economy 7 wrong tariff

orkneyfiona

My elderly neighbour has new style storage heaters and 2 meters. He stays in most days ,even outwith covid time, and retires quite early at night.  He has been with an energy  company fore a few years since the previous (eversmart i think) went bust.  Day rates 32p and 23p and night 14p.  Seems v expensive particularly because he seems to use much more day units.  Now the conpany have told him he's in arrears  and needs to pay up another 200 even though he paid nearly that already  few months ago along with  dd.  I think this tariff is unsuitable for him, as he only seems to use around 15% night units, but dont think the company has ever offered any change.  What can i do to help him?  Can he insist they review his account and change his tariff when he has 2 meters.  Sorry for the big long rant, I'm new at this.
Grateful for any advice.  Thanks

Richie-from-the-Boro

As an example I'm
- single meter E7tariff
- 8500kWh per year
- online account
- I supply 6 actual weekly meter readings
- 70% night 30% day use
- pay £110pm direct debit every month
- always just £+ overpaid
- I adjust their DD each year end

What's he ? Orkney is E10 hours use not 7 hours. It's a so called 'exotic' metering team issue. But clearly he's day use is causing most of his use. I assume he has the top of the range Dimplex night storage heaters using 13a day power and an underspecified system and an immersion heater for water , does he? He needs better tariff. Good luck.

Robin9

It's not up to the company to offer a change - they don't know the customers needs. What they must do is to draw the customer's attention to better tariffs that they have  - but there may be better tariffs that other companies have.

Does your neighbour get the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Homes Discount ?
Have you seen his bills ?

Robin9

Robin9 said:

What they must do is to draw the customer's attention to better tariffs that they have  - but there may be better tariffs that other companies have.

Others may know - when the supplier offers other tariffs to customers on say E7 / E10 should they say a single rate tariff might be better?

Gerry1

Are they genuine Big Box of Bricks storage heaters, not Fischer or similar?  There's something wrong if the night usage is only 15%.

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

Highlands and Islands residents often have those tariffs with a cheaper all-day rate for heating available from SSE - Total Heating Total Control.  If he does indeed have Fischer-type radiators and not true night-storage heaters, perhaps that tariff would work out cheaper than having to replace the heaters again.  The numbers would need to be checked very carefully.

@orkneyfiona can you confirm the brand and models of heater the neighbour has?

Mister_G

Eversmart customers were taken on by Utilita last year when Eversmart went under (SOLR).  The Utilita rates were extortionate (I know, I was on them briefly).  If the OPs friend hasn't moved supplier, then I suspect that they are still paying these rates.

burntwood

orkneyfiona said:

My elderly neighbour has new style storage heaters and 2 meters. He stays in most days ,even outwith covid time, and retires quite early at night.  He has been with an energy  company fore a few years since the previous (eversmart i think) went bust.  Day rates 32p and 23p and night 14p.  Seems v expensive particularly because he seems to use much more day units.  Now the conpany have told him he's in arrears  and needs to pay up another 200 even though he paid nearly that already  few months ago along with  dd.  I think this tariff is unsuitable for him, as he only seems to use around 15% night units, but dont think the company has ever offered any change.  What can i do to help him?  Can he insist they review his account and change his tariff when he has 2 meters.  Sorry for the big long rant, I'm new at this.
Grateful for any advice.  Thanks

Why does your elderly neighbour have 2 electricity meters?

Why doesn't your elderly neighbour discuss their concerns with their energy supplier? Why have they instead decided to seek your advice, someone who admnits they are "new at this"?
Have you informed your elderly neighbour you are ""new at this"?

How do you pay for your electricity? Can your parents assist your elderly neighbour? They surely have more experience than you do at this.

MWT

burntwood said:

Why does your elderly neighbour have 2 electricity meters?

E10 with 3 rates requires two meters.

stewie_griffin

MWT said:

burntwood said:

Why does your elderly neighbour have 2 electricity meters?

E10 with 3 rates requires two meters.

Not strictly true. You need 2 MPANs but quite often just one meter with multiple rates. I used to have a type of E10 meter with 5 rates. You'd normally only have 2 meters if it was either a very old setup or the property had an incoming 3 phase supply.

I suspect the op may be referring to a THTC meter, which isn't E7 or E10 as the off peak hours are dynamic and depend on the temperature. I very much doubt Utilita have a tariff which supports this meter which may explain the very high bills.

Robin9

stewie_griffin said:

 I very much doubt Utilita have a tariff which supports this meter which may explain the very high bills.

Presumably Eversmart didn't have a suitable tariff either.