Switching to a Smart Meter with Economy 7

indebt80

I might have missed a similar query  that someone has already answered.  I have changed electricity supplier and have decided to have a smart meter fitted.  I am on Economy 7 with Seeboard and at the moment Economy 7 kicks in from 23:30 to 01:30 and then again from 03:30 to 08:30 but when British Summertime ends it goes back one hour to 22:30 to 00:30 etc. for GMT

At present the timing on my old meter never changes.  It is the change from GMT to summer time that alters the hours that Economy 7 is in operation.

How will this work with a smart meter - will the smart meter just use the same GMT times and then it will be one hour later when summertime starts - as it has always been with the old meter. 

Or is it smart and will use different summertime times?  I hope you understand what I mean. I can ask the installer when he arrives but thought I would ask here first.  Many thanks.

Netexporter

Smart meters adjust between GMT and BST.

Scot_39

Smart meters pretty much all afaik adjust their time - as in displayed time.

But they don't necessarily adjust the economy 7 switch times in many cases.

So my smart e10 switching times remain as gmt - so shift 1 hr on all other clocks and the meter / ihd displayed times.

So restricted circuits live and off peak tariff rate say my overnight slot (1 of 3 in my region)  happens 12-5 gmt regardless and so becomes 1-6 dst clock time etc 

However software / configurations can vary between  models and suppliers even - and some like BG claim with their own model meter fitted their ev tariff - but others report it still shifts ?  - which uses the 2 register billing method iirc - remains off peak 12-5am gmt or dst if I remember past  threads.

Also, as a cautionary note - your split e7 - 2 on 2 off 5 on - was iirc a regional special - it's not a standard uk supplier timing.  Many on e7 are on a solid 7 hr block, and that's is often what is quoted in some suppliers web pages for e7 - so say 00:00 to 07:00 or 00:30 to 07:30 gmt times.  But they are other possibilities.

But the meters themselves can still support it  - if parameterised /set / programmed too -  there was post here where someone ended up on the single 7hr block - when had been on 2+5 - but iirc managed to get the 2+5 back from their supplier. 

If it's important to you ask before upgrade or switch.  In writing - as you may need it.

Ildhund

The E7 hours vary from region to region and are set by the DNO. They are almost always quoted in GMT, but it depends on (a) the meter, (b) the meter configuration and (c) the supplier's billing system whether any adjustment is made for BST. My own SMETS2 Aclara SGM1416-B makes no allowance for BST, so my offpeak hours shift from 00:00-07:00 in winter to 01:00-08:00 in summer. It's a !!!!!! having to shower either after midnight or before 7AM during the winter.

Your odd hours look to be governed by SSC 0093, with TPRs 30 (day) and 214 (night). You could ask your supplier whether they can offer this SSC for your new meter. If they don't, ask which E7 SSCs they do support and look them up in the table I referred you to.

indebt80

Thank you very much for your replies.  It sounds too complicated so I think I will cancel the smart meter installation for now.  Why did I think it would be easy!

BarelySentientAI

It's not complicated from your side, and you will get a smart meter anyway.

indebt80

Well it sounds it!

BarelySentientAI

Do you want the split E7 times or do you not care?

indebt80

Well I am used to it now after years of having it.  I don't think that having a full block of lower cost heating would be beneficial to me.  In the past, I have been with other small companies (who unfortunately went bust) and they didn't offer Economy 7 tariffs so I was on a single tariff - they were good because my electricity, I am a high user, was a lot cheaper.  But I don't want the stress of having a new meter that is incorrectly figured so I think I am, for the time being, going to cancel the installation.

Swipe

If you do decide to get one, there's a high probability that you will get a single 7 hour off peak block with your new smart meter as the ALCS smart meter times are pre-programed. So definitely worth checking with the supplier first but, then again, you can't always believe what they tell you.

indebt80

Thank you that is helpful.  But if Seeboard hours are meant to be the hours for my area - the times that I quote above.  How does 7 hour block of economy hours work?  Are there other people in my area who have economy 7 meters not on the same times as me?  (If you understand what I mean).