Basic BG meter questions and getting rates confused

aliceb1234

I live in a flat that I own. I have a British Gas key to open the box outside my flat to take the electricity meter readings. Years ago, BG used to send someone to take the readings ever so often but unless they do it and i dont know, they dont do that anymore. When I asked them about it they said it wasnt something they did any longer. 
For some reason I cant get a smart meter (this is what BG have said)
Some time ago, it may have been when the meter was read by them or it could have been when I did it, the numbers were put in the wrong way, so the reading for rate 1 was put in for rate 2 and vice versa.
When I tried to tell them over the phone some time ago, they didnt understand and implied I was reading it wrongly or that the numbering or the rates in the box could be wrong and installed the wrong way around. Since then, if I try to put the readings in the right way around on my online account, it says it must be wrong and wont record them. So I have a history of readings in there that are the wrong way around.
I am not sure what the rates mean and a google doesnt help. I assume as its flashing rate right now rate 2 is the evening rate and rate 1 is the day time rate but when I do a search only it says the rates are different overnight and the rest of the time so I am not sure, unless tonight I go out there after midnight and see if rate 1 is flashing.
How can I get them to understand what is going on? I cant get my head around if this is likely to mean I owe them a lot of money or them me as looking on my online pdf bill doesnt throw any light on rate 1 and rate 2, as the electricity bill is obviously just charged overall.  I suppose if I am charged the same for rate 1 and rate 2 it wont ultimately matter that they have been switched, it would be the same price anyway?
(whatever the two different ones are, e.g. does it refer to overnight and the rest of them time or does it refer to daytime up to 6pm and after that) 
Can anyone help?

Gerry1

A two-rate meter is used on tariffs such as Economy 7 which gives a lower rate overnight.  There is no standard defining whether Rate 1 is Day and Rate 2 is Night or vice versa.

The cheap rate is typically 2330 - 0630 GMT but it varies between regions and some are split, e.g. 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.

Take readings at say 1000 and 2000.  The register which has increased will be the day one.

Many suppliers will bill an E7 meter at single rate if you ask them.

If you have gas or oil heating E7 will probably not be cost effective because the E7 day rate is higher than the single rate.

When submitting readings, ignore any figures or dials in red.

aliceb1234

Here is an example from a previous month - 23341 and 23454 was rate 1 in the box and 04547 and 05003 was rate 2, but I had to put 23341/23454 at rate 2 and 04547/0500s as rate 1 as it wouldnt accept them the other way around, it said one was too high and one too low, but that was because they were initially entered the wrong way around. However, i see it says both are 33.461p per kWh, so in fact it doesnt really matter as they are charged the same? The box is old, the flats were built in the late 80's. I can only assume at one point rate 1 and 2 were different but now they are the same. i am on standard variable tariff

Anytime

readings

113.6 kWh at 33.461p per kWh

23341

- ACTUAL

23454.6

- ACTUAL

Anytime

readings

456.7 kWh at 33.461p per kWh

04547

- ACTUAL

05003.7

- ACTUAL

t0rt0ise

It's fine. It doesn't matter if they are recording them the wrong way round as they are charging you the same single rate. All is good.

aliceb1234

thanks! i did wonder that. i actually got in touch with them initially as i am over £500 in credit, money i could do with at the moment and they dont need to keep that much in reserve
i have only recently noticed that and have not had much luck with the chat bots when ive tried to contact them but will try a different approach tomorrow

Gerry1

You may wish to switch to Variable Direct Debit.  You pay the whole bill each month, so no credit builds up.

Of course, it means higher bills in winter and lower ones in summer, but at least you're in full control.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

aliceb1234 said:

The box is old, the flats were built in the late 80's. I can only assume at one point rate 1 and 2 were different but now they are the same. i am on standard variable tariff

when the flats were built they possibly had electric storage heaters, thus the two rates.

What type of heating have you now?

aliceb1234

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

aliceb1234 said:

The box is old, the flats were built in the late 80's. I can only assume at one point rate 1 and 2 were different but now they are the same. i am on standard variable tariff

when the flats were built they possibly had electric storage heaters, thus the two rates.

What type of heating have you now?

my sister suggested that, maybe it was relevant at the time but not now yet it has to be entered as 2 rates as set up that way
i have a water storage unit but the timer has not worked since i moved in years ago so i just heat the water up by flicking a switch on
i just have a plug in heater as the flat is small