Scottish Power / Economy 7 and smart meters

mmmmikey

Hi, although you might be able to delay things, sooner or later your going to have to change. Storage heaters (even the modern ones) are quite simple and reliable and can be a good second hand buy. You can often buy them for a third of the cost of new ones. If you buy Elnur ECOxxHHR heaters they can be simply swapped for your old ones and set up to use various smart tariffs. Newer Dimplex Quantum heaters are also a straight swap, but I think the older ones need a dual supply so it becomes a bit more involved. Something worth looking into maybe?

Pixie_Cosmo

Update...

Well, after being reassured by SP that my off-peak times would stay the same, I got my smart meter fitted.

I asked the fitter about the timings. They basically said if I was concerned, to put off having the meter fitted, as they doubted the radio teleswitch would get switched off in June. Because there are so many people still using them, SP would be inundated with complaints so chance were the switch off will get put back again.

I decided as the fitter was there I might as well get it fitted. After all, SP had reassured me several times my timings would not change. 

Guess what... my timings are now 1.30 am to 8.30am. I contacted SP through the customer services and via messager and got two different responses. One said I've been on the overnight hours since the mid 90's, the other said my TwinHeat timings should absolutely have stayed the same, and they will look into it. It's now recorded as a complaint so who knows what I'll end up with.

It is nice not having to rush down before 7am to boil a flask for my morning coffees, but very inconvenient not having my pm hours as I wfm mostly. Urgh.

Scot_39

If dont get the 4+3 back and If your in a good signal area snug Octopus might br a good option to consider.  You can set a limit overnight for nsh power restricted circuit plus get 1 hr in afternoon in winter.

For 9p off peak when last checked.  30% cheaper off peak and 10% peak cf their E7 rates before Apr rise when looked.

Pixie_Cosmo

Scot_39 said:

If dont get the 4+3 back and If your in a good signal area snug Octopus might br a good option to consider.  You can set a limit overnight for nsh power restricted circuit plus get 1 hr in afternoon in winter.

For 9p off peak when last checked.  30% cheaper off peak and 10% peak cf their E7 rates before Apr rise when looked.

Thank you, I will change suppliers out of spite if I don't get my hours back! Useful to know. My neighbour is on Octopus so it should work ok :-) 

Pixie_Cosmo

So my actually helpful customer advisor reckons it's all sorted, although I've been away so can't check yet.

HOWEVER! I'm on the Help Beat Cancer flexi tariff. For some reason I checked the tariff rates. I'm now on a flat rate for both rates of 25.8p/kwh... I don't know how long this has been the case either. I mean, this might be ok for me in the summer, but no way can I afford to put my storage heaters on over winter.

I asked and off peak is now 18p and peak is 40.5p on their standard tariff, which is the only other option for me. 

What the FF is this all about ARRRGH!!! Sorry, SP are really rage inducing!

QrizB

Pixie_Cosmo said:

HOWEVER! I'm on the Help Beat Cancer flexi tariff. For some reason I checked the tariff rates. I'm now on a flat rate for both rates of 25.8p/kwh... I don't know how long this has been the case either. I mean, this might be ok for me in the summer, but no way can I afford to put my storage heaters on over winter.
I asked and off peak is now 18p and peak is 40.5p on their standard tariff, which is the only other option for me.

The "Help Beat Cancer" tariff should also have an E7 version, with the same 18p/40.5p split as the standard one. You could ask to be switched to it.

Although, if you think the 25.8p flat rate will save you money over the summer, there's nothing stopping you from staying on that until September, then asking to change.

Pixie_Cosmo

QrizB said:

Pixie_Cosmo said:

HOWEVER! I'm on the Help Beat Cancer flexi tariff. For some reason I checked the tariff rates. I'm now on a flat rate for both rates of 25.8p/kwh... I don't know how long this has been the case either. I mean, this might be ok for me in the summer, but no way can I afford to put my storage heaters on over winter.
I asked and off peak is now 18p and peak is 40.5p on their standard tariff, which is the only other option for me.

The "Help Beat Cancer" tariff should also have an E7 version, with the same 18p/40.5p split as the standard one. You could ask to be switched to it.

Although, if you think the 25.8p flat rate will save you money over the summer, there's nothing stopping you from staying on that until September, then asking to change.

Ah, thank you, the chat person didn't give me that option! I will investigate. I'm also signed up to the half price weekend tariff.

I need to do some sums as I'm so used to doing as much as I can on cheap rate. I think it's hot water/showers/cooking that will cost me most at this time of year.

SP make my brain hurt tbh.

Pixie_Cosmo

I was on the E7 version to start with - SP has randomly moved me onto the flat rate. Might be smart meter related. Who knows.

Pixie_Cosmo

I think it's finally sorted, hurray! So anyone with the same concerns, SP can change the off-peak hours back to legacy times via the SM. Phew. 

I've also changed tariffs as the flat rate wouldn't work for me. 

QrizB

Glad to know everything got sorted out, and relatively quickly!