Scottish Power installed an Economy 7 Smart Meter when I have oil central heating

Thunder_Pants

Since the energy prices have increased I have started to take a look at the usage, and to see if I am overpaying for electric.

I use on average 1.09 units of electricity during the night, we have had oil central heating as that was in situ when we moved into the cottage in October 2013. Therefore, we paid all our electricity at the day rate less small the quantity of night usage.  SP advised we should swap to a Smart Meter and arranged for an Economy 7 meter to be installed in April 2022.

We decided to move suppliers as we were really disappointed with the Smart Meter, not working properly and felt let down. Our new energy provider has advised we should never have been on Economy 7, and have switched our tariff to a standard rate we've been paying 36.9p per unit and are now paying 24.033p

Unfortunately, I do not understand why we were recommended a replacement Economy 7 Smart Meter, other than to continue charge electric at a premium.

QrizB

Thunder_Pants said:

I use on average 1.09 units of electricity during the night, we have had oil central heating as that was in situ when we moved into the cottage in October 2013. Therefore, we paid all our electricity at the day rate less small the quantity of night usage.  SP advised we should swap to a Smart Meter and arranged for an Economy 7 meter to be installed in April 2022.

So before your smart meter, you had a conventional (not-smart) E7 meter? If so, Scottish Power will have replaced like-with-like.

The best time to change away from E7 would have been when you moved in in 2013. The second-best time is now, which I see you've done.

Thunder_Pants

Yes, the meter was an Economy 7 meter when we moved in but, we were told we could only have E7 rates due to the meter and I had advised them I used oil central heating. I thought companies had to be transparent with pricing and services as they are selling a product.

Thankfully switching from E7 to a standard rate will save me £50 a month.

QrizB

Thunder_Pants said:

Yes, the meter was an Economy 7 meter when we moved in but, we were told we could only have E7 rates due to the meter and I had advised them I used oil central heating.

Most suppliers would (and still will) happily offer a single-rate tariff even with split-rate meters. You still submit both sets of readings, but both are charged at the standard rate.

Thunder_Pants said:

I thought companies had to be transparent with pricing and services as they are selling a product.

You had an E7 meter, they offered an E7 tariff. If you had wanted a single-rate tariff at any stage, you could have asked. If Scottish Power flatly refused, you could've switched supplier.

I'm pleased for you that you've now sorted this out, but you can't really blame Scottish Power.

Thunder_Pants said:

Unfortunately, I do not understand why we were recommended a replacement Economy 7 Smart Meter, other than to continue charge electric at a premium.

There is no such thing as an E7 smart meter. All UK domestic smart meters can be configured for single-rate, E7 or more complicated tariffs. (Some of the auxiliary wiring might be different, but that's not a metering issue.)