Electrician says new meter needed... British Gas say we don't - help please!

EssexHebridean

You can change the way you use things to mean that you can benefit more from the E7 tariff, though. 
- washing machine can run during the off peak
- immersion heater if you have one should be timed to heat on the off peak
- electric showers are so much less expensive on off peak, where the timings allow it!
- A slow cooker, run on the off peak rate, is a great way of batch cooking. 

Cinders2001

Thank you for posting the photo for me. I see this Henley block is what could be needed for us. I will see what the chap says when he comes to fit the heater. Thank you!

Indeed thank you to all those who have commented on this thread. I appreciate you all taking the time ☺☺

leonj

Changing to E7 is going to increase your bills a fair bit, just so your landlord can get his EPC

[Deleted User]

leonj said:

Changing to E7 is going to increase your bills a fair bit, just so your landlord can get his EPC

Changing to an E7 capable smart meter doesn't compel you to change to an E7 tariff, it just gives you the option if you want to. So it doesn't need to cost you anything.

oldagetraveller1

leonj said:

Changing to E7 is going to increase your bills a fair bit, just so your landlord can get his EPC

I had an EPC survey, last December, on a flat that has a two rate "Smart" meter, and there was no mention of the meter or rates whatsoever on the certificate. 

Scot_39

leonj said:

Changing to E7 is going to increase your bills a fair bit, just so your landlord can get his EPC

You only need around just over a third of use at off peak for e7 to be comparable cost to single rate electric in some regions with some suppliers.  (The exact figure changes with supplier see saw balance across regions and cap / seasons - I've seen some in low 30s at times -  Ofgem assumes 42% when sets overall profile class 2 cap - but consulted on dropping it to 40% recently).

The qm100 is capable of storing 15.5kWh energy at 240V.

If can let that heat circulate in a few rooms etc.

Which in a small flat or say mid terrace like mine could be a decent chunk of space heating required  - about what I use in my 2 bed on all but the coldest weeks to keep the majority of house at c15C (living room warmer) - keeps damp away.

But as above posts- boosting off peak use by timing other heavy power use - hw tank immersion the most obvious - but others do shift washing etc - can carry the off peak mix high enough in some cases to make e7 cheaper option all year round.

My vented  hw tank uses c50% of my total demand on many lower use summer days - and that in my case sadly excludes shower use - which would shift the balance another 15-20%.

bob2302

Scot_39 said:

My vented  hw tank uses c50% of my total demand on many lower use summer days - and that in my case sadly excludes shower use 

It may be a blessing in disguise. Showering directly off an unvented system is likely to lead to a higher flow rate that wipes out the benefit of the cheaper rate.