Smart meter with E7 and storage heaters

Swipe

I've been forced to have a smart meter installed by EDF or lose my cheap tariff. My house has Economy 7 with storage heaters on a separate timed circuit. I have a few questions...

• Is there any specific things I need to check with the installer before I allow them to go ahead with the install?
• Will the clock device next to the meter still determine the time my night and daytime rate kicks in (and activate/deactivate the storage heater circuit) or will that now be controlled by the actual smart meter?
• I think I also read somewhere that I need to ensure that the new smart meter has 5 terminals rather than 4 to accommodate the storage heater circuit cable. Is this correct?
• If they install it wrong and I end up with no active storage heating circuit or I'm getting charged at peak rate for night time usage are they legally obliged to come and fix this?

Gerry1

You're probably already aware of most of the points I'm raising, but it may help others.

Surprised that EDF are the cheapest; I'd just say NO and leave EDF for a cheaper, smaller supplier who doesn't insist on smart meters.  That also eliminates the potential problems that you describe.  I assume you've carried out a whole market search with Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch' and perhaps one or two others such as Uswitch who may offer exclusive deals?

It seems that 5-terminal smart meters are quite rare, so I'd make absolutely sure that the installer is fully clued up.  It could just control an existing or replacement contactor, but they may be more interested in ticking the box rather than ensuring everything works as you intend.

The risk of problems will be higher if they remove an existing radio teleswitch but it sounds like you have a rotary disc timer.  Nevertheless, there is still more risk of ending up with single rate or storage and immersion heaters that are disconnected or stay live 24h.

Above all, take a photo of the old meter and make sure that the installer records the readings correctly on the yellow card that's left near the meter, and make sure that both registers on the new meter start at zero.

Also make sure that you are told the switching times, which may not be the same, and check that the new meter follows these times.

Some meters have the ability to liven up the off peak circuits for an hour or two during the day for an emergency boost (albeit at the expensive daytime rate).  If so, ask for this to be demonstrated before the installer leaves so that that you have proof that the E7 circuits have been livened up.  Watch the 1000 Imp/sec LED on the meter if the NSH and immersion heater outlets don't have neon indicators.

Swipe

Thanks Gerry. Yes, I did extensive searches with Which, citizen advice and Uswitch and EDF were definitely the cheapest for me (baring Utility Warehouse which I didn't fancy) as I use over 90% of my electric off peak. Their day rate is high but I only use 1000kWh but their off peak rate is 8.8p, everyone else was closer to 10 or 11p. According to the T&Cs, if installer can't fit it I can stay on my tariff with the old meter.

Gerry1

Swipe said:

According to the T&Cs, if installer can't fit it I can stay on my tariff with the old meter.

You will of course have prepared a document for the fitter explaining that his Health & Safety is paramount but, as you cannot guarantee that the meter area is free from asbestos and a range of potential ranging nasties from Anthrax to Xenopolycythemia, you therefore require him before entering to sign on the dotted line to indemnify you against any claims that may arise... 

Swipe

Update: The engineer did arrive with a 5 terminal meter but the installation was aborted due to a missing neutral block. Some prelim work needs to be done by the DNO before it can be swapped.

Swipe

Just a final update on this in case anyone in the future has concerns as I did about having a smart meter on E7 with storage heaters. 

After the preliminary neutral block work was undertaken by the DNO, I finally had my smart meter installed yesterday. The engineer was unable to test the storage heater circuit during the daytime and couldn't tell me the time my E7 hours would start and end. So I decided to stay up to check it all. 1:30am arrived and it still hadn't switched to off peak and I was just about to put it down to a failed installation / configuration and go to bed when at 1:35am, the storage heater suddenly switched on and the off peak tariff showed as active on the IHD.

Overall I'm pretty happy as now my SM off peak rate starts 1hr and 20 mins later which allows me to make more use of cheaper electric in the early mornings. My only gripe is that the IHD only allows me to see the combined day and night readings rather than both so will still need to go out to read the meter to fill in my spreadsheet but I'm hoping my energy graph becomes available online soon in my provider's account dashboard.

dave_dph

Swipe said:

Just a final update on this in case anyone in the future has concerns as I did about having a smart meter on E7 with storage heaters. 

My Ec7 SMETS2 was also fitted by EDF back in October 2019. 

My economy 7 times with my original meter were midnight to 7am in the winter, and 1am to 8am in the summer. Like you, once the smart meter was fitted my economy 7 times moved to 12:34am to 7:34 am in the winter, and 1:34am to 8:34am in the summer. My night time usage over 12 months equates to around 86-87%, so its great to have the additional 34 minutes on the cheaper tariff. 

Unless their app has been radically improved, EDF's effort is little more than useless! When my tariff ended in January I switched to OVO on a two year fix. The meter retained it's full smart functionality with daily day and night readings now recorded in the app.   

lohr500

@dave-dph. Not sure I understand your logic. You had 7 hours off peak on the old meter. You have 7 hours on the new meter. Where do you think the extra 34 minutes is coming from?  

BeerSavesMoney

I’m guessing they mean they have gained an additional 34 minutes off peak time in the morning when they are awake and more likely to make use of it.

Swipe

Update: So it was completely pointless me having a smart meter (apart from being able to secure a cheaper tariff) as it is unable to report back to EDF

dave_dph

lohr500 said:

@dave-dph. Not sure I understand your logic. You had 7 hours off peak on the old meter. You have 7 hours on the new meter. Where do you think the extra 34 minutes is coming from?  

Sorry, I meant having the extra 34 mins of off peak time to use in the morning. E.g. During the summer months I can use the washing machine and tumble dryer up until 8:34am as apposed to 8:00am.