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Economy 7

Hi, apologies if this isn't in the correct section.

I'm looking for some advice for my elderly mother who lives in a 2 bed flat. She has electricity only provided my npower and has an economy 7 meter.

Her flat has storage heaters and a water cylinder for hot water (which she hasn't used for over a year due to rising bills!). When she moved into the flat in 2015 she paid £10 a month for over a year till one day npower said the meter wasn't working correctly when they came to read it so put in a new one. Since then her monthly DD has risen and is now at a whopping £90 a month!

Her old meter gave 4 readings (day/night and two that always read 00000), since replacing the meter she now has 4 readings.

I have also noticed that she is on two different tarrifs for the one meter?? She has an economy 7 tarrif which displays day/night then a super tarrif that displays 'heat'.

We have tried to switch from npower however have not yet found another provider who will take her. This is due to the 4 readings her meter gives and not just the standard day/night of economy 7.

Any help or advice please?? I've exhausted google and numerous telephone conversations with npower I'm no further forward.

Thanks if you read this far!

Comments

  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 9,118 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Have you actually checked her bills to see what the tariff is called.

    It doesn't sound like an ordinary economy 7 tariff - it sounds more like a complex metering set up so you really need to work out which reading actually does what (ie heating, hot water, lighting, washing machines etc) and what time they switch to the off-peak rate.

    You also need to establish that the right register is being recorded on the bills to ensure that you are actually getting off peak energy at off peak rates and that the heating isn't using peak rate leccy.

    Who reads the meters and how often. Does she end up with estimated bills and do you get them corrected if she does.
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • Biscuit_Tin
    Biscuit_Tin Posts: 782 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    FionaJ86 wrote: »
    Hi, apologies if this isn't in the correct section.

    I'm looking for some advice for my elderly mother who lives in a 2 bed flat. She has electricity only provided my npower and has an economy 7 meter.

    Her flat has storage heaters and a water cylinder for hot water (which she hasn't used for over a year due to rising bills!). When she moved into the flat in 2015 she paid £10 a month for over a year till one day npower said the meter wasn't working correctly when they came to read it so put in a new one. Since then her monthly DD has risen and is now at a whopping £90 a month!

    Her old meter gave 4 readings (day/night and two that always read 00000), since replacing the meter she now has 4 readings.

    I have also noticed that she is on two different tarrifs for the one meter?? She has an economy 7 tarrif which displays day/night then a super tarrif that displays 'heat'.

    We have tried to switch from npower however have not yet found another provider who will take her. This is due to the 4 readings her meter gives and not just the standard day/night of economy 7.

    Any help or advice please?? I've exhausted google and numerous telephone conversations with npower I'm no further forward.

    Thanks if you read this far!

    Economy 7 meters only have 2 registries, not 4

    Have a word with your elderly, and presumably wise, mother. I'm sure she will be able to assist you ;)
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,858 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Certainly £90 a month is far more realistic than £10. (and it presumably includes some catch up due to underpaying)
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Diesel44
    Diesel44 Posts: 623 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    https://www.npower.com/help-and-support/types-of-meter/non-standard-meters/

    This might help explain the type of meter your mum has.
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