Economy 7 to Standard meter

CJ123

Hi, sorry if it's been covered previously. I'm asking on behalf of someone else. If someone has an Economy 7 meter and wants to change to a standard meter, does there need to be any wiring work before an appointment is made with the energy supplier to remove the Economy 7 meter and replace it with a standard meter.

Gerry1

Think twice !

Many suppliers will happily add the two readings together, and keeping the E7 meter keeps your options open in the future.

Always get comparison websites to quote for E7 and for single rate.

pinkteapot

We had an E7 meter changed to a standard meter at our last house and didn't get any wiring work done. Didn't even cross my mind!

It was a 5-bed detached house with standard gas central heating. Made no sense for it to have an E7 meter. Having an E7 meter when you don't need one slightly restricts your choice of supplier as not all will accept the dual readings, even for a single-rate tariff.

However, if you're somewhere all-electric with storage heaters then keep the meter!

CJ123

Thanks. I heard people have been left off supply due to not being compatible following a change. Must have been tosh.

Kitchen_Sink

pinkteapot wrote: »

We had an E7 meter changed to a standard meter at our last house and didn't get any wiring work done. Didn't even cross my mind!

It was a 5-bed detached house with standard gas central heating. Made no sense for it to have an E7 meter. Having an E7 meter when you don't need one slightly restricts your choice of supplier as not all will accept the dual readings, even for a single-rate tariff.

However, if you're somewhere all-electric with storage heaters then keep the meter!

There might be the odd new small supplier out there somewhere that may not accept E7 metered customers, but I've not come across one yet.

There are some suppliers who use a different trading style for E7 compare to single rate.

e.g. Economy 7 Energy (Eco7) is a trading style of Foxglove Energy Supply Ltd, and aimed at those with Economy 7 meter.

Foxglove Energy Supply Ltd also trade as Outfox The Market, aimed at their single rate customers
- although I think I read recently that OFTM would accept E7 metered customers, but would charge them the same high day rate even on the meter's low rate.

As above, you need to use a comparison site and consider carefully whether giving up the possibility 7 hours of cheap electricity every day makes good financial sense. There is no one answer that fits all.

But yes, a change of meter from E7 to single rate does not usually require any preparation work of your own.

Gerry1

CJ123 wrote: »

Thanks. I heard people have been left off supply due to not being compatible following a change. Must have been tosh.

E7 is often used for storage heaters on separate circuits switched by a contactor controlled by the meter. It's possible that these were circuits were not reconnected on the basis that they were no longer needed.

KayOise

I have recently removed my storage heaters and want a quote for a standard tariff, but all quotes are being based on my total usage, i.e. including night time, which is not how I will be using electricity in the future.  Currently with EoN with a smart meter and they do not seem to understand that I don't want a quote based on the last years usage.  What to do?  It's practically impossible to talk to a human being.

Hasbeen

KayOise said:

I have recently removed my storage heaters and want a quote for a standard tariff, but all quotes are being based on my total usage, i.e. including night time, which is not how I will be using electricity in the future.  Currently with EoN with a smart meter and they do not seem to understand that I don't want a quote based on the last years usage.  What to do?  It's practically impossible to talk to a human being.

You removed your storage heaters to put what in.  Gas central heating?

You now want to pay standard charge for electric?   

Just give a estimate based on below:

Average electricity usage for UK households

Fuel	Level of consumption	Consumption
Electricity	Low (1-2 bedrooms/flat)	1,800 kWh
	Medium (3-4 bedrooms)	2,900 kWh
	High (5+ bedrooms)	4,300 kWh

Gerry1

KayOise said:

What to do?  It's practically impossible to talk to a human being.

Forget E.On, just start comparing using Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?'.  Tell the sites that you don't have E7 (or use a non-E7 address locally).  See whether dual fuel works out cheaper.  You don't necessarily have to change the meter, many suppliers will bill both registers at the same single rate.

KayOise

I've replaced with electric ceramic core heaters that I can control, much easier than storage heaters,  no gas on site (sadly).  I have gone through various switch sites saying I don't have E7, but haven't found a company that will combine the 2 readings and bill at same rate, and my night time usage will be practically nil it will make a big difference to the estimated usage  (my total usage last year was 8000kWh in a small 2 bed flat so no Eco 7 for me).

Gerry1

Neon Reef will certainly bill you on single rate with an E7 meter and they're likely to be close to cheapest.  Many others will do the same: IIRC Yorkshire and Shell as well.

But sadly you've probably made a very bad decision to switch from cheap E7 rates to standard daytime rates; it's just about the most expensive way of getting room heating and hot water.  Read the Fischer thread !