Economy 7 meter - responsibilities

James4152

As an oil user, like many others I don’t have the benefit of dual fuel tariffs. However despite switching suppliers regularly for the cheapest tariffs I am still paying more for my electricity per month than some of my friends are paying for gas and electricity!  Currently £91! I’m on an economy 7 meter/ tariff and I’m now wondering if this is what is costing me more? As I have been regularly sending my meter readings to my current and previous suppliers, surely they would know that I’m not using enough off peak energy to make economy 7 viable for me and should have switched me or is this my responsibility? Also how do I now get the meters switched?  Thanks. 

MWT

James4152 said:

... surely they would know that I’m not using enough off peak energy to make economy 7 viable for me and should have switched me or is this my responsibility? Also how do I now get the meters switched?  Thanks. 

You don't necessarily have to change the meter, some suppliers will put you on a single rate tariff anyway.

... and no, it is your responsibility not the suppliers to decide if you would be better off on a single rate.

You know your own consumption each year, it is very simple maths to check if you would be better off on a single rate, but don't be misled by direct comparisons with the amounts your friends pay just work with your own numbers and find the cheapest tariff for your needs...

Robin9

What is your actual night and day use (in kWh not £) ?

Gerry1

Be aware that many energy companies' own sites give deliberately fake quotations for E7.  They ask only for your total annual consumption and then assume you use an unrealistically high proportion at night.  This means they can gain your custom by fraud, to the detriment of their honest competitors.  Dozy Ofgem has known about this for over three years but is still asleep at the wheel.

The price comparison websites usually get this right, although many introduce an unnecessary error by asking you to convert your day and night kWh readings to the total amount and the percentage used at night.  However, if your usage is say 22.5%, you often can enter only 20% or 25%.

As always, it's essential to check the results by doing the sums yourself.

dogshome

Some suppliers will combine the ECO7 Day & Night meter readings and charge them as though it is a Standard meter - EDF will do this, though none their tariff prices can be described as Bargain Basement, but there are others

You know what your annual consumption figures are, so best bet is to use the Citizen Advice comparison site for other suppliers, then phone the one's you like and ask if they will 'Total' your 2 readings and charge Standard meter rates

macman

Basics: how is the property heated and hot watered? If this is 100% from oil, then it's most unlikely that you can be using enough cheap-rate E7 to offset the expensive peak rate usage.
Typically, you need to be using at least 33% on cheap rate.
The supplier has no idea how you heat or hot water the property, and cares less. Choice of tariff is down to you.

Talldave

Break even points have dropped in recent times. The Yorkshire E7 tariff I was on just a year ago had a break even of just 15٪ night time use.

The Citizens Advice comparison tool neatly returns results for both non-E7 and E7 tariffs in its results list. 

The circa 11p/kWh non-E7 tariffs from Symbio and Neon Reef take some beating. For a property not using electricity for heating/hot water they're a no brainer.