Smart Meters and Heat Pumps

Markw

I have an Air Source Heat Pump/underfloor heating system in a very well insulated modern house. However, since electricity has increased in cost I have come to realise that they are VERY inefficient in low temperatures.
I am with Octopus Energy on a single tariff Analogue meter and considering changing to Economy 7. Of course Octopus are are insisting that to do so I would have to change to a Smart Meter.
I know that Martin Lewis was very anti Smart Meters in the early days and would be interested to know what the situation is now. Is it advisable to change to a Smart Meter or are there any drawbacks? I currently submit regular monthly readings so no advantage there for me.

Netexporter

You're only harming yourself/bank balance by not having one.

I'm all in favour of heat pumps but I wouldn't have one without a smart meter.

MeteredOut

Just get a smart meter - have a read of the other threads on this board as to why. The only real(ish) argument for not getting one is because you don't want it. No-one has yet put forward an otherwise coherent reason why. You'll have to get one eventually (when your current meter is end-of-life).

debitcardmayhem

You might do better if you change you thread header to Smart Meters and Heat Pumps, there are some very knowledgeable people on here when it comes to air pumps
plus you can take advantage of newer tariffs 

MultiFuelBurner

Markw said:

I have an Air Source Heat Pump/underfloor heating system in a very well insulated modern house. However, since electricity has increased in cost I have come to realise that they are VERY inefficient in low temperatures.
I am with Octopus Energy on a single tariff Analogue meter and considering changing to Economy 7. Of course Octopus are are insisting that to do so I would have to change to a Smart Meter.
I know that Martin Lewis was very anti Smart Meters in the early days and would be interested to know what the situation is now. Is it advisable to change to a Smart Meter or are there any drawbacks? I currently submit regular monthly readings so no advantage there for me.

Even an 8 year old technology heat pump will get close to a cop of 3 at -2oC outside temp with a flow temp of 35oC (ideal for underfloor heating) 

How well do you know your heat pump and have you changed the settings since install for efficient running to your level of home comfort?

I second the smart meter and we have a heat pump and currently pay an average less than 20p kWh with Octopus Tracker although by the end of winter I am happy for this to be a combined average of 23-24p kWh for the convenience over their Cosy heat pump smart tariff.

Last month over flexible we saved £70 that was just one month so not getting a smart meter you might as well burn some five pound notes for heat.

Keep_pedalling

Octopus have a tariff called Cosy Octopus which is for heat pump users but again you need a smart meter. It would be dumb not to get one in your situation. There are no down sides to this.

Spoonie_Turtle

Yes get a smart meter, but not Economy 7 because your daytime electricity will be more expensive for no real benefit, unless you switch your heat pump off in the day (which I presume you don't because that would be silly).

dunstonh

I am with Octopus Energy on a single tariff Analogue meter and considering changing to Economy 7. Of course Octopus are are insisting that to do so I would have to change to a Smart Meter.

Of course they are.   There is absolutely no reason for them to source an obsolete meter to install.

I know that Martin Lewis was very anti Smart Meters in the early days and would be interested to know what the situation is now. 

SMETS1 were pretty useless.  SMETS2 are great.   

 I currently submit regular monthly readings so no advantage there for me.

Advantage would be no requirement to submit.
You will be able to use money saving schemes (such as paying you to use less).
Conventional digital meters were prone to losing time and going out of sync.  

I don't see how economy 7 will benefit you.   You need around 50%+ of your electric to be off peak to be viable.

Netexporter

I don't see how economy 7 will benefit you.   You need around 50%+ of your electric to be off peak to be viable.

Yes, E7 is for storage heaters, not heat pumps. As others have said, Octopus Cosy would probably be the best fit. It is designed to deliver heat at the least cost.

Spoonie_Turtle

Netexporter said:

I don't see how economy 7 will benefit you.   You need around 50%+ of your electric to be off peak to be viable.

Yes, E7 is for storage heaters, not heat pumps. As others have said, Octopus Cosy would probably be the best fit. It is designed to deliver heat at the least cost.

Or Tracker, as long as they read up about it first then keep an eye on the price.

(I don't understand how Cosy is supposed to specifically work well with ordinary heat pumps.)

MultiFuelBurner

Keep_pedalling said:

Octopus have a tariff called Cosy Octopus which is for heat pump users but again you need a smart meter. It would be dumb not to get one in your situation. There are no down sides to this.

Do you have a heat pump and are you on this? As we have a heat pump/smart meter and are with Octopus so always interested what the average price per kWh other heat pump owners can get down to with the 6 hours cheap 3 hours expensive on cosy.