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Switch Duel electric meter to single ?

Biggie
Biggie Posts: 370 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
Just moved into a new property
We have a duel electric meter for Day\Night

Day 11 p /unit approx
Night = 4.3 p/unit

When I phoned electric company today they asked if I had electric storeage heaters which we don't. They then suggested that we switch our meter to a normal meter.

- We have gas central heating
- Hot water can be heated using Gas boiler or electric immersion heater
- Most of the electric is used at day time i.e Wife & kids at home all day.
- We could use timers for washing machine which is in-pratical.

I guess there is no way we benefit from a duel meter even by using timers for washing machine and heat water at night using immersion heater.

Therefore is it a no brainner switching to a normal electric meter ?.

Comments

  • penrhyn
    penrhyn Posts: 15,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Pretty much in your circumstances.
    You should find that the single day rate is cheaper than the one you had on E7
    That gum you like is coming back in style.
  • Biggie
    Biggie Posts: 370 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    thanks penrhyn

    What if I heat water in the night using the electric immersion heater.
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    Biggie wrote: »
    thanks penrhyn

    What if I heat water in the night using the electric immersion heater.

    It is normally cheaper to heat water by gas than Economy 7 electricity; although that does depend on the efficiency of your gas boiler.

    You pay 4.3p/kWh for E7.

    Say your gas costs 2.6p/kWh, and your boiler is 80% efficient, you will pay 3.25p/kWh. You would need a very inefficient boiler to have your gas cost the same as E7.

    There is no 'one size fits all' way of finding out if E7 will be cheaper or not.
    You have to estimate your overall annual electricity consumption and what percentage of that you will use in the 7 hours E7 period.

    Then it is just arithmetic comparing tariffs.

    I would agree with penrhyn that I doubt if E7 will be cheaper.
  • Biggie wrote: »
    Just moved into a new property
    They then suggested that we switch our meter to a normal meter.
    .

    You dont actually need to have the meter removed and a new one put in. They can just change the tariff that they bill you on.
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    EnergyMan wrote: »
    You dont actually need to have the meter removed and a new one put in. They can just change the tariff that they bill you on.

    Some companies(BG for one) do as you suggest. I have an old E7 meter and they simply aggregate the totals and it is treated as a single amount. e.g. 150kWh on E7 meter and 850kWh on day meter is treated as 1,000kWh.

    Several people have posted that their Utility Company insist on a new single meter.
  • Biggie
    Biggie Posts: 370 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    ok tnks for the advice

    think I will go for a single meter.

    Based on the infomation about I am now confused as to why my

    electric = £15
    Gas = £50

    for a 14 day period for a large 3 bed semi. .
  • Geoff_W
    Geoff_W Posts: 244 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Biggie wrote: »

    electric = £15
    Gas = £50

    for a 14 day period for a large 3 bed semi. .

    Yikes! Either turn down the room thermostat or get a load of insulation fitted. I only pay £28/month for gas and £18/month for electricity in a 3 bed detached house.

    Geoff
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