Off peak electricity price increase

MWT

The only wrinkle to be aware of is that meter based switching requires a 5 port meter and until recently there were no 5 port SMETS2 meters available.

That has changed, but that doesn't mean that all suppliers have stock of the required meter type so do make sure you are clear when talking to them that you do need a meter capable of handling storage heaters etc.

tiff_rocks

nPower said:

Hello tiff_rocks,
This looks like quite an old set up, we could look at fitting an economy 7 meter, however, work would be required first by a private electrician. It does not require a full house rewire, it might be worth getting a private electrician in to see what work is required and if you need us to replace the two meters with one economy 7 meter then please get in touch with us, our contact details are on our page. 

With regards to the tariff, since the Government introduced the price cap on the standard variable tariff the multi mpan or complex metering set ups where the supply as two different supplies or meter point administration numbers (MPAN's)  has never been reviewed. They've decided that from 1 October 2020 prices will be increased to bring them in line with standard single MPAN prices. 

Thanks 

NPOWER 
Could you possibly read everyone's comments as they seem better informed than yourselves I'm afraid.
As no resolution has been forthcoming, I will be passing everything onto the Ombudsman.
The Extra Help Unit at the Citizen's Advice Bureau are also looking into this.
Thanks 😀

stewie_griffin

You could try contacting the CEO as this worked for couple of posters recently, albeit a completely different issue. 

BigJezza

I've received a similar letter today...normally I'd bite the bullet but my off peak electricity will be going up by no less than 49.15% as a result of this price increase - £200 per year to a pensioner living in rented accomodation is something I cannot sfford!

tiff_rocks

BigJezza said:

I've received a similar letter today...normally I'd bite the bullet but my off peak electricity will be going up by no less than 49.15% as a result of this price increase - £200 per year to a pensioner living in rented accomodation is something I cannot sfford!

It really is unacceptable..ours has increased by 35% resulting in a £400 a year price rise 🥺

rob1j

I too have had the dreaded letter. I may be able to add some historical information on this event. I cannot vouch for all its authenticity because some of it is hearsay.
I live in a house built in about 1970. I bought it in 1974. The house was fitted throughout with storage heaters (Heatstore of Avonmouth)  because of an fiscally advantages agreement between the builder and Midlands Electricity Board M.E.B.. The meters shown in the photograph which are still operating supplied off-peak electricity as follows:-
Summer: OFF 8.30    ON 13.30 to 15.15,   20.00 to 21.30   ON 00.30
Winter:    OFF 7.30    ON 12.30 to 14.15     19.00 to 20.30    ON 23.30
The whole imbroglio was sold by the M.E.B. as half-price Electricity. All was well for some years until, someone decided that half-price electricity was not good fort the common man and tried to increase its price. There ensued a court case which ruled that half-price it was sold as and half price it should stay; for how long or in perpetuity I know not. All was well for some years until, the government decided to sell of  M.E.B. and give its users shares in the company. This was a nice little earner until the Government paid us off for the shares by selling M.E.B. to a number of operators. Customer supply went to NPower. NPower altered the on/off times (probably to some sort of economy 7). However NPower honored the Half-price Electricity situation, approximately; up until now. I am currently what they call an OP2 variable tariff. I still have storage radiators (a more modern variety, approximately turn of the century; I think they are still Heatstore) They are in use only in bedrooms, mostly in the winter. This is because I don't get as much OP2 as I was used to with the M.E.B. The price rise will cost me -£29.27 less with 24/7 and +£283 with OP2 if I stick with it! 
I have no idea if the court ruling will still apply or withstand the energy industry and current politicians machinations. I suspect the little guy will be crushed as always happens with utilities. 
I hope this illuminates the discussion.

tiff_rocks

rob1j said:

I too have had the dreaded letter. I may be able to add some historical information on this event. I cannot vouch for all its authenticity because some of it is hearsay.
I live in a house built in about 1970. I bought it in 1974. The house was fitted throughout with storage heaters (Heatstore of Avonmouth)  because of an fiscally advantages agreement between the builder and Midlands Electricity Board M.E.B.. The meters shown in the photograph which are still operating supplied off-peak electricity as follows:-
Summer: OFF 8.30    ON 13.30 to 15.15,   20.00 to 21.30   ON 00.30
Winter:    OFF 7.30    ON 12.30 to 14.15     19.00 to 20.30    ON 23.30
The whole imbroglio was sold by the M.E.B. as half-price Electricity. All was well for some years until, someone decided that half-price electricity was not good fort the common man and tried to increase its price. There ensued a court case which ruled that half-price it was sold as and half price it should stay; for how long or in perpetuity I know not. All was well for some years until, the government decided to sell of  M.E.B. and give its users shares in the company. This was a nice little earner until the Government paid us off for the shares by selling M.E.B. to a number of operators. Customer supply went to NPower. NPower altered the on/off times (probably to some sort of economy 7). However NPower honored the Half-price Electricity situation, approximately; up until now. I am currently what they call an OP2 variable tariff. I still have storage radiators (a more modern variety, approximately turn of the century; I think they are still Heatstore) They are in use only in bedrooms, mostly in the winter. This is because I don't get as much OP2 as I was used to with the M.E.B. The price rise will cost me -£29.27 less with 24/7 and +£283 with OP2 if I stick with it! 
I have no idea if the court ruling will still apply or withstand the energy industry and current politicians machinations. I suspect the little guy will be crushed as always happens with utilities. 
I hope this illuminates the discussion.

rob1j said:

I too have had the dreaded letter. I may be able to add some historical information on this event. I cannot vouch for all its authenticity because some of it is hearsay.
I live in a house built in about 1970. I bought it in 1974. The house was fitted throughout with storage heaters (Heatstore of Avonmouth)  because of an fiscally advantages agreement between the builder and Midlands Electricity Board M.E.B.. The meters shown in the photograph which are still operating supplied off-peak electricity as follows:-
Summer: OFF 8.30    ON 13.30 to 15.15,   20.00 to 21.30   ON 00.30
Winter:    OFF 7.30    ON 12.30 to 14.15     19.00 to 20.30    ON 23.30
The whole imbroglio was sold by the M.E.B. as half-price Electricity. All was well for some years until, someone decided that half-price electricity was not good fort the common man and tried to increase its price. There ensued a court case which ruled that half-price it was sold as and half price it should stay; for how long or in perpetuity I know not. All was well for some years until, the government decided to sell of  M.E.B. and give its users shares in the company. This was a nice little earner until the Government paid us off for the shares by selling M.E.B. to a number of operators. Customer supply went to NPower. NPower altered the on/off times (probably to some sort of economy 7). However NPower honored the Half-price Electricity situation, approximately; up until now. I am currently what they call an OP2 variable tariff. I still have storage radiators (a more modern variety, approximately turn of the century; I think they are still Heatstore) They are in use only in bedrooms, mostly in the winter. This is because I don't get as much OP2 as I was used to with the M.E.B. The price rise will cost me -£29.27 less with 24/7 and +£283 with OP2 if I stick with it! 
I have no idea if the court ruling will still apply or withstand the energy industry and current politicians machinations. I suspect the little guy will be crushed as always happens with utilities. 
I hope this illuminates the discussion.

Hi, thank you for your information.
I was wondering what you intend to do moving forward? 
Our meter used to control underfloor heating that was put in in 1968. When we moved into our property 9 years ago, we turned the partial underfloor heating on and it used a staggering 148kw over night!!
We were advised by Npower to install storage heaters and connect them to the off peak meter which is what we did. Other than a log burner in our lounge, the storage heaters heat the rest of the house and our hot water. We have 6 in total.

tiff_rocks

BenHarrison said:

Hello,
New member to the forum specifically because of this issue, however I have been a long time MSE user and forum observer for advice. 
I hope to add some support to this thread with my current experiences. I am an NPower customer with on an OP3 (13+ hour off-peak) meter set-up, standard SC tariff and have received the price cap letter on 04/09, which along with unit price changes it states "We're also simplifying some of our complex tariffs, which means for this type of tariff, you'll now pay a single price for your electricity, instead of paying different prices at different times of day".

I've completed some research and the only way I can keep close to my current set-up is to change provider, change my 2x meters for 1x Economy 10 meter, join my two consumer units to the DNO isolator using a Henley block, which in-turn is then connected to the new E10 meter. I loose 3 hours of off-peak access, but my main circuit will gain access to the off-peak periods.

Happy to answer questions on my set-up from other users. I had it all re-done as part of a major renovation so most things have been looked at.

Thanks for reading, Ben

Hi Ben, have you been given a price for this work and have NPower agreed to replace your meter for you?

thorganby

BenHarrison said:

tiff_rocks said:

Hi Ben, have you been given a price for this work and have NPower agreed to replace your meter for you?

I will be leaving NPower as a customer due to all this. A new Economy 10 meter set-up will be completed by my new supplier for free (I haven't chosen my new one yet as I'm shopping around). Currently SSE are the more confident on the pricing and set-up, but not the cheapest. Octopus energy is the cheapest but they can't be so confident on the pricing and set-up. They support Economy 10 but their standard tariffs are Economy 7, so it would be an E7 tariff + additions to support E10 usage.

Ask for an isolator to be installed at the same time (I have 2 in my picture) and then your private electrician can work from that onwards without breaking the security seals. The private work will be completed by my electrician, rough costs £35/hour.

Another thing to be wary of for all users during a meter change is the main fuse size (in the black incoming box), they may try and switch you down to 80A, but stay firm and say that you need to stay at 100A due to storage heaters + regular demand.

SSE Electric heating team: 0345 0717972
Octopus Energy: 0808 164 1088

E10 is not competitive and your situation is different to the OP's because they need to retain auto switching of their heating circuits controlled by the meter.  

No private electrician is required, just npower to remove their metering and fit a suitable E7 replacement, which gives the freedom to switch to any competitive supplier on E7 or a single rate tariff.

Your idea is not suitable for the OP.

npower is forcing this situation onto their customers, so get them to remove their lock in dual MPAN metering set up and fit an industry standard E7 meter at their cost.

rob1j

In reply to Tiff_Rocks who said
>>
Hi, thank you for your information.
I was wondering what you intend to do moving forward? 
Our meter used to control underfloor heating that was put in in 1968. When we moved into our property 9 years ago, we turned the partial underfloor heating on and it used a staggering 148kw over night!!
We were advised by Npower to install storage heaters and connect them to the off peak meter which is what we did. Other than a log burner in our lounge, the storage heaters heat the rest of the house and our hot water. We have 6 in total
>>
I sympathise with your situation, mine is similar. Any solution means having alterations to the property which I am not keen on in the current circumstances since I am shielded. I could implement suggestions given in this forum or implement one which is attractive because of my special circumstances. Incidentally, my original installation had 8 storage heaters and immersion, a load of 74 amps, 
10 Years ago I had built,  a single level extension to my house. I dimly remember it may have a central heating pipe in the roof capped off at bedroom level which could be extended to radiators installed in each bedroom instead of electric storage; significant upset and cost but gas fired; for now. 
Ben Harrison's setup looks to be a nice alternative but again significant upset and cost. Also, my kitchen wall just under the ceiling does not have the space for all that technology.
Changing the meter arrangement and using econ 7 seems the least hassle.
Anyway, while I cogitate I think I will involve the local MP to try and find out if the Half-price electricity obligation generated by the M.E.B. was passed to NPower and is still in force. Anyone know a good/cheap forensic legal researcher?