E7 or smart meter

billiebean

I have to admit until this energy crisis I haven't given a lot of thought to my energy consumption, apart from checking out each year for the best dual fixed rate.I was thinking of asking So energy if I could change to a smart meter to see if this would save me more money and also create more space by having my meter cupboard removed in my hall. However I have a large gas meter and an E7 electricity meter. Since the price increases I have only put my washing machine and dishwasher on at night.

Dogbyte009

Smart meters won't save you anything directly, they just make you more aware of how much you're using. They also ensure you never get an estimated bill by sending in readings automatically.

Smart meter installation is free, If you want them moved in order to get rid of the cupboard though they'll almost certainly charge you.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

Gerry1

If you have gas CH, E7 may not be cost effective.

Forget smart meters, just do the sums using your annual consumption derived from actual meter readings, not estimates, and see whether single rate would be cheaper.

Your supplier (but not Bulb) will probably offer single rate without the need for any meter change.

You could even have single rate in the summer and E7 in the winter if it's a bit cheaper then !

billiebean

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

I have no idea on annual consumption, will have to check my energy site and see if I can find that out. As for E7 I'm not sure  how that exactly works as it was in when we moved  here many years ago. All I thought is after a certain time the electric was billing off peak. Whatever electricity is used after that time therefore would be cheaper. Rather than using my washing machine and dishwasher during the day I switch them on when I go to bed.

billiebean

Gerry1 said:

If you have gas CH, E7 may not be cost effective.

Forget smart meters, just do the sums using your annual consumption derived from actual meter readings, not estimates, and see whether single rate would be cheaper.

Your supplier (but not Bulb) will probably offer single rate without the need for any meter change.

You could even have single rate in the summer and E7 in the winter if it's a bit cheaper then !

 if it's a bit cheaper then !

Will try and check my annual consumption,  do you mean by single rate as not combined with my gas or single rate as just using day rate electricity, sorry I'm not very good at this and am a bit confused.

Gerry1

billiebean said:

Gerry1 said:

If you have gas CH, E7 may not be cost effective.

Forget smart meters, just do the sums using your annual consumption derived from actual meter readings, not estimates, and see whether single rate would be cheaper.

Your supplier (but not Bulb) will probably offer single rate without the need for any meter change.

You could even have single rate in the summer and E7 in the winter if it's a bit cheaper then !

 if it's a bit cheaper then !

 do you mean by single rate as not combined with my gas or single rate as just using day rate electricity, sorry I'm not very good at this and am a bit confused.

Yes, single rate refers to electricity rates, not dual fuel.

Electricity can be single rate (same kWh cost 24 hours) or charged differently depending on Time of Use.  Economy 7 is one type of ToU tariff that gives 7 hours at a cheaper rate, but the sting in the tail is that the day rate is often significantly higher than single rate, and the daily charge may also be higher.

If you have E7 with Night Storage Heaters and an immersion heater on an E7 circuit switched by the meter then the savings from the cheaper night rate outweigh the higher day rate.  But if you have gas for CH and Domestic Hot Water than any E7 saving will be small and E7 may well be more expensive.  You just have to do the sums.

FWIW, I have gas for CH and DHW.  My night use is about 22%, and in normal circumstances sometimes I have single rate and sometimes E7.

If you can't establish your accurate annual consumption, consider a switch to single rate electricity (keeping your existing E7 meter), keep a record of all your monthly meter readings and check in a year's time whether single rate was cheaper.

If you have gas for DHW, avoid using electric showers and the immersion heater(s).

Gerry1

billiebean said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

Rather than using my washing machine and dishwasher during the day I switch them on when I go to bed.

Could be a very expensive mistake: might cost you your life. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10500659/Fire-warning-cheaper-electricity-night-amid-fears-families-leave-appliances-on.html

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/smart-meter-surge-pricing-confusion-over-whether-to-run-washing-machine-overnight-amid-conflicting-advice/ar-AATK6dw

QrizB

Gerry1 said:

billiebean said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

Rather than using my washing machine and dishwasher during the day I switch them on when I go to bed.

Could be a very expensive mistake: might cost you your life. 

... but almost certainly won't.

The majority of overnight appliance fires were due to those faulty Whirlpool tumble dryers. Washing machines and dishwashers are much lower risk.

Gerry1

QrizB said:

Gerry1 said:

billiebean said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

Rather than using my washing machine and dishwasher during the day I switch them on when I go to bed.

Could be a very expensive mistake: might cost you your life. 

... but almost certainly won't.

The majority of overnight appliance fires were due to those faulty Whirlpool tumble dryers. Washing machines and dishwashers are much lower risk.

Apparently not.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/02/revealed-the-brands-linked-to-the-most-appliance-fires/

QrizB

Gerry1 said:

QrizB said:

Gerry1 said:

billiebean said:

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

so you only use E7 for washing/drying?

What is your annual consumption day/night?

Rather than using my washing machine and dishwasher during the day I switch them on when I go to bed.

Could be a very expensive mistake: might cost you your life. 

... but almost certainly won't.

The majority of overnight appliance fires were due to those faulty Whirlpool tumble dryers. Washing machines and dishwashers are much lower risk.

Apparently not.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/02/revealed-the-brands-linked-to-the-most-appliance-fires/

That is not a risk assessment. For example, more people own washing machines (98% of households) than tumble dryers (58%). For it to be meaningful it would need to be normalised, and it hasn't been.

Sorry OP, we're getting off topic.