British Gas Economy 7 Shocker

Quietearth

I thought that British Gas didn't charge customers who wanted to change from Economy 7 to a single tariff meter.  I'm aware that my daytime electricity rate is very high because I'm on Economy 7.  Most of the general advice (if you're not using night-time electricity, which I don't) is to move from Economy 7 to a cheaper overall rate.

I contacted British Gas and asked them if I could do this, they said yes, but that my new 24 hour rate would be 40.239p per kWh, exactly what it is on Economy 7! (but without the night-time 16.582p advantage!). 

I was flabbergasted, to say the least.  Is this right?  Is British Gas effectively charging (penalising) people now for trying to moving off of Economy 7 onto a single rate meter? 

This also means I can not get a smart meter: the problem is the same, if I have a single rate smart meter my per kWh charge will be 40.239p, not the 34p it ought to be.  Can this be right?  In MSEs info on Economy 7, it says that British Gas is one of the companies that will change meters for free.  Is this no longer true?  I am, like so many, on a low income and it seems so very wrong that I (or anyone in this position) am being charged 6p above the standard tariff for my day time electricity. 

alicef

Hi @Quietearth

I'm on BG's SVT for electricity and this is what appears on my tariff details

Payment method	Monthly Direct Debit
Standard unit rate	33.726p per kWh
Standing charge	49.146p per day*

Can you ask them to put you on the SVT?

QrizB

Quietearth said:

I was flabbergasted, to say the least.  Is this right?  Is British Gas effectively charging (penalising) people now for trying to moving off of Economy 7 onto a single rate meter?

No, it;s not right, your CS agent was misinnformed.

This also means I can not get a smart meter: the problem is the same, if I have a single rate smart meter my per kWh charge will be 40.239p, not the 34p it ought to be.  Can this be right?

No, it isn't correct.

In MSEs info on Economy 7, it says that British Gas is one of the companies that will change meters for free.  Is this no longer true?

All suppliers will fit smart meters for free. Once you have a smart meter, you don't need another meter change in order to switch between E7, standard single rate, or a plethora of other time-of-use tariffs.

Quietearth

Hi QrizB, I spoke to two different "advisers".   They both told me that I could be switched to a single rate smart meter but that the the tariff would be, not SVT of 34p per kWh, but over 40p per kWh.  I queried this figure as I too, having read all the advice on MSE and other help sites, assumed that my tariff would drop down.   But I got the same reply every time. I have a record of the conversation.  Are you saying that I am being given false advice? 

Quietearth

Hi aliceF

This is what I am attempting to do.  Considering QrizB*s comments it looks as if I am being giving false information, which. in itself, is horrendous.  As everyone who has tried will know it takes between 30 and 60 minutes to get through on BG chat so it is a long and exhausting process and I must admit I don't have much faith in the advice being given. 

alicef

Hi @Quietearth

I do have a lot sympathy for you - I have spent more time than I would wish, dealing with BGas over meter read and billing issues.  It may be time to raise a complaint with BGas.   I think the Resolver complaints application is still around - I always found it a useful tool for recording dialogues.  Remember if you are on BGas' online chat you can make a print of the chat for your records.

I wish you all the best with sorting out your tariff issues. 

Quietearth

Alicef

Many thanks