Do energy firms have to tell you if Economy 7 is not cheapest?

QrizB

Spoonie_Turtle said:

You need to actually have your meter registered as single rate for them to use that as the basis for comparison, per the OP's complaint.  Even with a smart meter, otherwise when you switch they automatically put you onto Economy 7 because that's the registered profile for your meter - and then you have the same problem as the above poster.

About a 18 months ago Octopus changed my smart meter from a single-rate profile to a dual-rate one. The first line of my supply number changed from S1 801 100 to S2 900 456.

If I switched, I would expect my new supplier to offer me a dual-rate tariff.

markin

I think ofgem recently compelled them to now advise customers that a single rate may be cheaper, before that they only had to say if it was the cheapest E7 rate, But you still have to do your own math. 

dealyboy

@Slinky said:

Gerry1 said:

Chris_b2z said:

First of all, I'm pretty sure that suppliers can move you onto a single rate tariff without changing your meter. It doesn't need to be smart.

I do have a smart meter. My transition to the standard single rate tariff was painless and completed within a day. However, it does look like my meter is still in dual-rate mode with both the day and off-peak rates set to the same rate. I'm not sure what that means when I start to shop around in the future.

Slinky said:

I had a right fight trying to get on a single rate tariff with E7 meters, as we had a very similar usage pattern to yourself. We have gas CH and no storage heaters. The E7 meters were a legacy from the previous owners.

We were on a fixed rate single tariff with Outfox the Market, but when the fix ended they stuck us on E7 and wouldn't give us single rate. I moved to EDF as they said they would offer me this, and they did after a lot of messing about and a complaint to the Ombudsman.

We've now got solar so swapped to smart meter on single rate tariff with Octopus. May move to a more TOU tariff when we see how our usage works out.

So my advice is don't go to EDF, they were a complete nightmare to get the single rate sorted, and their 6 monthly billing makes it difficult to keep track of how much you are spending.

Many suppliers will happily bill an E7 meter at single rate, but some awkward ones won't.  Fuse won't even supply you at all if you have a traditional E7 meter.  Always check before switching.

I'm fairly sure EDF offer monthly billing, (or used to.)  I was with them probably about two years ago and I wouldn't have accepted six-monthly billing.

Just two more examples of dozy Ofgem's failings.  There should be minimum standards to promote effective competition annd minimise unnecessary customer confusion.

If you are on fixed DD, EDF only send you a bill 6 monthly. If you pay a variable amount each month, they will bill you monthly.

If you're lucky! I'm not. It's supposed to be but hasn't been since I joined a few months ago ... next bill* due 6 weeks after the last one, will it be for usage (whole of bill monthly) or regular (1/12 of annual estimate) who knows? I don't, they don't. *Pre Kraken.