Economy 7 - Comparing Prices

michaelburnett

Good Morning,

My current electricity supplier is Scottish Power - Standard Online tarriff through dual meters:

Standard - Normal Electricity Use (14.286p per kWh & 26.090p standing charge) (1,801 kWh in last 12 months)
Control - Storage Heaters and Hot Water (8.157p per kWh) (11pm - 7am) (7,772 kWh in last 12 months)

I live in a 3-bed apartment with no gas supply.

I note that my bill details my average usage as 26.2 kWh, which is above even their expected 'high' usage of 19.7 kWh. Although I'm unsure if they're comparing my usage against a property that also uses gas.

In November 2016, I received an email advising I could achieve my Cheap Energy Club savings target, so I applied to switch to EDF. However, when I was going through the application process they advised they would need to re-assess my account through their 'complex metering registrations'. The outcome was that I wouldn't achieve a saving, in actual fact the costs would increase. I therefore opted to stick with my current tarriff. I believe the complication is related to the Economy 7 Meter.

Does anyone have any advice on how best I can compare my current tarriff against other suppliers? I have remained on the same tarriff as the previous home owner - I moved house in December 2013, surely there must be possible savings by switching? Cheap Energy Club are showing whopping savings on my currnet bills.

Scottish Power have already advised I am on their cheapest available tarriff.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Michael
Livingston, Scotland

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Scotland in particular has a plethora of 'strange' tariffs and EDF are correct that you would be better advised to consult their complex metering section.

11pm to 7am i.e. 8 hours is not Economy 7 timings. and often they are variations of Economy 10(with an afternoon boost)

Even if you managed to get an Economy 7 meter and tariff, it might mean that the wiring in your flat will need altering.

We get a lot of similar queries and there is no way to compare your present 'non-standard' tariff on comparison websites.

NineDeuce

Over what period is the 26.2 kWh average usage? Per day?

Use a switching comparison website, inputting your actual annual consumption details from your last year's worth of bills.

michaelburnett

Thanks Cardew & NineDeuce

The 26.2 kWh is a daily average (1,801 + 7,772 = 9,573/365 = 26.2 kWh per day)

I've compared the prices recently using a comparison website with actual annual usage, and I can find savings of around £150/annum, but I don't want to go through the rigmarole of applying to switch only to find out it will end up costing more.

NineDeuce

michaelburnett wrote: »

Thanks Cardew & NineDeuce

The 26.2 kWh is a daily average (1,801 + 7,772 = 9,573/365 = 26.2 kWh per day)

I've compared the prices recently using a comparison website with actual annual usage, and I can find savings of around £150/annum, but I don't want to go through the rigmarole of applying to switch only to find out it will end up costing more.

If you have any doubts, then just do the sums for yourself. Add up how much you use on each tariff from a year's bills, and then add the standing charges.

To be fair, the switching websites arent all that bad and what you have to bear in mind is that electricity prices will continue to rise.

footyguy

michaelburnett wrote: »

Good Morning,

My current electricity supplier is Scottish Power - Standard Online tarriff through dual meters:

Standard - Normal Electricity Use (14.286p per kWh & 26.090p standing charge) (1,801 kWh in last 12 months)
Control - Storage Heaters and Hot Water (8.157p per kWh) (11pm - 7am) (7,772 kWh in last 12 months)

I live in a 3-bed apartment with no gas supply.

I note that my bill details my average usage as 26.2 kWh, which is above even their expected 'high' usage of 19.7 kWh. Although I'm unsure if they're comparing my usage against a property that also uses gas.

In November 2016, I received an email advising I could achieve my Cheap Energy Club savings target, so I applied to switch to EDF. However, when I was going through the application process they advised they would need to re-assess my account through their 'complex metering registrations'. The outcome was that I wouldn't achieve a saving, in actual fact the costs would increase. I therefore opted to stick with my current tarriff. I believe the complication is related to the Economy 7 Meter.

Does anyone have any advice on how best I can compare my current tarriff against other suppliers? I have remained on the same tarriff as the previous home owner - I moved house in December 2013, surely there must be possible savings by switching? Cheap Energy Club are showing whopping savings on my currnet bills.

Scottish Power have already advised I am on their cheapest available tarriff.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Michael
Livingston, Scotland

Well hello, and welcome to MSE :cool:

Your post allows me one more to post my Golden Rule applicable to people like you with your complex metering

Do NOT attempt to switch supplier with this legacy metering in place, Attmepts by others to do so have invariably led to tears

Good luck!

michaelburnett

footyguy wrote: »

Well hello, and welcome to MSE :cool:

Your post allows me one more to post my Golden Rule applicable to people like you with your complex metering

Good luck!

Thanks Footyguy - I feel the pain and haven't even attempted to switch yet!

Do you have any further info or advice?