Economy 7 meter not measuring correctly

swilling

The difference in our usage between the day and night rate seems to be very close, over the last 3 years:
16,775 night
18,894 day
we are in the process of moving to a new supplier and I asked of there is some way that we can check that the meter times for the rates are correct, but they have been pretty unhelpful and just suggested that we take regular readings.
What can we do, there are no buttons and there doesn't seem to be a way of checking the times on the meter (Siemens S28M), how can I find out if the meter is measuring the proper rates at the proper times, are the usage rates above reasonable? 

Gerry1

At 47% your night usage is not far from the national average of 42%.

Presumably you have night storage heaters because you can't get gas?

Photo of the meter please, there doesn't seem to be a Siemens S28M.  Is there also a separate device, e.g. a radio teleswitch or a mechanical timer?

Neil_Jones

That Siemens model doesn't match anything that looks like a meter.  You may want to double check that,o r take a photo of it and post it here.

As to the meter readings, its not uncommon on Eco7 units for the two units to be close together.  Providing the night one goes up during your 7 hours (usually anywhere between 11:30 and 8am), then its usually registering fine.

Depending on the meter type a lot of these are physical clock timers that just rotate and switch over at appropriate times.  These do drift, and may end up giving you the 7hrs cheap at a more convenient time of day for your usage; if that's the case and you haven't realised you may just be running the washing machine overnight (for example) and not aware it isn't actually on the cheap rate.  More recent ones are digital but even then these can still drift on occasion.

MWT

Neil_Jones said:

Depending on the meter type a lot of these are physical clock timers that just rotate and switch over at appropriate times.  These do drift, and may end up giving you the 7hrs cheap at a more convenient time of day for your usage;..

We had exactly that problem and a split much like the OP which made no sense as we do not have NSH.

Notified supplier and no real interest in fixing it.

Clock started running slow and not switching at all sometimes, reported it and still no action.

Eventually switched to Octopus and got smart meters fitted, problems solved

swilling

Apologies, the meter is Siemens S2AM
Is the usage not necessarily unusual then?
we do not have storage heaters and don't use the washing machine or anything during the night rate, we just have 5 led lights and a single electric heater on.

stewie_griffin

We'd need to know more about your home before even being able to hazard a guess if it was normal. How big is it, how do you hear it, do you have any unusual appliances i.e. hot tub, electric car charger etc.

nownewretiredin2011

Are you saying you used 35669 kWh of electricity in 3 years?

swilling

nownewretiredin2011 said:

Are you saying you used 35669 kWh of electricity in 3 years?

Yes it would seem so, but we only use gas for our cooker hob, and have a wood burning stove, so everything else; water heating, and some heating is electric

stewie_griffin said:

We'd need to know more about your home before even being able to hazard a guess if it was normal. How big is it, how do you hear it, do you have any unusual appliances i.e. hot tub, electric car charger etc.

Electric water heater (12.0kW) is probably the only slightly unusual appliance, chest freezer, upright fridge freezer, tv, shower, lights, electric oven, single electric heater (Dimplex 750w) on day and night for 5 months of the year

Gerry1

Your sole source of room heating for the entire property is just one tiddly 750W heater?  What is the property type and size?

As you're giving such little information (e.g. you still haven't said whether you have gas), it's difficult to give meaningful advice.

tim_p

I think that as @nownewretiredin2011 was alluding to, 12000kWh / year is a huge amount to be using, particularly as you say it’s only a few bulbs and a 750w heater (even that though is 18kWh / day for 5 months! Wow!)
what exactly is this 12 kW electric water heater? Is it a wet radiator system heated by electric boiler?

swilling

Gerry1 said:

Your sole source of room heating for the entire property is just one tiddly 750W heater?  What is the property type and size?

As you're giving such little information (e.g. you still haven't said whether you have gas), it's difficult to give meaningful advice.

We have a wood burning stove as our main heater
The water heater is Stiebel Eltron Electronic Instantaneous Water Heater 12.0kW, it's used for basins and kitchen sink
We also have an electric shower, and there are 5 people in the house.
We have gas for our hob, nothing else.