Economy 7 meter but single tariff - changing providers

Jet

I want to change from British Gas to Octopus energy (mainly for customer service reasons).  We have a 2 rate meter but are on a single rate tarriff with British Gas.

When I try and switch, Octopus energy flags up that I am not on a single rate meter and then tries to re-direct me to a economy 7 rate quote.

I've emailed them to ask what I should do, but wondered if any wise people on here would know?

QrizB

The national database will show your meter as an E7 one. Pretty much any supplier will want to give you an E7 quote if you use their automated systems.

You'll need to phone, email, Tweet etc. Octopus and ask for the single-rate tariff specifically.

Once you get a smart meter, you can have it set to single-rate and switching should become easier.

dunstonh

When I try and switch, Octopus energy flags up that I am not on a single rate meter and then tries to re-direct me to a economy 7 rate quote.

Automated systems may do that but it can easily be overruled by a human and the same single rate applied to both registers.   just as you are now with BG.

dealyboy

Hi Jet ...

What you have is a two register (peak and off-peak) meter, not a two rate meter. The rates are determined by your supplier and your tariff can be 'two readings one (or single) rate' as provided by British Gas or an economy 7 one. Suppliers should be able to offer you either single or E7 tariffs and therefore this is advantageous to users wanting to change their tariff type in summer or winter.

I have been on both E7 tariffs and 'two readings one rate' tariffs in the past, with the same meter.

Octopus, being the supplier with the most sophisticated tariffs and generally accepted as having the best customer service, should be able to accommodate your wishes.

Mobtr

You will need to transfer over to octopus as an E7 meter as that’s what you have & that’s what’s in the national database. Once you are transferred over & everything's set up, they can then change it within their system to bill you on a single rate prices 

old_antelope

Mobtr said:

You will need to transfer over to octopus as an E7 meter as that’s what you have & that’s what’s in the national database. Once you are transferred over & everything's set up, they can then change it within their system to bill you on a single rate prices 

Is that easy to do? I am considering switching to Octopus, and emailed them (a few days ago) about this very topic, but they did not reply.

dealyboy

@old_antelope said:

Mobtr said:

You will need to transfer over to octopus as an E7 meter as that’s what you have & that’s what’s in the national database. Once you are transferred over & everything's set up, they can then change it within their system to bill you on a single rate prices 

Is that easy to do? I am considering switching to Octopus, and emailed them (a few days ago) about this very topic, but they did not reply.

... should be, but you will likely need to phone them to do it for you. My experience with online sign-ups is that they suffer from 'rigid thinking' E7-->E7.

Gerry1

dealyboy said:

@old_antelope said:

Mobtr said:

You will need to transfer over to octopus as an E7 meter as that’s what you have & that’s what’s in the national database. Once you are transferred over & everything's set up, they can then change it within their system to bill you on a single rate prices 

Is that easy to do? I am considering switching to Octopus, and emailed them (a few days ago) about this very topic, but they did not reply.

... should be, but you will likely need to phone them to do it for you. My experience with online sign-ups is that they suffer from 'rigid thinking' E7-->E7.

E7-->E7 is the safest default, otherwise they'd be deluged with complaints from NSH owners.

I agree that it would be better to offer both E7 and single rate quotations; the break even point used to be as low as 15% - 20% night usage but is often higher now.  That means that some who had E7 would find single rate more appropriate today.

The worst suppliers and comparison sites are those who ask only for total annual consumption (or ignore your night/day ratio) and base their quotations on the national average 42/58 (or something even less likely) so that they seem cheaper than will be the case.  Dozy Ofgem has known about this problem for many years but AFAIK has still failed to take any action.

@Jet What was your outcome?