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Why are people so disparaging about IHDs?
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The whole set up of the IHD is flawed. Cost is a variable but consumption is fixed. A Kilowatt contains 1000 watts. It doesn't go down to 890 watts because inflation is 10.1% nor does it go up to 1100 watts because the government is subsidising it. Over time the only measure that matters is consumption.
Its almost like the IHD designers knew it was a gimmick with no long term appeal.
DarrenXbigman's guide to a happy life.
Eat properly
Sleep properly
Save some money0 -
There is probably a case for those believing the IHD cost and budgeting accordingly.......not knowing it hasn't updated the correct current rates.
Yes I know we all know it's kWh that count and we can all use our spreadsheets but it's long been established there are parts of the population that struggle with this particular mathematics issue especially when you add in cubic feet/meters and calorific values for gas calculations.
That's why some of us are here to help when those that need it pop onto the forum.1 -
RG2015 said:Dolor said:Swipe said:Dolor said:Sea_Shell said:Sea_Shell said:Just looked...and it appears to have updated now. Well the gas definitely has, as that's an obvious difference. (I didn't have all the figures to hand)
So, if anyone's with Eon and their IHD rates aren't right, drop them a quick email.
I spoke too soon!!!!
Having checked them more closely, yes, the rates have updated, but ONLY to the standard OFGEM cap rates (I think) and not the discounted EPG rates.
We SHOULD be on, as per our Eon account:
Elec: 32.4p
s/c: 29.11p
Gas: 10.18p
s/c: 50.31p
BUT
The IHD is now showing...
Elec: 35.05p
s/c: 34.33p
Gas: 10.84p
s/c: 56.7p
Am I right in thinking these ARE the un-discounted DD rates (East Midlands)?
Sea_Shell and I are both with E.ON Next, but my IHD has the EPG rate and their’s had the non discounted rate.
Furthermore, my bill is at the full rate with the discount deducted at the end,
We've received our bill. It is as expected (from my own calculations)
It shows an EPG discount off the Next flex unit rates only (not the s/c) and so still doesn't match with what the IHD says.
The Gas, for example is shown on the bill as 11.884p less discount of 2.19p, plus VAT = 10.178p
Standing Charge of 27.726p, (no discount) plus VAT. = 29.11p
So I now have no idea what the figures the IHD is using relate to!!
Ho hum.
How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.60% of current retirement "pot" (as at end May 2025)0 -
MattMattMattUK said:Chrysalis said:I think IHD's would be better without cost been quoted, used for usage, not tariff or billing information.I also think the octopus mini should be how it should have been from the start, I find it much better than the IHD I received.For those who dont know, Octopus are trialling a product which sends usage information to your phone for the current day and live watts usage. So no need to be sitting next to a IHD display, and with it being an app, it means octopus can provide software updates when needed.
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/the-smart-security-behind-the-gb-smart-metering-system
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As stated before, the E.ON Next data for me is correct.
My electricity tariff inc VAT is £0.3240 / kWh and s/c is £0.5031 / day.
My IHD has 32.4p and 50.3p and my latest bill is as follows.
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Yes I know we all know it's kWh that count and we can all use our spreadsheets but it's long been established there are parts of the population that struggle with this particular mathematics issue especially when you add in cubic feet/meters and calorific values for gas calculations.
That's why some of us are here to help when those that need it pop onto the forum.
This is one of the reasons its flawed. Because some people struggle we are all treated like that. Everything in this country is dumbed down thus pushing everyone to be dumb. The IHD should default to consumption with the option to use cost for those that find that useful.
However my main point is still valid. If you look back at what you've paid without knowing consumption its pretty meaningless.
DarrenXbigman's guide to a happy life.
Eat properly
Sleep properly
Save some money2 -
victor2 said:Chrysalis said:I think IHD's would be better without cost been quoted, used for usage, not tariff or billing information.....While I agree because the cost indicated will never quite match exactly what is billed, people aren't really interested in kWh usage, they want to know the cost.For example, we've just got a new "smart" appliance, which uses a small amount of power 24/7. I've monitored what its use has been overnight and the kWh figure means nothing to my OH. All she wants to know is the cost and therefore potential saving by not having it on standby.Maybe IHD's would be more useful showing historical billed cost, with the ability to average that out over the billing period, but then people would have to typically wait a month to see the effect of their efforts to save, assuming kWh figures meant little to them - and that's before you try to explain how gas volume used is converted to kWh for billing purposes!Well the app does show your bills, so as such the cost, unlike the IHD's its accurate.0
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@Xbigman said:Yes I know we all know it's kWh that count and we can all use our spreadsheets but it's long been established there are parts of the population that struggle with this particular mathematics issue especially when you add in cubic feet/meters and calorific values for gas calculations.
That's why some of us are here to help when those that need it pop onto the forum.
This is one of the reasons its flawed. Because some people struggle we are all treated like that. Everything in this country is dumbed down thus pushing everyone to be dumb. The IHD should default to consumption with the option to use cost for those that find that useful.
However my main point is still valid. If you look back at what you've paid without knowing consumption its pretty meaningless.
Darren
As already stated the figures are accurate; the IHD presents information using data from the SMETS 2 meter which I can interrogate to obtain the raw data for E7 splits.
It might help to reboot the IHD.
I am electricity only.1 -
Chrysalis said:victor2 said:Chrysalis said:I think IHD's would be better without cost been quoted, used for usage, not tariff or billing information.....While I agree because the cost indicated will never quite match exactly what is billed, people aren't really interested in kWh usage, they want to know the cost.For example, we've just got a new "smart" appliance, which uses a small amount of power 24/7. I've monitored what its use has been overnight and the kWh figure means nothing to my OH. All she wants to know is the cost and therefore potential saving by not having it on standby.Maybe IHD's would be more useful showing historical billed cost, with the ability to average that out over the billing period, but then people would have to typically wait a month to see the effect of their efforts to save, assuming kWh figures meant little to them - and that's before you try to explain how gas volume used is converted to kWh for billing purposes!Well the app does show your bills, so as such the cost, unlike the IHD's its accurate.
I can categorically say that my IHD is accurate and I suspect that I am not the only one.
It is incorrect to imply that IHDs are not accurate.
All you can say is that some IHDs are inaccurate. Possibly with evidence you could say that many IHDs are inaccurate.
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RG2015 said:Chrysalis said:victor2 said:Chrysalis said:I think IHD's would be better without cost been quoted, used for usage, not tariff or billing information.....While I agree because the cost indicated will never quite match exactly what is billed, people aren't really interested in kWh usage, they want to know the cost.For example, we've just got a new "smart" appliance, which uses a small amount of power 24/7. I've monitored what its use has been overnight and the kWh figure means nothing to my OH. All she wants to know is the cost and therefore potential saving by not having it on standby.Maybe IHD's would be more useful showing historical billed cost, with the ability to average that out over the billing period, but then people would have to typically wait a month to see the effect of their efforts to save, assuming kWh figures meant little to them - and that's before you try to explain how gas volume used is converted to kWh for billing purposes!Well the app does show your bills, so as such the cost, unlike the IHD's its accurate.
I can categorically say that my IHD is accurate and I suspect that I am not the only one.
It is incorrect to imply that IHDs are not accurate.
All you can say is that some IHDs are inaccurate. Possibly with evidence you could say that many IHDs are inaccurate.It depends on your definition of accurate.An IHD will rarely match what a customer is billed to the penny, due to rounding and the way VAT has to be applied. On top of that, the Calorific Value of gas changes daily, which an IHD doesn't show, and then the supplier uses an "average" CV for the entire billing period. We're only talking pennies on a typical monthly bill, but the discrepancy is there.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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