Help with storage heating, MPANs

doomgremlin

I've just moved into a house which is heated entirely by old 'dumb' dimplex storage heaters with an Aclara 5 lead SMETS2 meter.

I also have an immersion tank with a Honeywell Electronic 7 control panel next to the consumer unit. I think I've managed to figure out how to program that to come on over night thankfully though.

I got a welcome letter from Scottish Power when I moved in but immediately switched to Octopus who had supplied my last place. The intent was to take advantage of the Snug tariff. 

After a lot of reading though I'm struggling to understand how everything works and the best course of action. Octopus have reassured me that I'm on a day and night tariff (16m loyalty) and that this should be ok for my set up. If I try to change to Snug it says I'm ineligible but they've yet to tell me why, given I meet all the criteria. 

In the meantime, I'm scared to turn on my heating in case it isn't time controlled properly. This seems like it might be the case because if I turn on a storage heater (during the day) to check this the red light on the meter flashes every few seconds vs every 18-20 seconds if I turn the heater off again.

I'm having trouble identifying alternative tarriffs or suppliers (if I can't get Snug) as whenever I put in my address it says I have a related meter or something like that they "can't help just now but hope to be able to in the future".

I seem to have two MPANs and one serial number if I try to check my usage in the Octopus app. Just in case that's of any relevance. 

I'm looking into grants to update the heating system overall but still need to keep warm in the meantime while trying to avoid an extortionate bill. 

I find it hard to use the phone, so I'm trying to persist by emailing octopus rather than phoning. It's all a bit overwhelming though tbh. 

I don't know whether to stick to chasing Octopus or be looking elsewhere.

Failing everything else, does anyone know of an advocacy service or the like who might be able to help me navigate this (disabled so might be able to access additional support)?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

doomgremlin said:

I've just moved into a house which is heated entirely by old 'dumb' dimplex storage heaters with an Aclara 5 lead SMETS2 meter.

That sounds straightforwad enough. there are hudreds of thousands of other propeties in a smilar position.

Do you know the model numbers for your storage heaters?

doomgremlin said:

I got a welcome letter from Scottish Power when I moved in but immediately switched to Octopus who had supplied my last place. The intent was to take advantage of the Snug tariff. 
After a lot of reading though I'm struggling to understand how everything works and the best course of action. Octopus have reassured me that I'm on a day and night tariff (16m loyalty) and that this should be ok for my set up. If I try to change to Snug it says I'm ineligible but they've yet to tell me why, given I meet all the criteria. 

Are you seeing your smart meter readings appear on your Octopus app or in your account on their website? And your daily/weekly/etc. energy use charts?

doomgremlin said:

In the meantime, I'm scared to turn on my heating in case it isn't time controlled properly. This seems like it might be the case because if I turn on a storage heater (during the day) to check this the red light on the meter flashes every few seconds vs every 18-20 seconds if I turn the heater off again.

That doesn't sound right. 
Can you share photos of your meter and consumer unit(s)? It might help us all understand what's going on.

doomgremlin said:

I seem to have two MPANs and one serial number if I try to check my usage in the Octopus app. Just in case that's of any relevance. 

You should query this with Octopus. Their customer service has gone downhill in the last couple of years but if you've only got one meter, you should only have one meter point (MPAN). They should be able to sort it out.

debitcardmayhem

You may have 2 MPANs if there is export of course, but you shouldonly have 1 service charge.
If you have difficulties with using the phone X/twitter is a better alternative to email, I have had good responses using that.

Rosie1001

For snug octopus tariff  , it’s definitely best to call them 

I found them very helpful and my snug is now working great