Tariff/supplier switch but keep timer/times

Phones4Chris

In one respect, you should be able to switch easily enough to an E7 tariff, it should simply be a case of someone coming out to change the time-switch settings, however you can't retain your E10 times with that arrangement in the meter box. That time-switch is slightly more pre-historic than the one I had in mind which was one that was neater/smarter looking and had clockwork back-up which if this has, it's failed. It currently switches the rate on the meter as well as some load - which I assume is the heating. But not knowing exactly how the heating is controlled, we don't know the effect of changing to E7 or the cost implications without more information.

Mind you it's possible that with the push towards smart metering, they may well insist on changing the meter.
A change to a smart-meter will have it's own rate switching built-in, so it might be possible to retain the time-switch in the current wiring configuration (with the exception of the meter rate switching on the auxiliary contacts and also its power feed would have to be moved from the Service cut-out). So you should be able to have whatever time settings you want (that's because it would no longer be having any control over the tariff and would not need to be sealed). This would mean it was just cost number crunching that you'd need to do with whatever E7 tariff you'd have.

There's going to be at least 3 consumer units going by the cables exiting the meter box. Can we have some pictures but particularly identifying the one(s) for the heating and some detail about how the heating is actually controlled.

danrv

Phones4Chris said:

There's going to be at least 3 consumer units going by the cables exiting the meter box. Can we have some pictures but particularly identifying the one(s) for the heating and some detail about how the heating is actually controlled.

This is on the other side of the wall. One CU with all house circuits. The heater storage element is on a separate isolation switch (white one). Brown switch may be for the 24 hr fan supply.
There’s also isolation switches again for both supplies at the heater and a wall mounted electro mechanical thermostat in the lounge.

The timer switches over the meter for whole house off peak/peak rates.
As far as I can see, that’s all there is to it. What I’m looking to do is fit modern storage heaters for main living areas and electric rads for bedrooms. 
This change is possibly not done very often in electric only properties as most have space type storage heaters and not central/ducted.

matelodave

As Gerry says, you almost be better off on a single rate tariff if thats what you are paying for E10 - mine is only 12.25p and last I was only paying 11.23. You are being royally ripped off by remaining on E10 even if you think the timing is working in your favour.

Do your sums and work out when you are using your leccy and how much it would cost on different tariffs with different timings rather than just trying to work it out on the timing that you've got.

You really do need to put a lot more effort in finding a better tariff. Potentially you might find that one of the lower priced (not big six) suppliers who are too idle to install smart meters (Symbio, Neon Reef etc) would just leave your metering alone (even if you went for E7) so it's worth having a trawl around and seeing what deals are out there. Just tell them that you want to swap from E10 to E7 without discussing timings - some suppliers are quite happy to just give you E7 on an E10 meter without changing the timers.

But it does seem that this long running saga over several threads regarding you heating etc has been costing you a lot more money that it needed to by hanging onto a very expensive tariff. Just my opinion

danrv

matelodave said:

.But it does seem that this long running saga over several threads regarding you heating etc has been costing you a lot more money that it needed to by hanging onto a very expensive tariff. Just my opinion

Yes true. It wouldn't be quite so bad if I intended to keep the heating system. I would have switched by now.
A recent day reading was 42kWh off peak use and 3kWh peak. I know the readings need to be done over time which I’ve done with convector heaters. That worked out at an almost even split of off peak/peak use.

Completely agree, I need to get off this tariff. Just need to check Eon’s small print/leaving policy.

danrv

matelodave said:

You really do need to put a lot more effort in finding a better tariff. Potentially you might find that one of the lower priced (not big six) suppliers who are too idle to install smart meters (Symbio, Neon Reef etc) would just leave your metering alone (even if you went for E7) so it's worth having a trawl around and seeing what deals are out there. 

That I’ve done. OVO and Bulb have the cheapest E7 tariffs. Symbio have an unusual E7 deal where both rates are very near equal in unit price.
Looks like they’re based in India.
Octopus aren’t the cheapest but have no exit fees which could be useful as I’m in between heating systems.
Moving onto DD too would be better as I currently pay on receipt of bill.

Gerry1

danrv said:

matelodave said:

You really do need to put a lot more effort in finding a better tariff. Potentially you might find that one of the lower priced (not big six) suppliers who are too idle to install smart meters (Symbio, Neon Reef etc) would just leave your metering alone (even if you went for E7) so it's worth having a trawl around and seeing what deals are out there. 

OVO and Bulb have the cheapest E7 tariffs.

What makes you think that?

danrv

Gerry1 said:

danrv said:

matelodave said:

You really do need to put a lot more effort in finding a better tariff. Potentially you might find that one of the lower priced (not big six) suppliers who are too idle to install smart meters (Symbio, Neon Reef etc) would just leave your metering alone (even if you went for E7) so it's worth having a trawl around and seeing what deals are out there. 

OVO and Bulb have the cheapest E7 tariffs.

What makes you think that?

Checked on either USwitch or Citizen’s Advice. 
Bulb E7  8.937p low, 18.015p normal 
OVO E7  9.072p low, 17.640p normal
Symbio  13p low and normal 

They were top of the list.

Gerry1

danrv said:

Gerry1 said:

danrv said:

matelodave said:

You really do need to put a lot more effort in finding a better tariff. Potentially you might find that one of the lower priced (not big six) suppliers who are too idle to install smart meters (Symbio, Neon Reef etc) would just leave your metering alone (even if you went for E7) so it's worth having a trawl around and seeing what deals are out there. 

OVO and Bulb have the cheapest E7 tariffs.

What makes you think that?

Checked on either USwitch or Citizen’s Advice. 
Bulb E7  8.937p low, 18.015p normal 
OVO E7  9.072p low, 17.640p normal
Symbio  13p low and normal 

They were top of the list.

Did you click on the well hidden Uswitch icon to see the wider market?  Did you input your annual kWh usage (from actual meter readings) into both sites?  It's the total annual costs that you should be comparing, not the kWh rates which are mostly only of academic interest..  (You've also not mentioned the daily charges.)

danrv

Gerry1 said:

Did you click on the well hidden Uswitch icon to see the wider market?  Did you input your annual kWh usage (from actual meter readings) into both sites?  It's the total annual costs that you should be comparing, not the kWh rates which are mostly only of academic interest..  (You've also not mentioned the daily charges.)

No, none of that. First time switcher. 
I’ll check bills and add up annual usage. Also I have to choose E7 meter in the questions as there’s no option for an E10 one.

Gerry1

Yes, E10 is becoming dead as a dodo.  It's unlikely that you can switch to a different supplier and the tariffs will just keep going up stratospherically.  Unless you change to a different heating system, the only answer is NSHs that are big enough and are on E7, perhaps with limited bedroom use of panel heaters or fan heaters.  Basically, it's E7 or bust !

Don't forget to check 'Which? Switch' as well.