My British Gas E7/E10 tariff is ending; looking for new supplier

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: British Gas - Economy 7 scam warning.

AmberPensioner

I am a British Gas customer on E7, having been on E7 forever, over 49 years.  I was send an email saying I have a smart meter for electricity and gas as the E7 signal is being switched off.  I asked them about the tariff and if it would cost me the same each month.  They repeatedly said that I would not be charged anymore, the cost is exactly the same.  Then at the end the lady said by way I have to tell you that the night time period will be 12.30am to 6am.  I said this is not acceptable as my E7 is 8pm to 6am meaning our evenings will be charged at the higher rate.  It is not impossible, actually quite easy, for BG to create a tariff to be the same as existing E7.   Obviously another hidden price increase which they deny.
I am looking for a new supplier.  Any suggestions?

WiserMiser

Welcome to the forum.

It seems you are not on Economy 7 because, as the name indicates, it lasts for only seven hours (with a two-hour gap in the middle in some areas).

You're probably on E10, but this tariff is being phased out.

Do you have storage heaters and a Radio Teleswitch (probably a big black box next to the meter on the wall)?

MWT

... or they are on an E7 tariff, just that BG didn't realise their meter and timer were set for 10 hours at the low-rate...

A recent bill will show the name of the tariff of course...

MSE_ForumTeam5

Hi @AmberPensioner we have split your question to be in a thread of its own

Scot_39

1) RTS assuming you have RTS for your old E10 - is nothing to do with your gas meter.

See e.g. photo here for an old RTS / dual rate spinning disc meter - 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/replace-your-old-rts-meter-as-soon-as-possible/

Some firms are confusing RTS and other old legacy tariff / meter configurations.

2) You are likely going to struggle to get E10 from another supplier - most if not all only support for their own legacy customers.  I phoned around a few times in distant past - only 1 other than EOn quoted me first time - even they refused second time. 

EOn - thats EOn - before EOn Next - had that "legacy only" policy 10 years ago when took away my RTS (nothing to do with radio swtichoff)

It as you say not a technical problem - any smart meter that supports E7 can arguably support E10 - its a supplier choice thing.

I have it on smets1 on the exact same model EOn used for E7 as well.  Its just a set of table settings.

Another forumite - is currently struggling to retain it - having been switched to it just 4 months ago by EDF.

But I'd maybe be careful about making too much noise - as you are lucky to have been paying E7 rates for E10 timings.  EDF charge around 4-5p on peak, EOn charge similar but on off-peak - more than the E7 - due to those 3 hours. Their used to be a site called economy10.com (dont visit it was spam or worse infected last time I tried assuming it even still exists at all) for us dinosaurs - and from posts on their - some firms would take on E10 meters - and bill on E7 - but others would openly declare they would move 30% of the recorded off peak into peak rate usage.

I have E10 split 3 ways - EOn Next now calls anything with more than one off peak time period - a complex meter - and says again explicitly in its T&Cs they no longer support them.

3) But do you really want to be on E7 ?

You appear to be duel fuel. On mains gas.

Not all companies charge the same for E7 even on variable caps - but if you have gas heating - and gas hot water - you may not want to be on E7 at all.

Even with the extra 3 hours it might not have been saving you much if anything.

With say EDF who publish E7 rates you might say be paying c15p off peak - but c30p peak - vs single rate of c25p - and with that sort of pricing you might need to use 35-40% of total use in the off peak period - thats not easy on E7 when all 7 hours overnight for many users without electric heating.

Have a look at your E7 peak and off peak registers and work out the % off peak vs total.

Then do it again takng say 30-40% over to peak.

4) The Good News 

Without the need for meter off peak controlled heating - others Do fixed TOU on Smart that might suit you better than even you old E10 and probably better than E7.

Other time of use tariffs are available once you have smart electric meter - examples like Octopus Cosy from a major player - and other smaller players.  Cosy gives 8 hrs at off peak - 3 early AM, 3 early afternoon - and 2 late evening (10-12).

https://octopus.energy/smart/cosy-octopus/

It just quoted me 12.3p off peak - 25.x p day and 37.6p peak. 

If you can stear clear of heavy use - like cooking / tumble drying etc etc in the 4-7pm peak period - that sort of tariff might work better for you.