Can an Economy meter support both tariffs (E7 and E10)? or are they 2 different meters?

mickael28

Hi, we've been in an "Economy 7 tariff" for many years because we've got overnight electric radiators. I was now checking to change to another provider and "Home Energy" is asking me if my traditional meter is an "Economy 10 meter", do you know if my traditional meter supporting Economy 7 can be referred to as an 'Economy 10 meter' as well (so it could support both tariffs mainly depending on the provider rather than the meter)?

Stubod

..if you get a smart meter fitted it should be capable of doing both??

Scot_39

Economy 7 and economy 10 are two different sets of timings for multirate electric.

When my digital was fitted they came preconfigured.

Wnen my smart was fitted they cam preconfigured - I know because the first box one of my fitters grabbed was e7 and not e10 on the box label. So had to go back to the van to get an e10 model.

It's unlikely anyone will come and reprogram an old digital model e7 meter to e10 timings - but smart meters can be configured for either - and for many - that can be changed via an over the air update.

The surprising thing would be finding a new supplier to do so - e10 became a legacy tariff at most suppliers several years ago.

Although for instance Ovo iirc are currently fitting smets2 smart e10 meters to many of their legacy RTS customers - with 3 off peaks periods - one overnight one afternoon one evening - per day.

QrizB

mickael28 said:

... do you know if my traditional meter supporting Economy 7 can be referred to as an 'Economy 10 meter' as well (so it could support both tariffs mainly depending on the provider rather than the meter)?

The short answer is no, it can't.

If you want E10 you'll have to get a new meter, almost certainly a smart meter.

mickael28

Scot_39 said:

Economy 7 and economy 10 are two different sets of timings for multirate electric.

When my digital was fitted they came preconfigured.

Wnen my smart was fitted they cam preconfigured - I know because the first box one of my fitters grabbed was e7 and not e10 on the box label. So had to go back to the van to get an e10 model.

It's unlikely anyone will come and reprogram an old digital model e7 meter to e10 timings - but smart meters can be configured for either - and for many - that can be changed via an over the air update.

The surprising thing would be finding a new supplier to do so - e10 became a legacy tariff at most suppliers several years ago.

Although for instance Ovo iirc are currently fitting smets2 smart e10 meters to many of their legacy RTS customers - with 3 off peaks periods - one overnight one afternoon one evening - per day.

I see, thank you all, it seems then they're different physical meters.

I had the doubt because we've got an Economy 7 meter then but when having a look at the sign up page of 'Home Energy, they don't offer such an option, they just say Traditional/Smart and then they ask if you have an Economy 10 meter specifically, without mentioning the Economy 7 one, which is the one we've got :S

I don't know if that means this company cannot offere E7 then and if we want to keep it, either we go to another one or ask for a Smart meter? But if we do ask for an Smart meter, can we ask the electricity companies to give us an E7 tariff? 

Scot_39

No the newer meter models are physically identical - and have been for many years.  It's purely a software driven distinction.  A series of values put into a tariff and alcs switching tables on a modern smart meter in the case of block register billing - similar to later generation pre smart two rate digital meters.

I've had both later generation digital and smart - both had e7 or e10 tariff support capability - but you'll only get smart installed now.

Some smarter dual rate or triple rare or variable tariffs use 1/2 hourly data for additional billing flexibility.

The single box solution being a so called 5 port meter with on board alcs - for those needing a meter switched (time) restricted feed for say hw immersion and night storage heaters.

The issue maybe they don't offer an economy 10 tariff - and so wont quote.

Or they have detected your meter is profile class 2 from national meter database when you gave postcode and address - so want to know whether to offer you an e7 or e10 tariff and configured meter.

[But my big 6 supplier EOn Next only afaik offers it as a legacy tariff - it's not supported for new customers and possibly not upgrades - as at least one poster here lost e10 when an e7 configured smart meter upgrade was installed.]

If the on line sign up is confusing you - have you tried phoning.

The on line webpage options are often over simplistic to fit the majority. 

Last figure I saw - non rts e10 was sub 100,000 installs according to Ofgem - so surprised to see it even being asked about.


Do you know your current tariff and your current off peak times if dual rate ?


Most suppliers have no problem supplying e7 though - although given past issues maybe might be worth avoiding British Gas - who seem to still have issues from a recent poster who said was told by meter fitters who came and left that they dont do 2 rate meters.