Storage heater & E7

N_Pars

Hi all👋
I'm currently using a storage heater wired in to the wall that is meant to be running on E7.
I noticed this morning that the storage heater didn't switch off at the wall until 8:44AM (Also heard the metre click at the same time)
Does this mean I'll be paying higher rate electricity from 7-8:45? Or because the metre switched at that time, that is when the higher electricity rate starts?

Thanks in advance

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.  Unfortunately it's the wrong one: this post belongs in Energy.

If you have an E7 tariff the higher rate depends on when the meter switches over.  If you have a radio teleswitch the times can vary by +/- 15 minutes because they are controlled by data received on Radio 4 long wave.  The cheap rate times vary between and within regions, so an 0844 switch to higher rate could be correct if you are in the South East area where cheap rate is 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.    Mechanical timers can drift by several hours if not reset.  It's not necessarily a problem (it could even be to your advantage) but it could prove expensive if you have devices such as storage or immersion heaters which run off a 24/7 circuit with a local timer.

Therefore you need to look at your meter to determine the actual switching times.  All electricity on E7 is cheap rate when the meter shows cheap rate.

danrv

I have Economy 10 with a mechanical timer. The whole setup is way out from original times 
but it’s ok as I’m working around it.
I think the timer tells the meter when to switch so charging and off peak are aligned.
I checked the flashing rate indicator on the LCD to see when it changed and also asked my electricity supplier to confirm my E10 times. 

N_Pars

Gerry1 said:

Welcome to the forum.  Unfortunately it's the wrong one: this post belongs in Energy.

If you have an E7 tariff the higher rate depends on when the meter switches over.  If you have a radio teleswitch the times can vary by +/- 15 minutes because they are controlled by data received on Radio 4 long wave.  The cheap rate times vary between and within regions so an 0844 switch to higher rate could be correct if you are in the South East area where cheap rate is 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.    Mechanical timers can drift by several hours if not reset.  It's not necessarily a problem (it could even be to your advantage) but it could prove expensive if you have devices such as storage or immersion heaters which run off a 24/7 circuit with a local timer.

Therefore you need to look at your meter to determine the actual switching times.  All electricity on E7 is cheap rate when the meter shows cheap rate.

Thanks for your reply. 
I had a brief look at my meter but not entirely sure how to find out my switching times.
I also tried contacting bulb, my electricity provider to see if they could tell me, but was number 145 on their online chat so gave up.

danrv

N_Pars said: 

I had a brief look at my meter but not entirely sure how to find out my switching times.
I also tried contacting bulb, my electricity provider to see if they could tell me, but was number 145 on their online chat so gave up.

Maybe there no display to show the current rate in use.
You could check if Economy 7 is for the whole property by running a kettle or other high power device during off peak then checking which set of digits speed up.
My meter is a white digital one but I remember a property I used to rent had E7 and a mechanical meter and digit display. 
I think this was for immersion heater only as electric
radiators were fitted.
At least you know it switches over at 8.44am. If in one chunk, off peak would start at 1.44am. 
Email or phone probably best. Also fb if they have a page.

N_Pars

Forgot to add its a pre payment meter. 
Say bulb say my hours are between 12 and 7am, would that then be an issue with my meter or the switch for the storage heater? 
Sorry for all the questions, trying to get my head around it all lol. 

Gerry1

It's not down to Bulb, you need to ask your DNO.  You can find out who they are by visiting Find My Network Operator.  Simple storage heaters are usually on a circuit that's switched by the meter, in which case it's not a problem, but some modern programmable ones can work on a 24/7 supply.

Gerry1

danrv said:

N_Pars said: 

I had a brief look at my meter but not entirely sure how to find out my switching times.
I also tried contacting bulb, my electricity provider to see if they could tell me, but was number 145 on their online chat so gave up.

You could check if Economy 7 is for the whole property by running a kettle or other high power device during off peak then checking which set of digits speed up.

Economy 7 rates always apply to all the circuits supplied by the meter, although storage and immersion heaters usually have their own switched circuit that's live only during the E7 cheap rate.  Sometimes there's also a boost immersion heater that's on a 24/7 circuit.

N_Pars

I've managed to speak to bulb who confirmed our off peak hours are 12:30 - 7:30 but as it stands at the moment it is 1:30 - 8:30, so the storage heater switching off at 8:44 is about correct as mentioned above it can be out about 15 minutes.