Can I change to a standard tariff with an Economy 7 water tank?

NixyB

Hi,
We moved into a new home last Autumn. There is no gas supply to this part of the road and we are currently on an Economy 7 tariff.
When we moved in the water tank/heater wasn’t working properly and was old and full of sludge. We had it removed and replaced with a new E7 water tank - 2 electric feeds - E7 to bottom of tank and day rate to top of tank.
We currently have a storage heater in the hall, a combi storage heater in the lounge with a fan convection boost, panel heaters in the bedrooms and small fan heaters in the kitchen and bathroom. We lived with it through the winter and actually only needed the storage heater in the lounge. The heaters in the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms weren’t turned on at all - only out of curiosity to see if they work. We turned the storage heater in the hall on during the coldest spell and ended up turning it off again the next morning as we were too hot.
We are looking to upgrade the heating ready for next winter and want to replace everything with decent electric radiators (I hate storage heaters, these are relatively modern and still rubbish - we’re not home in the day and there’s no heat in them by the evening). We would also want to switch off of the E7 tariff - it doesn’t suit us as we don’t use energy at night.
My question is, how will moving away from an E7 tariff affect our water heater tank? Can it run on a standard tariff? Do we need to have something done to it so it isn’t heating all the tank all day every day? Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks !!!128591;

Robin9

Switching to a single rate tariff may or may not be a good idea.

Have you got actual readings for the day and night registers ? Do some sums - if the night is greater than about 35 - 40% of the total you are probably better off on E7

Put your consumption into a price comparison site.

NixyB

Thanks, should have said that we!!!8217;ve already looked. Night consumption is low. Only electricity used, other than the water tank, is the fridge/freezer. All appliances, TV etc switched off at wall and un-plugged when not being used.

NixyB

Approx 21% of our energy is used overnight on the E7 tariff

Carrot007

NixyB wrote: »

replace everything with decent electric radiators

No such thing they are all the same and all very expensive compared to storage heaters.

NixyB wrote: »

I hate storage heaters, these are relatively modern and still rubbish - we!!!8217;re not home in the day and there!!!8217;s no heat in them by the evening

Then you are using them wrong. Learn to use them properly.

Robin9

NixyB wrote: »

r and want to replace everything with decent electric radiators

Are you thinking "Fischer" ? If so read this forum before you buy.

NixyB

Thought forums were supposed to be helpful, silly me! Thanks for the unhelpful sarcastic responses. Hope you feel good about yourselves!
To those who actually tried to be helpful, it is appreciated

pooch

NixyB wrote: »

Hi,
We moved into a new home last Autumn. There is no gas supply to this part of the road and we are currently on an Economy 7 tariff.
When we moved in the water tank/heater wasn!!!8217;t working properly and was old and full of sludge. We had it removed and replaced with a new E7 water tank - 2 electric feeds - E7 to bottom of tank and day rate to top of tank.
We currently have a storage heater in the hall, a combi storage heater in the lounge with a fan convection boost, panel heaters in the bedrooms and small fan heaters in the kitchen and bathroom. We lived with it through the winter and actually only needed the storage heater in the lounge. The heaters in the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms weren!!!8217;t turned on at all - only out of curiosity to see if they work. We turned the storage heater in the hall on during the coldest spell and ended up turning it off again the next morning as we were too hot.
We are looking to upgrade the heating ready for next winter and want to replace everything with decent electric radiators (I hate storage heaters, these are relatively modern and still rubbish - we!!!8217;re not home in the day and there!!!8217;s no heat in them by the evening). We would also want to switch off of the E7 tariff - it doesn!!!8217;t suit us as we don!!!8217;t use energy at night.
My question is, how will moving away from an E7 tariff affect our water heater tank? Can it run on a standard tariff? Do we need to have something done to it so it isn!!!8217;t heating all the tank all day every day? Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks !!!128591;

My question is, how will moving away from an E7 tariff affect our water heater tank?
It won't. Although obviously you will probably be paying 2-3 times more to heat it on standard rate electricity than on low rate.

Of course, all your heating will also then be charged at the full rate too.

Can it run on a standard tariff?
Yes, of course. The only difference the tariff makes is the cost you pay. It's the same electricity passing through the same wires.

Do we need to have something done to it so it isn!!!8217;t heating all the tank all day every day?
Possibly. It depends on what your current set up is, and how you move to a single rate tariff.
A very few suppliers will supply you a single rate tariff with your current set up. The only difference is they will charge you full rate 24 hours a day, rather than provide you with 7 hours per day cheap electricity.

However, the vast majority of suppliers will require you to have your meter changed (assuming it is not a smart one). Many suppliers will also charge you for this, typically about £50-£70. Your supplier will give you all the details.
In which case, you should have a manual switch fitted to your lower immersion so that you can control when it is on and off. You may even elect to have a timer fitted so that you do not have to manually turn it on and off. Consult a qualified electrician for details and costs.

pooch

NixyB wrote: »

Approx 21% of our energy is used overnight on the E7 tariff

Really, with electric storage heating, and an E7 water tank?

It sounds like you are doing your best to maximmise your use of full rate electricity. If you move to a single rate tariff, you will achieve what appears to be your ultimate aim.

Welcome to moneysavingexpert.com, btw. :cool:

Richie-from-the-Boro

NixyB wrote: »

Thought forums were supposed to be helpful, silly me! Thanks for the unhelpful sarcastic responses. Hope you feel good about yourselves!
To those who actually tried to be helpful, it is appreciated

587 posts in this thread, reading them all will waste a lot of time - but it will be the best time you ever wasted my friend.

NixyB

Again, thank you to those that have offered helpful advice.

I lost my husband quite recently and would not have been able to keep up with the costs of running our lovely family home on a much lower household income. I therefore made the difficult decision to downsize and move my family to a smaller property to minimise the stress on my children. Everything is new to me, I’m not used to being the one sorting everything out and I don’t have anyone I can turn to for advice. At my eldest daughter’s suggestion, I posted here in the hope that someone would be able to give us some honest and constructive guidance about energy or perhaps offer alternative suggestions to what We have been thinking. I realise now that this was naive and it seems that many people posting on forums do so only to troll others. I have learned a lesson and will not make the same mistake again.