Changing to Economy 7

[sleaver]

The tariff we are on is quite expensive and it would be cheaper to change to Economy 7 meter, but have a few worries.

The first is that, at the moment we have 1 meter for peak electricity and then an old style mechanical clock and meter for the storage heaters with both meters going to a different old style wired fuse CU's. Would the Economy 7 meter be able to split to go to different CU's or would they need replacing to have just one?

The second is that as we have the mechanical clock the storage heaters only come on at set times but with a new meter this wouldn't be the case. Therefore would one of these work?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMFST11.html

If not is there anything else as I dont really want to put time clocks one the walls where the fuse spurs are.

 

[crystal ball]

E7 works in a similar way to your existing tariff, the main difference being the whole house is on cheap rate for the E7 period, the two rate meter is switched over by a radio switch which will also turn on your storage heaters. If you heat your water electrically it will be worth using a timer to heat it during E7, also applies to tumble driers, dishwashers etc

 

[sleaver]

E7 works in a similar way to your existing tariff, the main difference being the whole house is on cheap rate for the E7 period, the two rate meter is switched over by a radio switch which will also turn on your storage heaters. If you heat your water electrically it will be worth using a timer to heat it during E7, also applies to tumble driers, dishwashers etc

So there is a different section just for storage heaters? If all electricity is switched between the two rates wouldn't that mean the storage heaters are on all the time?

 

[crystal ball]

When the radio switch switches the meter over to cheap rate it also switches on a feed to your fuse board supplying storage heaters and vice versa at the end of E7 period

 

[Stoday]

From what you say, your present arrangements are an unrestricted supply plus a separate off peak supply. The off peak supply is obsolete, but suppliers will still provide a supply to existing off peak consumers.

Once you change to Economy 7 you will not be allowed to change back to the off peak supply. So make sure you'll be better off with it before changing.