New Flat…

KieranE95

Hey, I’ve just moved in to a new flat with my partner- a new build with no gas in sight.

One question I have is in regards to the Electric Heating / Hot Water. Is it best to set the heaters to keep rooms at a set temperature, say 18c or is it best to leave off and heat when required? Obviously this is more relevant in the winter than summer but it’s something that I am thinking about now.

My energy plan is Eco 7 so I try and heat the water at times when it is during the eco hours so I am less concerned with that.

sorry if this has been answered somewhere else but I’m just looking for advise.

Thanks for help in advance!

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

What type of heating do you have,eg. panel heaters, night storage, heat pump with wet radiators, etc?

jbuchanangb

Top priority is to read the meter, both registers if it is set up for day and night (Economy 7) mode. Make sure you know which register is day and which one is night. Then phone the electricity supplier which already supplies the flat and open an account, giving them the readings. Tell them you want to stay on the deemed tariff. Do not sign up on their web site. Further advice depends on what sort of heaters you have got.

KieranE95

Hey,

The radiators are the Dimplex Q-Rad ones.

I have taken a meter reading of the water and electric, the developers are going to send them off and set up account with the tariff.

Gerry1

Very bad news, I'm afraid.

You have the worst possible heating system, one that uses daytime electricity.  Nothing else is more expensive.

Why on earth are you letting the developers send off YOUR meter readings and set up YOUR electricity account?

• The developers have installed a system that's cheap for them to install but extremely expensive for you to run.

• Let's hope they don't accidentally make a mistake and send a lower reading, leaving you to pay for some of their usage before you took possession.

• Let's hope they're not getting a kickback from the energy supplier by placing you on a wickedly expensive fixed tariff with a massive exit fee.

Find out the kWh rate and daily charge, and if they are higher than these, phone EDF immediately and switch to their Standard Variable Tariff before the 14-day cooling off period expires.  (An exception might be a fixed tariff lasting at least a year and not more than 18-20% more expensive, but you're unlikely to be that lucky.)

Are you buying or renting?  If buying. you've been taken to the cleaners at least once, and possibly twice.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but that's the way it is.

Elevenses

Really, they should have fitted storage heaters, but you can retro fit them if you have Economy 7! 

You can also fit storage batteries but be aware even two batteries will only offer you 4.8kWh which won’t power the heating for long, just everything else assuming you’re all A++

You’ll only need one or two Quantums in the living areas not bedrooms. 

Est. £1500 or less if you buy used ones and you have the pre wiring for them

Mstty

Hi Kieran welcome to the forum!

Congratulations on your new flat.

The developer and builder knows with the Q-rads the energy certificate actually comes out better over storage heaters and that is why they are fitted.

So I think you are going to have to get smart with them. Without the model numbers they will use on average 1kWh (28-29p) per hour each with the small ones at 15p an hour and the large 2kWh ones 58p an hour. Now that doesn't sound a lot until you start multiplying the hours and the number so set up the timers and don't leave them on all day it will cost a fortune.

You do have some benefits with economy 7 your hot water should be setup to heat up during your cheaper hours and if you can run appliances like washing machines and tumble dryers during this time and charge up electrical devices.

Think about what hours you will be in the flat and when you need some heat and setup your timers for those times. Any rooms you don't use leave them off.

Hopefully you have a smart meter so you can track your usage and play with heat and see what suits you for comfort and price.

KieranE95

Why on earth are you letting the developers send off YOUR meter readings and set up YOUR electricity account?

• The developers have installed a system that's cheap for them to install but extremely expensive for you to run.

• Let's hope they don't accidentally make a mistake and send a lower reading, leaving you to pay for some of their usage before you took possession.

• Let's hope they're not getting a kickback from the energy supplier by placing you on a wickedly expensive fixed tariff with a massive exit fee.

Great. Thanks for this!

I have photos of the meters when they took a reading and I will know if there is anything amiss.

Gerry1

So what are the tariff details?  Have the agents monetised you?

Mstty said:

You do have some benefits with economy 7 your hot water should be setup to heat up during your cheaper hours and if you can run appliances like washing machines and tumble dryers during this time and charge up electrical devices.

E7 would be even more disastrous for the OP because any savings on the night rate would be eclipsed by the higher costs of the E7 day rate (when the heaters are on).