Some advice please.

Marky4040

I'll keep it nice and short.

1 Bedroom flat, all electric, electric immersion for hot water, electric shower.

2 meters set up and not able to get a smart meter from Scottish Power, I've asked. I have them old style meters.

This is my 2nd year on their fixed beat cancer tariff.

I've established the night meter only comes on if i use the electric underfloor heating at night, it does not come on for any other electric used over night.

I honestly don't see the point in it since the heating takes a day to warm up and i genuinely don't notice any difference in the flat apart from the kitchen floor being warm.

I feel i'm not having any benfit (cost wise) of the 2 meter set up (economy 7). What are my options to keep my bills low, other than what i'm already on?

Thanks All

Robin9

What is your kWh usage (not £) - in a year how many at night. how many at day?

Are you sure the hot water doesn't come on at night? Is it on a timer ?

Ectophile

You can get E7 smart meters. A single E7 meter would ensure that everything that's on overnight would be at cheap rate, and that should include hot water.

If you don't notice the underfloor heating, it may be because you're leeching off all your neighbours' heating. If they want/need warmer rooms than you, then you get free heating coming in through the walls/floor/ceiling.

Scot_39

Twin meter systems are rare these days. Are there any sort of timers in the meter cabinet ? OR are both meters permanently feeding live power 24/7 ?

Are both meters single rate only - and one charged at one rate on bill, the other at a different rate ?

And smart meters - even if they operate in dumb mode - are definitely available for standard economy 7.

[In a flat you might struggle to get a working IHD with the meter - if its a large block and your meter isnt in the actual flat.]

Which makes me question if that is really what you have - even if you are now billed on economy 7 rates

(SP traditionally had many bespoke heating tariffs - some allowed for a bespoke 24/7 live heating rate) ?

Any chance of photos of your meter, wider meter cabinet including meter tails (meter serial numbers redacted) and consumer units - with flaps open so can read breaker feed comments - like say ring main 1, ring main 2, kitchen, lighting etc)

How is the hot water controlled - and how is the underfloor heating controlled (timers - can they both be switched on day and night - or does the heating or HW only work at night under some meter time switch? )

On standard E7 - If your not using c35-40% off peak - exact figures vary - chances are its maybe not the tariff for you.

Edit 20/10 Note that dual rate wiring can complicate that decision - some E7 systems operate just as a time - others operate with a time restricted feed - only active part time - in most E7 systems a 7 hr block overnight.

As above try to look at your bills and see if there is a historic running peak and off peak annual consumption figure (or try to find two bills roughly a year apart - and work them out).

Do you pay an off peak rate below regional SR on one meter - and a day peak above regional SR on the other ?

Or are you one of the anomalies where the second meter is charged at a non E7 day rate. (or does that also have two readings)

PS most people think you need heating and HW at night rates to make E7 pay - but HW/shower can be just about enough in a well insulated flat at moderate heating - if they operate at e7 off peak.

Marky4040

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82173357#Comment_82173357

Sorry, I’ve been away.

@everyone Can you please read my post CAREFULLY.

The ONLY thing the OFF PEAK meter powers is the UNDERFLOOR HEATING, DAY or NIGHT, absolutely nothing else.

My usage last year was 3990kwh day rate and 292kwh night rate, but day and night rate is irrelevant because SP told me they DO NOT HAVE a tariff for my dual meter set up.

Anyway, i don't think it's fair i can't use the heating because it isn't charged at a night rate with the 2nd meter. I also don't think it's fair I’m limited to certain tariffs because my flat isn't set up to have a smart meter according to SP.

What might my options be?

Ta.

QrizB

What might my options be?

With that day-night split, you would benefit from switching to a single-rate tariff.

If SP won't offer you one, try the other suppliers.

2 meters set up and not able to get a smart meter from Scottish Power, I've asked. I have them old style meters.

You should also consider changing to a single-meter setup. If SP can't offer you one of those, try a different supplier.

Scot_39

Tariff simplification was authorised by Ofgem at the same time as the delayed June 2025 RTS switch off.

What reason exactly did SP give for refusing you a smart meter ?

WE would need to know more about how your two meters operate and specifically how your floor heating timed - to tell you what you might need to replace them with exactly in terms of new meter hardware.

You talk about off peak, night rate etc - but havent AFAIK said if there is a timer on one of the old meters.