Storage heaters & immersion tank but no economy 7

Eng94

I've recently moved into a rented flat that is all electric and so has storage heaters and an immersion tank for hot water. However, at some point in time before I moved in, the electricity meter has been switched from economy 7 to a smart meter. I've been here a week and have not been able to get the NSH's working, is this due to the economy 7 being removed? I understand that using any other form of electrical heater is likely to cost me more as I won't be taking advantage of the night time rates, so will I be better off trying to switch back to an economy 7 meter, and will energy companies even do that? My only other option is to bear the brunt of the excess costs over winter and look to move when I can. 

Thanks in advance. 

MWT

This may get complicated...

All smart meters are capable of being switched to a dual rate tariff like E7, that isn't the problem...

Only a few smart meters have the 5th port which is used to directly switch on the circuit that provides power to the storage heaters.

If your meter has the 5th port and the NSH are wired to it then you just need to have your supplier switch the meter to E7 mode...

If not then figure out what has happened to the wiring for the NSH, are they wired to a separate time clock for example?

MWT

There may be some additional issues if your current electricity supplier didn't install the smart meter, but lets get to that once you know what you are dealing with.

When you moved in, did you just register with the existing supplier and stay with them, or did you switch after you registered?

Gerry1

You'd be better to move if you can because E7 will still be a lot more expensive than gas.

Eng94

MWT said:

There may be some additional issues if your current electricity supplier didn't install the smart meter, but lets get to that once you know what you are dealing with.

When you moved in, did you just register with the existing supplier and stay with them, or did you switch after you registered?

I just registered with the previous supplier (NPower), but the meter has Eon's logo so the smart meter is likely to be 'dumb'. 

Gerry1

Here's an example of a 5-port smart meter.  Two cables in (Live + Neutral) but three cables out (Live + Neutral + E7 Live).

The extra cable (E7 Live) should be connected to the night storage heaters and the main immersion heater.

How was the flat described? Presumably you were told there were night storage heaters?  If so, chase the landlord to deliver what was promised and ask for a rebate on the rent until everything works correctly.

Eng94

MWT said:

This may get complicated...

All smart meters are capable of being switched to a dual rate tariff like E7, that isn't the problem...

Only a few smart meters have the 5th port which is used to directly switch on the circuit that provides power to the storage heaters.

If your meter has the 5th port and the NSH are wired to it then you just need to have your supplier switch the meter to E7 mode...

If not then figure out what has happened to the wiring for the NSH, are they wired to a separate time clock for example?

How do I determine if the meter has the 5th port? If I take a photo of the meter setup and post it here, would someone be able to tell me? 

Eng94

Gerry1 said:

Here's an example of a 5-port smart meter.  Two cables in (Live + Neutral) but three cables out (Live + Neutral + E7 Live).

The extra cable (E7 Live) should be connected to the night storage heaters and the main immersion heater.

How was the flat described? Presumably you were told there were night storage heaters?  If so, chase the landlord to deliver what was promised and ask for a rebate on the rent until everything works correctly.

Thanks for the info, I'll go check the meter in the morning. 
When I can to view the flat (in August) it wasn't directly mentioned and as it was summer time it slipped my mind to check. I didn't even know there was no gas until I moved in. 

Gerry1

Is there are second immersion heater (usually half way up), does the hot water work, and does the lower one (should be on E7 switched circuit) warm up in the day if the water is cold?  That may give you a clue as to what's going on.

Any switch to the upper heater should be left switched off because it should be on a 24h circuit and is only intended to give an expensive half tank if you run out in the daytime.

MWT

Eng94 said:

I just registered with the previous supplier (NPower), but the meter has Eon's logo so the smart meter is likely to be 'dumb'. 

Depends how old it is.

When you go to check it in the morning do take a photo or at least make a note of the make and model of the meter.

Eng94

Morning guys. I've just been down to the meter and taken the following photoIt does appear that the meter has a 5th port? In regards to whether the immersion heater comes on, i've turned the switch on for the bottom immersion, and my smart reader display is not showing an increased load so I'm assuming that it's not on. I've been using it with both switches turned on until a couple of days ago.