

If the special dept can provide you with some idea of costings - they must have dealt with similar situations, I'd be happy to receive that general info here. I need others' insight and of course it will be useful to more people than just me.

Thank you
Steve

Hiya footboy,

No problem at all

The cost of a non-essential meter exchange is £64.76. However, you may not get charged this, it will depend on a number of factors, age of meter, set up etc.

This is something the simpler metering department can advice further on.

I wouldn't know the cost of the electrician, they would have to quote you then let you know what work may or may not be needed.

Thank you

Helena

footboy

Thanks Helena,

If you could contact the Simpler Metering Dept and get a ball park figure that would be great.

They must know what the meters and setup is from the meter numbers and I guess from the bills.

Let's say an E7/E10 meter is then put in. How will this compare price wise per KwH and standing charge for what we have now?

Thanks
Steve