Economy 7 ?

[Pyromaniac]

Hi all, quick query -

We used to have night storage heaters and Economy 7 electric, I thus assume that the NS heaters were actively storing at night on a lower rate.

Now we have Calor gas central heating, and the NS heaters have been removed. The wiring is still in situ but the electrican disconnected it at both ends and labelled it to say what it was.

Our meter was changed before the gas heating was installed and a small white meter with day and night rates was installed, and which we still have at present.

Our electricity bill (Scottish Power) says we are on a standard tarriff and shows day and night rates.

Would we be better off going to a single rate tarriff or are we really benefitting from the night rate electricity ?

I have an idea that we are only getting anything cheaper if we only use appliances after midnight or whenever the night rate cuts in.

Gerry

 

[Lectrician]

Depends if you use lecky at night.

It used to work out pretty balanced if you heated a tank of water over night. (Day rate is more expensive on E7 than a standard tarriff's).

If you can make the most of it for your washing machine and dish washer (many have a delayed start timer these days), do it, otherwise I would revert to a standard tarriff.

You may find your provider leaves the dual rate meter fitted and asks for both readings when reading the meter - they will simply add the qty of units used together.

 

[Steve]

Does the bill actually specify "DAY" and "NIGHT" or does it say "RATE 1" and RATE 2" or similar?

Most single rate tarrifs have the first x amount of units at a high rate, then the rest of the units at a lower rate (typically half).

Does the meter say "day" and "night" rates? or does it just read one rate?

Could you upload a photo of the meter arrangement?

You wont be benefiting from being on a night storage tarrif. Unless you operate a LOT of appliances at night. Which most folk dont.

 

[Pyromaniac]

Thanks guys,

Working on a photo - might be tomorrow as wife has the camera/phone with camera and away till then.

Have a large black box saying
S88C 20895 - Radio Teleswitch RTA1L0C009100
This is connected to the small white digital meter box marked as a single phase multirate Watt/Hour meter.
This has 3 readings numbered 1, and 2, and the 3rd reading is a total of the 1 and 2 readings - they come up sequentially.

Scottish Power bill (but a Southern Electric area) says I am on a standard tarriff

Has Domestic Economy7 Night reading
Has Domestic Economy7 Day reading

Most of our power useage is before midnight.

Gerry

 

[flameport]

As your bill has 'Economy7' on it, then you will be paying more for most of your electricity. Worse still, a 'standard' tariff will be one of the most expensive that your supplier offers.

You should get rid of the E7 setup. Even if you use certain appliances overnight, it still won't be worth it, as the tiny savings from using a washing machine on the cheaper rate will not even cover the extra costs incurred during the daytime.

You should also change to a different tariff, as all suppliers have a selection of others, most of which are cheaper than the 'standard' options. Usually these involve paperless billing, online only, payment by monthly direct debit etc.

 

[Stoday]

Most Economy 7 tariffs are set so that the charges are the same as a normal tariff for an average consumer's consumption. The average unrestricted night consumption % is 16.8% for midnight to 0700 and 17.6% for 0030 to 0730. So, if your night consumption is around 17% of the total you will probably pay the same no matter if you are on the normal or Economy 7 tariff.

You should, of course, check your own supplier's tariff. The night % may be different from the traditional.