Overcharged for electricity due to time clock/ E7 meter problems.

carlsouthlon

Hello All
I moved into my all electric 2 bed apartment in October 2025.  
My meter has readings, a day rate and night rate, as I believe there were Economy 7 storage heaters in the past. There are now standard electric radiators installed. I have been providing the day rate reading monthly to the supplier (British Gas), which changes each month.
The night rate reading has never changed and the dial on the clock has not moved 
So, I am now getting huge bills per month as all of my electricity usage has been recorded at the day rate. What I do know is that one of the previous owners of the flat removed to meter time clock (E7 meter). 
What has gone wrong here and what can I do about it? 
Any advice would be much appreciated. 

 

QrizB

Do you own your flat, or is it rented?

Can you share a photo of your electricity meter and any associated equipment?

carlsouthlon said:

My meter has readings, a day rate and night rate, as I believe there were Economy 7 storage heaters in the past. There are now standard electric radiators installed.

It would have been better to have chosen a different flat, one which still had storage heaters (or even one with gas central heating) but that's in the past.

With electric panel heaters, you should probably be on a single-rate tariff not Economy 7.

carlsouthlon said:

 I have been providing the day rate reading monthly to the supplier (British Gas), which changes each month.
The night rate reading has never changed and the dial on the clock has not moved 

If your meter has a dial, it must be ancient. Electronic (digital) meters have been standard for 20+.years.

Has BG ever asked to fit a smart meter?

carlsouthlon said:

The night rate reading has never changed and the dial on the clock has not moved 
... What I do know is that one of the previous owners of the flat removed to meter time clock (E7 meter). 

A pghoto of your meter will help us diagnose the problem here.

carlsouthlon said:
What has gone wrong here and what can I do about it?

Most likely, you can do two things:

- Ask BG to switch you to a single-rate tariff.

- Ask BG to fit a smart meter.
You should also think about whether you're likely to stay in your flat for the long-term, or not. If you're staying, getting storage heaters re-fitted could be a good Idea.

Peter999_2

My electric meter had economy 7 with two readings on the smart meter.    God only knows why the previous owner was on E7 as it has gas central heating.   He genuinely thought it was great as he was getting cheap overnight electric and didn't realise he was paying more during the day.

Anyway, as soon as I moved in I obviously got it swapped out for a smart meter.   I was a bit surprised that the new smart meter had two entries still - the installed said that you always got whatever you already had.

I immediately moved to Octopus and got on the Octopus Agile tariff (different rates every 30 minutes and has saved me quite a lot of money).    Octopus just literally added the two readings together and use that - their systems then do the working out of the timed tariff using the 30 minute reads from the meter (with the two figures added togther) which works great.

If I were you, I'd do the same as me, get a smart meter and go on a smart tariff which will hopefully save you money if you can calculate when you actually use the electric.

Scot_39

Are you saying your meter is still using an old mechanical timer clock and its locked on day rate ?

https://www.diynot.com/diy/attachments/2020-02-26-17120-jpg.184736/

If so you really need a smart meter upgrade as the clocks - which predate the now defunct digital rts versions - and so possibly meter itself likely to be very old.

Theres nothjng you can do about past overbilling, but you could immediately ask your supplier to move you to single rate billing off both registers if really paying peak e7 day rate.

I dont however understand why BG accepting only one reading if on e7 tariff though - tgey would expect both day and night - so perhaps you are already on single rate.

Can you check yuur bills for how many readings and rates.

And your supply / mpan number for your meter profile class - first 2 digits - top line if laid out in grid format like here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter_Point_Administration_Number

Profile class 01 single rate, 02 multirate like e7.

Its possible the previous occupier was getting billed single rate after the heater change, but if the meter remained pc2 you would have potentially been put back on e7 - so rather than say c27p single rate, on a c15p / c32p day rate style level tariff. 

Other suppliers have refused old analogue clock and since June dut off date even digital rts switched rate meters on multirate tariffs for a while now - and pushed their customers onto single rste anyway.

Its kind of entirely up to you to sort out what tariff you want if different  - but most will need a smart upgrade given your meter install is essentially faulty - even if is recording all use accurately on day register.

See the price comparison link in the @QRizB signature for why you probably do not want to move back to e7 - as most of your space heating use is likely to be day rate at the peak premium price with standard panel hesters.
Dont worry about tge 10MWh absolute pricing figures - a modern  flat especialky would be a fraction of that - its tge relative comparison.
Edit However dont ignore cost of electric hot water - immersion heater / tank if fitted and shower - showering at e7 peak with a cold fed electric shower is an annual all round cost - unless you can shower off peak (easier in summer when clocks an hour forward for many).  Multiple occupants use more hw, efficient flats dont tend to need as much space heating.  The balance is very user specific.  So is the right tariff

And dont just jump onto any advanced tariff like agile or another tou until you understand your daily use profile as above once get a smart meter. Even the fixed price ones need careful consideration  - as their rates at peak time (c4-7pm) can be say 50% higher (agile nearly 4x worst case on some dsys so needs to be monitored nearly continuiously so not for tge casual consumer at all IMO) standard single rate if thats when you use a lot of energy - like when return from work or kids return from school,  switch on heating for evening, shower, cook etc  - many save, others who cannot avoid peak may not.

carlsouthlon

QrizB said:

Do you own your flat, or is it rented?

Can you share a photo of your electricity meter and any associated equipment?

carlsouthlon said:

My meter has readings, a day rate and night rate, as I believe there were Economy 7 storage heaters in the past. There are now standard electric radiators installed.

It would have been better to have chosen a different flat, one which still had storage heaters (or even one with gas central heating) but that's in the past.

With electric panel heaters, you should probably be on a single-rate tariff not Economy 7.

carlsouthlon said:

 I have been providing the day rate reading monthly to the supplier (British Gas), which changes each month.
The night rate reading has never changed and the dial on the clock has not moved 

If your meter has a dial, it must be ancient. Electronic (digital) meters have been standard for 20+.years.

Has BG ever asked to fit a smart meter?

carlsouthlon said:

The night rate reading has never changed and the dial on the clock has not moved 
... What I do know is that one of the previous owners of the flat removed to meter time clock (E7 meter). 

A pghoto of your meter will help us diagnose the problem here.

carlsouthlon said:
What has gone wrong here and what can I do about it?

Most likely, you can do two things:

- Ask BG to switch you to a single-rate tariff.

- Ask BG to fit a smart meter.
You should also think about whether you're likely to stay in your flat for the long-term, or not. If you're staying, getting storage heaters re-fitted could be a good Idea.

My thanks for getting back 
I own the flat and moved in 4 months ago. British gas have not be helpful. I did ask for a smart meter but they would not fit it. I am intending to stay here until my end of days - so a good few years yet.
It's a good idea, I am going to ask BG to put me on a single rate tariff. Although I suspect they will say no and reel off a whole range of reasons. That's been my experience so far unfortunately.
You've been most helpful  

carlsouthlon

Peter999_2 said:

My electric meter had economy 7 with two readings on the smart meter.    God only knows why the previous owner was on E7 as it has gas central heating.   He genuinely thought it was great as he was getting cheap overnight electric and didn't realise he was paying more during the day.

Anyway, as soon as I moved in I obviously got it swapped out for a smart meter.   I was a bit surprised that the new smart meter had two entries still - the installed said that you always got whatever you already had.

I immediately moved to Octopus and got on the Octopus Agile tariff (different rates every 30 minutes and has saved me quite a lot of money).    Octopus just literally added the two readings together and use that - their systems then do the working out of the timed tariff using the 30 minute reads from the meter (with the two figures added togther) which works great.

If I were you, I'd do the same as me, get a smart meter and go on a smart tariff which will hopefully save you money if you can calculate when you actually use the electric.

Thanks Peter. Your experience is helpful and I will explore Octopus if BG continue to be resistant. Other people in my block have smart meters with Oct. I will establish if they will do it for me. BG are charging me £450 per month for a small 2 bed flat with 3 electric radiators which are only on for a few hours in the evening! 

carlsouthlon

Thanks for taking the time for your comprehensive response Scot. It appears that this all boils down to the fact that someone removed the old RTS/mechanical time clock before I moved here, so I am locked on the day rate. It's unfathomable but true. I always have to give 2 reading to BG - one day and one night. The night one always stays the same - 21721. It does have me stressed out as my bills are rocketing especially in the cold 

Peter999_2

carlsouthlon said:

Peter999_2 said:

My electric meter had economy 7 with two readings on the smart meter.    God only knows why the previous owner was on E7 as it has gas central heating.   He genuinely thought it was great as he was getting cheap overnight electric and didn't realise he was paying more during the day.

Anyway, as soon as I moved in I obviously got it swapped out for a smart meter.   I was a bit surprised that the new smart meter had two entries still - the installed said that you always got whatever you already had.

I immediately moved to Octopus and got on the Octopus Agile tariff (different rates every 30 minutes and has saved me quite a lot of money).    Octopus just literally added the two readings together and use that - their systems then do the working out of the timed tariff using the 30 minute reads from the meter (with the two figures added togther) which works great.

If I were you, I'd do the same as me, get a smart meter and go on a smart tariff which will hopefully save you money if you can calculate when you actually use the electric.

Thanks Peter. Your experience is helpful and I will explore Octopus if BG continue to be resistant. Other people in my block have smart meters with Oct. I will establish if they will do it for me. BG are charging me £450 per month for a small 2 bed flat with 3 electric radiators which are only on for a few hours in the evening! 

That is very expensive for what you've got.    I pay about £55 to £60 a month for my electric in a 2 bedroom house (though I do live alone).   I have gas central heating so the electric is not required for heating.    I use about 4 kWh a day.     I used to use about 18 kWh a day up to 2023 when I started to look at my electric usage and realised I had a few vampire devices (my TV was using 24W in standby, haha).

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Reed_Richards

Even if you are paying more for your electricity because all your consumption is charged at the day rate of an Economy 7 tariff,  this day rate is surely not going to be more than 25% higher than what you would pay on a standard tariff (correct me if I am wrong).  So even if that brought your £450 a month down to £350 a month that's still a huge amount for your circumstances.  My advice is that you turn your attention to what is using all that electricity.  You could start by recording your meter reading and the time every few hours, last thing at night and first thing in the morning.  Is there a pattern?  The other thing you could try is to turn off everything at your consumer unit (fuse box) and check that your meter reading remains static.  

dunstonh

My electric meter had economy 7 with two readings on the smart meter.    God only knows why the previous owner was on E7 as it has gas central heating.   He genuinely thought it was great as he was getting cheap overnight electric and didn't realise he was paying more during the day.

I'm on economy 7 and have oil central heating.  It i genuinely great that I am getting cheap overnight electricity.
E7 is not just about heating.  Its about the devices you can use off peak and whether the ratio is high enough.  Despite not having any electric heating, over 70% of our electricity use is off peak.     If we sold up, a different owner may have a different usage pattern but it doesn't mean mine is wrong.

Peter999_2

dunstonh said:

My electric meter had economy 7 with two readings on the smart meter.    God only knows why the previous owner was on E7 as it has gas central heating.   He genuinely thought it was great as he was getting cheap overnight electric and didn't realise he was paying more during the day.

I'm on economy 7 and have oil central heating.  It i genuinely great that I am getting cheap overnight electricity.
E7 is not just about heating.  Its about the devices you can use off peak and whether the ratio is high enough.  Despite not having any electric heating, over 70% of our electricity use is off peak.     If we sold up, a different owner may have a different usage pattern but it doesn't mean mine is wrong.

I do understand what you are saying.  However, when I asked him it turned out he did nothing overnight.   He wouldn't put his dishwasher, washer or dryer on overnight as it was dangerous.     From looking at the meter readings (the meter was only about three years old) I could see that the overnight reading was practically nothing compared to the day reading.   The only thing I could think of for him to take advantage of E7 would be storage heaters but of course he didn't have that.  Funny really as he is very intelligent and a master at DIY - my house is fantastic thanks to all his work.

All my neighbours are on E7 as well and there was pratically a meltdown when they realised they would have to switch to a smart meter due to the tranmissions finishing for E7.   They think I am an idiot for having a smart meter as I am prone to them "just switching off your electric whenever they want".       They are all paying about £300-£400 a month just on electric which is crazy expensive when you don't use it for heating - to be fair most people are retired and they seem to follow all the scare stories in the Daily Mail.