Switching from Economy 10 - a metering query

raldads

Hi all.     
Until recently, my Dad has been on the same "Storage Heater" tariff with SSE / Southern for many years.   Although they didn't call it Economy 10, it was certainly characterised by having three meter readings to take - for Day use, Night use and a time-limited 'Storage Heaters' reading.
< For clarity, as well as the storage heaters he also had his hot water tank on the cheap overnight circuit. >
No surprise to tell you that this tariff was quite pricy, so I investigated switching him.
Also no surprise to say that we weren't expecting to find another tariff of that style for him.
I sent several messages to Bulb, asking how things would work if I switched to them.  Although they didn't answer my question explicitly, they were confident that they would be able to look after him, and so we switched.
I'm completely fine with the Day and Night aspects of the switch, but it's all gone pear-shaped with the overnight storage heaters and water heater bit.   Firstly they are charging him on their single meter tariff, which is more expensive than the old SSE rate.   And secondly it seems that the water heater is working more hours than it ever used to.    ( His storage heaters are off at the moment, as you'd expect. )

Can anyone explain how the old Economy 10 tariff would manage when the cheap overnight rate would apply?   Is it something programmable in the meter?

And then, given that Bulb have suggested that the only way we can use the Night rate for Dad's heating needs is to "get an electrician in" - what would that electrician actually do?    I can almost guess, but this isn't something I know much about.

Alternatively, are there any other ways to get his heating on the cheap rate (ie the Night rate on the two-meter tariff)?

Many thanks in advance.

Reed_Richards

These boards are confusingly titled but this one is supposed to be about non-electrical energy issues.  If you repeat your post in 'Energy' you are more likely to get a reply.