Did Martin ruin Economy 7 night rate Tariff's?

vienna28

Some may remember this bizarre campaign by Martin from a few years ago:  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/03/government-changes-how-the-epg-should-be-applied-to-economy-7-ta/

At the time with incredible high energy prices, energy companies were being subsidised by UK government to reduce kilowatt per hour by 16.6p on day and night E7 rates.  I recall companies like EDF were heavily weighting that discount for E7 users so night time was very cheap and day time rate was much more expensive.

Of course those who know how to use economy 7 knew that was perfect. The night time rate is the much more important rate after all that's what storage heaters and immersion heaters are run on.

I recall at the time some on twitter whinging to Martin that they were on economy 7 and their day time rate was too high and they wanted that rate lower.  I can remember thinking if these people had storage heaters and immersion heater they wouldn't be complaining that the night time rate was being heavily discounted compared to the day time rate.

Anyway Martin then went on an utterly bizarre campaign and he bizarrely thought he achieved success when the UK government instructed the energy providers to apply the 16.6p discount equally to both day time and night rates.  Of course that meant the all important night time rate shot up in price.  So the cost of heating up the home went up.

Now even though that government subsidy no longer exists, I suspect these days the energy companies still think of Martin's bizarre campaign before deciding on the E7 night and day time rates.  So instead of giving heavily weighted low priced night time rates they now equal out the night and day time rates.

Martin if you reading this.  You DON'T understand economy 7 and what a stupid campaign you ran.  After all you in effect campaigned to raise the prices of heating hot water and running storage heaters.  Thanks for your help Martin!  😂

PS:  Yes I know many will say it was a great campaign by Martin. No it wasn't!   😂

vienna28

This is the EDF chart for the Jan 2023 economy 7 prices.  Which included the government discount.

You can see in many regions EDF were attempting to keep the E7 night rate low.

https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/government_energy_price_guarantee_prices._standard_variable_deemed_and_welcome._credit_meters.pdf

Then after Martin succeeds in his campaign to equalize the government discount for April 2023 for E7 day and night rates.   Here are now the new April 2023 EDF economy 7 prices:

https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/dm1903_pl1_rate_card_builed_aw4_v1.pdf

Thanks Martin!  😭😭😭

Like I said in my previous post.  Even though no more government help, I suspect energy companies like EDF do remember Martin's campaign and now avoid offering low E7 night rates so they can keep the day rate lower. 

Thanks Martin!  😭😭😭

Swipe

He did the same with his broadband campaign and left everyone paying a flat £3 per month annual increase, equivalent to inflation at 10%

molerat

And the same for standing charges. Be careful what you wish for !

Scot_39

EDit

EDF Rates were arguably due to excess nuclear capacity overnight in some regions - according to some posters on here - so like when EM stayed sub 10p for maybe was it 6 months longer than other regions.

Night use is changing all the time - 400,000 new EVs, 40,000 new heatpumps.  More electric demand at all hours - especially winter.

The media lap everything M Lewis says up as some sort of gospel - but he is incredibly naive in some aspects about the consequences of what he asks for.

The Ofgem figures on the cost of his zero standing charge request for many vulnerable households - the classic example.

debitcardmayhem

Scot_39 said:

EDit

EDF Rates were arguably due to excess nuclear capacity overnight in some regions - according to some posters on here - so like when EM stayed sub 10p for maybe was it 6 months longer than other regions.

Night use is changing all the time - 400,000 new EVs, 40,000 new heatpumps.  More electric demand at all hours - especially winter.

The media lap everything M Lewis says up as some sort of gospel - but he is incredibly naive in some aspects about the consequences of what he asks for.

The Ofgem figures on the cost of his zero standing charge request for many vulnerable households - the classic example.

Oops could be in line for a slap on the wrists there scot, do they still PPR? , you can’t say that about St. M , even it’s true 🤣.
But as you say night use is growing , and you forgot the solar+/-battery guys too, they usually import cheap and export during not off peak hours. The energy situation in this country a mess, and OFGEM aren’t addressing it, but fiddling around the edges, they should be disbanded and that would possibly halve the SCs. 
EDIT oh and I am/was one of those solar guys.

Scot_39

Swipe said:

He did the same with his broadband campaign and left everyone paying a flat £3 per month annual increase, equivalent to inflation at 10%

And with mobiles too - so now its £1.70 or £1.80 at a couple of the big boys - whether your on £10 per month or £50 pm AFAIK.

On my plan = c12% rise - the equivalent of inflation at 9.1% under the old CPI/RPI + 3.9%.

Would have been closer to £1 not £1.80 on under old rules.

But blame the regulator - not those who feed it.

QrizB

The answer to the question "did Martin ruin E7?" Is no, he didn't.