Switch to Economy 7 - Lack of Information to make an informed £ decision

AGBB8S

tim_p said:

I’m sure it’s a typo but be careful when comparing if you think you’ve got 60w oil filled rads.  600 surely?

Well spotted Tim. Yes, was a typo - 600w is correct for one rad. On checking the main one in my living room I find it is 2000w.
So total of 2600w to heat a one bed flat. Those who have commented they suspect some 'under-heating' is taking place, they are probably correct! I have to manage on Universal Credit. Other than the Oil filled rads, I have convector heaters mounted in kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom, but I cannot afford to run these for any length of time and I dislike the heat and smell of these so they rarely get used....

Gerry1

AGBB8S said:

However, I am finding the accuracy of the rates can be more than 10% out.

When I used Comparison Sites say 2 years ago, they seemed to be spot on.

There are umpteen tariff changes each week, and some sites update faster than others.  But make sure the tariff name is exactly the same, e.g. that mSuperDooper and Incredible Oct 2021v1 hasn't been replaced by mSooperDuper and Incredible Oct 2021v1.

AGBB8S said:

If you switch based on rates on Comparison Site which show cheaper than going to that supplier direct,  I am not convinced that with some suppliers they will honour that rate by the time the switch process is complete in 3-6 weeks time...Or if they don't increase immediately, you will get a notice your rates are going up ASAP.

Many deals are exclusive to comparison sites, in much the same way that your insurance renewal will be more expensive than a quotation given to a new customer. If it's a fixed tariff they can't increase the pre-VAT rates during the fixed term.

AGBB8S

Gerry1 said:

Forget the Auto Switch and similar, they don't do anything you can't do yourself.  Always start comparing with Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?'.

When you have E7 the meter will allow you to confirm the start and end times for cheap rate.  The E7 times vary by region, but it's your DNO you would need to ask, not the energy supplier.

I tried 'MSE AUTO COMPARE-AND-SWITCH SERVICE'. I learnt from this, in the info on each and every Eco7 Tariff, that the Night Rate is considered as a 7 hour period regardless of supplier or tariff?  I still found the MSE rates wrong, click redirect to a supplier and then the rates change.
Regarding cheap rate times: -
I had a distant memory (going back maybe 5 yrs ago) of an acquaintance who had Eco7, complaining that their supplier had altered or reduced their Night Rate period, so I had it in my mind that the times varied from each supplier more than they probably do. Take on board comment from mostly everyone I am overthinking this one!!
Did try your suggestion to phone my DNO, Western Power Distribution. They said they do not set the times or hold Eco7 details, I should ask my supplier? Still wondering if this response is the truth or not...

Gerry1

AGBB8S said:

I learnt from this, in the info on each and every Eco7 Tariff, that the Night Rate is considered as a 7 hour period regardless of supplier or tariff?

If it's Economy7 then it's always a total of seven hours full stop, although in some areas there can be a two hour gap in the middle.  Quite handy, because you can double dip, getting the benefit last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

It's all a bit academic except for making sure that any local timers shadow the meter times exactly, and that you know when to use the tumble dryer.  If you want to be 100% sure, get the electrician to make sure that one of the E7 outlets has a neon indicator !

AGBB8S

macman said:

Agreed, it does depend on the tariffs. With NSH's (and presumably an immersion heater as well) it is bound to be cheaper on E7. I suggest that the OP is over-thinking this. The only circumstance in which it wouldn't be cheaper is if the property is being under-heated (which the mention of a couple of oil-filled rads does possibly indicate). 
Nice to hear of an LL actually thinking of the running cost to the tenant, rather than just going for the cheapest capital cost to himself and using cheap convectors.

macman, thanks for the guidance, very helpful. You are right in thinking under-heating is all I can afford to do. Although flat is only 1 bed, it is a reasonable size at just over 30m2 floor area.  So if I switch to Eco7, I am concerned about the costs. I live day to day on pennies rather than pounds. So it might not seem much difference to some, but every £0.50 I can save a week matters.  What I am trying to avoid is being forced into a nocturnal lifestyle on Eco7.
Just getting my head round if I need an Eco7 tariff on a sort of split 20p day / 8.5p night (per kwh) or go for more of a 17p day / 12p night (per kwh). I'm doing these calcs at the moment, based on yes, the expensive things to run (immersion heater and obviously NSH could be run at night).  LL has suggested Living room storage heater will be a Dimplex Quantum QM100 which is fan assisted and 1000w rated. Just hoping this will hold enough heat for daytime use without having to recharge it daytime.
LL is a nice man    - he is obviously getting a grant from the government to do this work on 4 flats in the building, but at least he isn't going the easy route like you say. Oh and grant will included new insulation of loft space.

Gerry1

Those are dreadful rates.  You need to switch to a credit meter: your landlord can't stop you.

The Dimplex Quantum seems an excellent choice, but I fear it may be under dimensioned and you'll be topping up at peak rates.  Do some sums about the heat output required for your living room.  Make sure you fully understand how to program it, especially if it has only a 24h supply.