Economy 7/off peak tarrifs

AppealCD1

I moved into a rented flat end of November and am using Electric heating for the first time. There are electric storage heaters (with simple input/output dials in hallway and lounge and panel heaters in bedrooms.
Because I am on a fixed tarrif with British Gas til April I stayed with them, and they said my existing tarrif was the best on offer (although I mentioned storage heaters) and set my direct debit at £73pcm.
ive been turning input up when I go to bed around 10pm and down when I get up (7-9am). I looked at my online account and in the first month incurred costs of £220. I increased my direct debit and asked to switch to economy 7 but BG no longer offer this, Only off peak is EV tariff but they say they will ask for proof of EV ownership.
I looked at EON heat pump tariff but the estimate was higher - not sure if that’s because they base it on 35% off peak whereas mine is at least 50%, probably higher,except on very cold days when I put the fire in the lounge on for a bit.
Slight complication is I’m likely to be moving end April to a house I’m buying. Is it worth switching? My penalty with BG is £50.
Thanks 

WiserMiser

AppealCD1 said:

I've been turning input up when I go to bed around 10pm and down when I get up (7-9am).

You're doing it wrong.  You turn the input up if the next day is likely to be colder.  You turn the output down when you go to bed and turn it up in the late afternoon if it gets a bit chilly.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=UeB3Xf_qKvA

Netexporter

Have you got a smart meter or another sort of E7 meter?

QrizB

AppealCD1 said:

... asked to switch to economy 7 but BG no longer offer this, 

BG definitely offer an Economy 7 tariff. They're obliged to by Ofgem. Whichever Customer Service rep told you they dont, needs re-training.

AppealCD1 said:

ive been turning input up when I go to bed around 10pm and down when I get up (7-9am).

That's not how storage heaters work, although in practice it will probably work out OK.

Set the "input" before going to bed, based on how cold you think it will be the next day.

WiserMiser

AppealCD1 said:

I increased my direct debit and asked to switch to economy 7 but BG no longer offer this, Only off peak is EV tariff but they say they will ask for proof of EV ownership.

Whoever told you that was wrong.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/guides/economy-7-meters-explained.html

AppealCD1

Netexporter said:

Have you got a smart meter or another sort of E7 meter?

Yes it’s a smart meter - takes readings every half hour. 

QrizB

AppealCD1 said:

Netexporter said:

Have you got a smart meter or another sort of E7 meter?

Yes it’s a smart meter - takes readings every half hour. 

In which case, you might want to consider Snug Octopus:

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

AppealCD1

QrizB said:

AppealCD1 said:

... asked to switch to economy 7 but BG no longer offer this, 

BG definitely offer an Economy 7 tariff. They're obliged to by Ofgem. Whichever Customer Service rep told you they dont, needs re-training.

It doesn’t come up as an option when I go online to switch tariff and I’ve been told that every time I contact them too. I wonder if Economy 7 is variable whereas I’ve been looking at fixed?

WiserMiser

You're not seeking to change tariff, merely to have the E7 version of your existing tariff.

Call again and escalate if necessary.

Swipe

AppealCD1 said:

QrizB said:

AppealCD1 said:

... asked to switch to economy 7 but BG no longer offer this, 

BG definitely offer an Economy 7 tariff. They're obliged to by Ofgem. Whichever Customer Service rep told you they dont, needs re-training.

It doesn’t come up as an option when I go online to switch tariff and I’ve been told that every time I contact them too. I wonder if Economy 7 is variable whereas I’ve been looking at fixed?

It won't come up as an option if your meter is currently registered as single rate

QrizB

For someone with conventional storage heaters and a smart meter, Snug Octopus is a decent choice.

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

(Reposting in case my reply was too quick!)