Economy 7 to Standard Meter

tsears

I contacted Bulb (Current energy supplier after moving in a month ago) to get my E7 meter switched for a standard meter as there are no longer any storage heaters and only got immersion heater for the water, the property is electric only. Everything was in motion but now Bulb have said that the work can't be completed: "I did receive feedback from the engineers and they had advised that they will not be able to change the meter as the meter is a 5 terminal". I don't really know what this means...
I'm a bit confused as a few of my neighbors have had their meters changed to standard, so not sure what the issue is. When a neighbor was having their meter changed it was actually the E-ON engineer who suggested changing the meter as I pasted him in the corridor. I have attached a photo of my meter if that helps! 

MWT

It isn't a problem, it is just Bulb ducking their obligations as they seem to do with great regularity these days.

Easiest way to deal with this is just switch to one of the providers that will let you go on to a single rate tariff without changing the meter, or just switch to one of the suppliers that actually knows how to deal with 5 port meters.

tsears

I think you may be right - although they wanted £120 to change the meter so would have made some money! 
Only problem with changing the meter I may have is that I have two fuse boxes, guessing one if for E7 meter with the immersion heater on 

Gerry1

If you're now heating the property with daytime electricity, prepare for a bad case of bill shock (assuming you don't have a heat pump).  Nothing else is more expensive.

Reed_Richards

I think @Gerry1 may have lost touch with how expensive Economy 7 tariffs have become; you pay a big day rate in order to get a night rate that is only a little less than a decent single tariff rate.

Gerry1

Reed_Richards said:

I think @Gerry1 may have lost touch with how expensive Economy 7 tariffs have become; you pay a big day rate in order to get a night rate that is only a little less than a decent single tariff rate.

Yes, the E7 day rate has always been higher than single rate, and the so-called cheap rate is now less attractive because the rate differential has reduced.

But the key point remains, if you have immersion and storage heaters on E7 and you change to panel radiators on single rate you may well find that it will cost you more, especially when the capital costs of the new heaters are considered along with the higher water heating cost.

tsears

It had the new heaters when I first moved in, but I know in the past it had storage heaters. I've looked online at the new heaters and apparently they are pretty good economically, but I'm yet to even turn them on. I need a smart meter as well but Bulb don't offer this to E7 users 

Gerry1

tsears said:

I've looked online at the new heaters and apparently they are pretty good economically

Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?  All resistive electric heating is equally efficient in converting electricity into heat.  The problem is that the fuel is always very expensive compared to anything else, notably gas.  Just look at the kWh prices.

tsears said:I need a smart meter as well but Bulb don't offer this to E7 users 

Why do you think you need a smart meter?

tsears

Gerry1 said:

tsears said:

I've looked online at the new heaters and apparently they are pretty good economically

Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?  All resistive electric heating is equally efficient in converting electricity into heat.  The problem is that the fuel is always very expensive compared to anything else, notably gas.  Just look at the kWh prices.

tsears said:I need a smart meter as well but Bulb don't offer this to E7 users 

Why do you think you need a smart meter?

That's what I was thinking, surly all electric heaters are pretty much the same. I have heard ceramic heaters are pretty good and economical. 

Only reason I'd like a smart meter is to keep an eye on my costs and see how expensive things get when I turn the heaters on

Gerry1

tsears said:

Gerry1 said:

tsears said:

I've looked online at the new heaters and apparently they are pretty good economically

Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?  All resistive electric heating is equally efficient in converting electricity into heat.  The problem is that the fuel is always very expensive compared to anything else, notably gas.  Just look at the kWh prices.

tsears said:I need a smart meter as well but Bulb don't offer this to E7 users 

Why do you think you need a smart meter?

I have heard ceramic heaters are pretty good and economical.

You're still missing the point, electric heating at daytime rates will always be very expensive.  Perhaps 12p-15p/kWh if you're lucky, compared to about 8p-10p for storage heaters (but an even higher daytime rate), about 7p for LPG, 4p-5p for oil or a heatpump and 3p for gas.  Your only hope in an all-electric property is that it's small, well insulated and has few outside walls.

tsears said:

Gerry1 said:

tsears said:

I've looked online at the new heaters and apparently they are pretty good economically

Well, they would say that, wouldn't they?  All resistive electric heating is equally efficient in converting electricity into heat.  The problem is that the fuel is always very expensive compared to anything else, notably gas.  Just look at the kWh prices.

tsears said:I need a smart meter as well but Bulb don't offer this to E7 users 

Why do you think you need a smart meter?

Only reason I'd like a smart meter is to keep an eye on my costs and see how expensive things get when I turn the heaters on

You don't need a smart meter to do that.  The rating plate of the heater allows you to work out how much it can cost per hour, e.g. a 2kW heater used for six hours will cost £1.80 if you're paying 15p/kWh.  If the thermostat turns it off from time to time then obviously the cost will be lower.

Just noting how fast the meter's red LED flashes (marked 1000 Imp/kWh or similar) will allow you to calculate what you are using at any given time (1000 flashes or impulses mean you've used 1kWh).  Similar methodology applies if the meter has a rotating disk.

Alternatively a cheap energy monitor can calculate the cost of the whole flat's usage.  The type that uses a sensor placed over the flashing LED will be the most accurate (although it can't detect a rogue meter), or you can get one with a clip that attaches to a meter cable.

[Deleted User]

tsears said:

Only reason I'd like a smart meter is to keep an eye on my costs and see how expensive things get when I turn the heaters on

Hi,

set up a wee spreadsheet, take readings at least once a month, weekly, daily, at about same time, if you wish.

Lets you see usage and cost, and lets you see if DD is in line with cost.

Reading now minus previous reading times unit price, plus, number of days times standing charge, total plus vat at 5% if not already included.

eg: 500 - 400 = 100 x 10p = £1.00 + 30 x 20p = £ 6.00, Total £7.00 + 5% , 0.35p = £7.35.

Once you have spreadsheet set up, just bung the readings in when you feel like it.