Electricity Meter - Load Test

Katie-Kat-Kins

I promised to update on this.


I did the load test which predictably showed nothing of use the first time round as the heating was turned off so I repeated the test in the depths of winter with the heating turned on and additional appliances in use.


It is clear to me from the figures that each register is advancing when I would expect it to. NPower have confirmed that they have examined the results of the load test and claim that they are charging me correctly.


But this means that I am not getting the 10 hours of off-peak heat that I should be getting with heatwise. They charge me correctly for 5 hours overnight and 2 hours late evening then apply peak rates to the remaining three off-peak hours during the day and apply off-peak rates to the boost function, which I can't use as nothing is connected to it.


I am absolutely at the end of my tether with it now, and feel as though I am banging my head against a brick wall.


Any ideas how I can get Npower to accept that my daytime periods should be charged as off-peak rather than peak? This is making a massive difference to my bills!

Katie-Kat-Kins

NPower say that my meters are as follows:


Economy 7 Meter
Reg 1 07.30 to 00.30 Peak rate
Reg 2 00.30 to 07.30 Off peak rate

Heatwise Meter
Reg 1 13.30 to 16.30 Off peak rate - but this hasn't advanced for years as it is not connected to anything
Reg 2 03.00 to 08.00 and 20.00 to 22.00 Off peak rate
Reg 3 13.30 to 16.30 - peak rate but this is charging my storage heaters! They have it down as "other" on my bill.

stewie_griffin

From memory the registers on a Heatwise meter are 1 day, 2 night, 3 boost, 4 evening/night and 5 afternoon. It looks like npower are mixing up the price of rates 3 and 5 as the boost rate should be charged at peak rates (although its; highly likely this is no longer connected to anything so won't advance). Your storage heaters will be connected to rates 4 and 5 so these should both be charged at off peak prices

One of the problems you'll have now is that E.ON, who were the host supplier for Heatwise meters, have withdrawn their tariff/support for them so you're stuck with npower I think unless you get your meter changed.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Yes Stewie_Griffin that is what I believe too but I can't work out how to convince them of this and get my bills sorted out. Any ideas gratefully received!


If I can work out a way of doing it I would like to switch to a simple two rate E10 meter but NPower can't do that either - so I have a separate post on that subject.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Further update, npower still don't accept that they are billing me incorrectly and have now requested readings at 8am and 10pm.


It remains the case that register three which I say is Boost has not changed and registers four and five operate during E10 hours only. I will keep updating this in case it is of use to anyone or in case anyone can help me show npower what each register relates to.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Further update on this (came across it while googling!).


Npower deadlocked my complaint eventually, I referred it to the ombudsman who agreed that I was correct and rate 4 and 5 should be off peak. They made a finding that Npower should rebill my account and make a payment for my inconvenience. However they have not done so and have supplied further information.


The further information makes no sense, they keep contradicting themselves and the ombudsman representative I spoke to seems confused by the whole thing.


I have managed to get my supply switched to EON who will support the meter and change it to a standard E10 set up but until this issue is resolved I can't have the meter removed as it is evidence.


If anyone has any suggestions of how to prove that rate 4 and 5 are only charging my storage heaters during off peak hours they will be gratefully received.

molerat

The only way is to take hourly readings of each register over a period of 24 hours with the heating on of course. Totally OTT but is the only real way to reinforce your case to the ombudsman.

Katie-Kat-Kins

The weird thing is that there doesn't seem to be a disagreement about the times that each register operates for it is what rate applies. They say that cheap rate should apply to register 3 and 4 whereas I say it should be 4 and 5. They say that register 5 only records during the afternoon cheap rate period, my load test supports this and the ombudsman has the results of this.


I think the only way to show that what they say is wrong would be to show rate 3 advancing outside of "cheap rate" but I can't do that as the boost isn't connected to anything.


I might turn on a storage heater and do hourly readings though, it can't hurt.