EDF -Won't change meter from Economy 7 to Normal meter

EachPenny

Don_Draper wrote: »

Is there any way that she can insist that the meter is changed from E7 to normal? Or is she stuck with this anomaly for ever?

Before doing anything else, has she checked to see whether being on an E7 tariff is cheaper for her than changing to single-rate?

Don't assume that not having storage heaters automatically means having an E7 meter is an 'anomaly' - lots of people without storage heaters manage to save money on E7... it all depends on what other appliances she has and what time of day they get used.

She needs to use her actual consumption figures (Day/Night) in a comparison website to find the cheapest E7 tariff, and then repeat the exercise using the Day/Night figures added together to see if a single-rate is cheaper.

Don_Draper

Thank you, I will suggest that she checks the rates properly before she switches tariff from E7 to Standard single variable.
Her most recent bill was for 1790 Day plus 410 Night units.

Does anyone know, can she insist on having a single tariff smart meter installed? Even if it becomes a dumb meter when she changes supplier?

EachPenny

Don_Draper wrote: »

Thank you, I will suggest that she checks the rates properly before she switches tariff from E7 to Standard single variable.
Her most recent bill was for 1790 Day plus 410 Night units.

Those look like very round numbers which add up to an equally round 2200. Was the bill estimated, or based on actual readings?

To make an informed decision it is essential she uses actual readings covering a reasonable time period (say 12 months).

Don_Draper

I've looked at her bill, it is for a 6-month period and the readings are actuals.

EachPenny

Don_Draper wrote: »

I've looked at her bill, it is for a 6-month period and the readings are actuals.

So that would be predominantly for summer use then? Is she an early riser, or a night owl? This would affect consumption in the early morning and late at night.

Something else to check is the actual hours the E7 meter is recording night-rate consumption. Some meters have a timeclock, which in some cases becomes inaccurate meaning the E7 period could be at any time of day.

Don_Draper

Bill was for 20 Jan to 19 July. I think the family is out at work/ school 9am-6pm.
I will mention to her about the time clock, she said that she thinks it's a very old meter, it was in the house before she rented it maybe 10 years ago. She has never realised until now that she had such an odd meter & tariff.

EachPenny

Don_Draper wrote: »

I think the family is out at work/ school 9am-6pm.
I will mention to her about the time clock, she said that she thinks it's a very old meter, it was in the house before she rented it maybe 10 years ago. She has never realised until now that she had such an odd meter & tariff.

In which case it is definitely worth checking, also to confirm that the 'whole house' is wired for E7 rather than having a separate distribution board ('fusebox') for E7 only (normally only applicable where storage heaters were installed).

Typical E7 hours end at around 7:30am (8:30 in the summer) so a lot of the morning routine (showers, hairdryers/straighteners, kettle, coffee maker, toaster, microwave etc) could/should be taking place within E7 hours (plus lights in most rooms in the winter). The house is then sitting empty with minimal consumption for perhaps 9 hours (weekdays) of the peak time.

If she didn't know she had an E7 meter then presumably she isn't maximising night-time consumption by running things like the dishwasher and washing machine at night?

Don_Draper

She is not originally from UK and so I doubt that she was aware of the E7 system's existence until very recently.

[Deleted User]

Don_Draper wrote: »

She is not originally from UK and so I doubt that she was aware of the E7 system's existence until very recently.

As a meter reader for 20 years Don I would guess that over 80% of occupiers do not understand the old circular analogue 24 hour timer switches and how they work. I have met with many hundreds of occupiers with their timers coming on and going off through the day with many of these customers waiting diligently till 12.30 at night to timer their washers or take a shower believing they were in the cheap low rate when they were in the expensive day rate.
Suppliers were not concerned in checking these apart from Scottish Power who asked us to check if they were within two hours of the published Eco 7 hours.
Older digital meters have drifted many hours out too..only Radio Teleswitch work correctly.
Smart Eco 7 has been badly needed for years with these meters..They would work spot on !