EV Tariff off-peak TOU out of synch for Economy7 users

LaCordeon

Hi members,

Just wondering if anyone else in the same situation and what is the likely solution apart from adding an individual timer to my consumer unit.

Recently switched to EDF Energy GOElectric EV tariff and time of use (TOU) off-peak hours are from 23.00hrs to 06.00hrs (7hrs).

However my home has the traditional "uncontrolled" electric storage heaters and hot water immersion heaters relies on the economy7 which is connected to a dedicated off- peak consumer unit and circuit to charge overnight which starts at 01.30hrs-08.30hrs summer time and 00.30hrs-07.30hrs winter time both (7hrs period).

This setting up is causing my home to be heated at much more expensive daytime rate when the EV Tariffs TOU ends which is at 06.00hrs until the economy 7 TOU ends which is at 08.30hrs in summer time.

Raised this issue to EDF to send a signal code to the Auxiliary Load Control Switch (ALCS) to update the Smart meter built in digital clock, but EDF refused because the EV Tariff does not have an Standard Settlement Configuration (SSC) code to align or synchronise EV Tariff TOU to match the Economy 7 TOU.

Has anyone else encounter this issue and raised it to their energy suppliers and what is the most likely outcome?

Thanks

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

This is not unexpected. EDF are not obliged to set your ALCS to match the Go Electric schedule.

This setting up is causing my home to be heated at much more expensive daytime rate when the EV Tariffs TOU ends which is at 06.00hrs until the economy 7 TOU ends which is at 08.30hrs in summer time.

I very much doubt that you're using your storage heaters at the moment. Even if you were, they (and your HW tank) would normally have completed their charge by 0600. Only in the depths of winter when you need a 100% charge on your storage heaters will you run into the peak rate period.

Is your smart meter a 4-terminal model with an external contactor or is it a 5-terminal model? It's relatively straightforward for an electrician to add a manual timer to the former, a bit more work with the latter.

Edited to fix an annoying typo.

squirrelpie

Standard Settlement Configuration (SSC) code to align or synchronise EV Tariff TOU to match the Economy 7 TOU.

What about an SSC of 0947?

MWT

Octopus have been know to be willing to align the ALCS with an EV tariff, but it can take some effort to get to the right people to get it done.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6670006/ev-tariff-off-peak-tou-out-of-synch-for-economy7-users

If your set-up relied on meter ALCS restricted power feed to control usage - you needed to consider that carefully before switching.

Its not a particularly common heating configuration these days - c85% of homes are on gas grid - some of the other 15% - will also not be reliant on ALCS meter controlled heating - and so might not occur to a supplier - if you talked to them before switching - to raise it - if you didn't.

Didn't your EV charger supplier comment on the issue either ? As with even just a few NSH and a HW immersion + the 7.x kW for a standard wall box - the total peak current demand would have to have been carefully considered / potentially protected using a de-rating charger.

In some posts here - others switching from say E7 to 1/2 hrly TOU to drive smart programmable NSH (not meter dependent - often no restricted feeds) - have reported ended up with essentially dummy single rate configured meters - and the old off peak registers stopped incrementing etc.

If anything I am pleasantly surprised the heaters still work - and still work using the old E7 ALCS settings - as they might not have - as EDF could have easily cleared not just your old E7 tariff tables but also the E7 ALCS schedule for the restricted feed switch (or made restricted permanently live).

And as above your HW and NSH are likely to be done charging after 5-6 hours most of the year. And hopefully the cheaper EV rate - normally cheaper than E7 off peak at many suppliers - covers the hours in deeped winter - when they might. And if not - well you'll likely need an electrician.

LaCordeon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013434#Comment_82013434

Thanks QrizB, sorry guys i could not reply earlier. No at the moment i am not using my storage heaters, but i noticed my hot water is still topping up after 06.00 until 08.30hrs and adding a couple of day kWh everyday.

On some days it can also add about 4-5 kWh extra just to heat the hot water. That is why i am worried come to the depth of winter it may use more peak hours kWh to top up the NSH too.

I believe i have a 5-terminal Smart meter, but i am not 100% sure on that.

If EDF Energy can sort this out, then my last resort before winter to get a timer installed to control the E7 dedicated consumer unit.

LaCordeon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013620#Comment_82013620

Thank you squirrelpie, may be i need to suggest this code to EDF customer service and see if they are willing to try.

QrizB

... my hot water is still topping up after 06.00 until 08.30hrs and adding a couple of day kWh everyday

Is this because you are using hot water at that time of day and the tank is reheating?

If not, and if your hot water isn't already on a timer, this suggests to me that you've either got (a) a very poorly insulated tank or (b) a dripping hot water tap somewhere.

A full tank of hot water that isn't being used shouldn't need more than 1-200 watts to keep it hot. If it's taking a kilowatt or more, there's something wrong.

LaCordeon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013640#Comment_82013640

Hi MVT, yes before i joined EDF Energy i was with Octopus on IOG Tariff and indeed they did align the E7 to match the IOG Tariff, however i thought EDF will be a straight forward switch.

When i switched to EDF they put me on their standard Variable Tariff and switched back my TOU as E7 TOU.

Then two days later switch me to their EV Tariff, but the TOU has remained as E7 TOU.

LaCordeon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013781#Comment_82013781

Hi Scot_39, thank you for the reply.

My EV Charger installation was done by Octopus Energy and at that time i was on Octopus E7 Tariff and as they done all the necessary Charger installation and contact DNO to upgrade the Meter FUSE to 100Amp and install the Smart meter at the same time.

Nothing was said to me that there may be a non alignment of E7 TOU and EV TOU.

The TOU was aligned by the engineer who came and did the Smart meter installation, and i remember mentioning to him that i have E7 a dedicated consumer unit controlled the NSH and HW.

Yes the NSH and HW still switching at the E7 set up TOU by the Smart meter, i believed that is the case because the meter is still operating as a dual rate smart meter and recording the off-peak and peak rate.

LaCordeon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017918#Comment_82017918

During week days, we have shower in the morning before going to work usually by 07.00-07.30hrs we have a couple of showers, hence why it is topping up because the TOU E7 is set-up 01.30-08.30 hrs summer time.