Eon Next Economy 7 metering issue

Gerry1

I'd be tempted to switch to Octopus because they're likely to be more helpful, but that might make it harder to get a refund from E.On.

dealyboy

Monkston said:

Thanks.  It's profile class 2 for two or more rates, so I believe that part is correct.  The MTSC though is 142 and I can find no reference anywhere as to what schedule this correlates to.  It's presumably the split 2+5 off-peak periods that i'm seeing at the meter, but at no stage have Eon Next acknowledged this. 

They repeatedly tell me it's 0030-0730 GMT but are apparently unable to recognise the distinction between the tariff schedule in effect (2230-0030 and 0230-0730) and the aux port schedule driving the storage heaters (0030-0730).  When I say the tariff hours displayed at the meter are not those they are telling me we just go round in circles again.

Thank you Monkston, appreciate the clear information.

The MTSC (MTC) is odd and I also can find no reference to it. This is pure speculation but could it have previously been on a private or business network? the distributor may be able to help ...

UK Power Networks,
Customer Relations,
Fore Hamlet,
Ipswich,
Suffolk,
IP3 8AA.
Call 0800 029 4285

On the face of it there is also the mismatch between the Eastern (East Midlands) Area (10) which has 7 hours off peak between 23:00 and 07:00 and what E.ON Next are informing you (00:30-07:30). Dumb question alert ... is the 'area code' from a bill definitely '10'? and what part of eastern England is your mother in?

dealyboy

Monkston ... you may have noticed this current thread ... https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6468952/edf-are-extremely-incompetent-with-their-customer-service-since-when-cant-spell-no-logic Its  OP also appears to be having problems with split off-peak tariff times, they are with EDF.

One further question ... What was the Supply number (Area & MTC) on a bill before the smart meter was installed?

From original post:
However, the meter is displaying the off-peak night rate tariff in two periods, 22:30 to 00:30 and 02:30 to 07:30.  This means 2 hours (00:30 to 02:30) of the storage heater charging period is occurring in peak day rate, and is inflating winter bills (there was no issue under the old Economy 7 meter..).

gambleruk

I am with Eon Next as well and had the same conversation with them, I tried to tell them my cheap rate was 22:30 - 00:30 and then 2:30 til 7:30 but they would not believe me and said there must be a fault, I just left it at that as long as I know when I have the cheap electric then all is fine, just bear in mind when the clocks go back in October my cheap rate is the 21:30 - 23:30 and 1:30 - 6:30 so just make sure you check once the clocks have changed.

macman

Gerry1 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Gerry1 said:

Another good reason not to have a smart meter !  😈

The South Eastern region (19) has E7 switching times of 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.

Make sure the times don't diverge when the clocks go back.

Just to clarify this - many customers in the South Eastern region are set to split switching time like that.

Not all are, nor do they need to be.  There is no rule that says your switching times are determined by the region, and they can be set by the supplier to whatever they want - as long as it is the right number of cheap hours in the 10 hour allowed window.

There are maps that suggest that switching times are regional.

https://switchd.co.uk/images/guides/economy7.jpg

Are those map hours GMT or BST though?

Gerry1

macman said:

Gerry1 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Gerry1 said:

Another good reason not to have a smart meter !  😈

The South Eastern region (19) has E7 switching times of 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.

Make sure the times don't diverge when the clocks go back.

Just to clarify this - many customers in the South Eastern region are set to split switching time like that.

Not all are, nor do they need to be.  There is no rule that says your switching times are determined by the region, and they can be set by the supplier to whatever they want - as long as it is the right number of cheap hours in the 10 hour allowed window.

There are maps that suggest that switching times are regional.

https://switchd.co.uk/images/guides/economy7.jpg

Are those map hours GMT or BST though?

Mine are GMT, and I'd expect the rest to be the same.

dealyboy

I found this page useful ... https://www.businessjuice.co.uk/energy-guides/economy-7-times/
Note: split shift times in use in the South Eastern region (2230 - 0030 then 0230 - 0730) are not mentioned (thanks Gerry1).

Business Juice is a business energy adviser but the regional E7 times are applicable to domestic supply.

GMT is standard for all the reference tables I've seen.

Gerry1

dealyboy said:

I found this page useful ... https://www.businessjuice.co.uk/energy-guides/economy-7-times/

Business Juice is a business energy adviser but the regional E7 times are applicable to domestic supply.

GMT is standard for all the reference tables I've seen.

Unfortunately, they seem to have incorrect (or perhaps incomplete?) times for South Eastern England: there's no mention of my 'split shift' 2230 - 0030 then 0230 - 0730 GMT.

dealyboy

@Gerry1 added comment as per your advice. Is that OK?

Gerry1

dealyboy said:

@Gerry1 added comment as per your advice. Is that OK?

@dealyboy

TL;DR  Always check that you've strapped on your parachute, not someone's packed lunch !

------

The note about the BusinessJuice info is fine as far as it goes, but the basic problem remains that of relying on what someone or something thinks your meter is supposed to be doing, rather than you actively checking what your meter is actually doing.

If there's a variance for whatever reason then it can turn out to be an expensive mistake.  Worst of all, it would be difficult or impossible to get a refund for unintended peak rate usage unless you had watertight evidence that proved you had been been given wrong advice by your supplier.

Anyone waiting for the witching hour before turning on high power appliances or relying on local timers should take great care to confirm the cheap rate times by checking the meter on the wall.

Best of all, a neon indicator on a switched circuit outlet makes it easy to see at a glance when the cheap rate has kicked in.  It also makes it easy to spot any changes, e.g. GMT/BST, drifting clocks or unexpected glitches.