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I'm still on an economy 7 meter. I've been doing various calcs from past bills and it reckons I use just over double the electricity at night, this as normal cones at a cheaper rate. However I have no storage heaters. Is my day usage which has got to be more being billed as night usage?
Why would you use more in the daytime? Out at work, lights off, not doing any washing, TV not on...?
Its economy 7 so the "night rate" kicks in around midnight give or take an hour maybe, then lasts 7 hours. We've got nothing on through the night other than the big kettle out in the garden and basic stuff like the fridge, stuff on standby etc. Something doesn't add up? I've questioned it in the past but that was when I was with British gas and they just said don't worry. As im about to switch I'm now wondering whether a standard meter and tariff would be cheaper?
Seem to remember this happened to me some years ago and it turned out that the meter clock was 12 hours out! It was their mistake and they didn't seem bothered about it. When I changed tarrif they sorted the meter and I ended up paying more (ie the correct amount) Could be a similar issue with your meter?
At best your night usage will be ~50%, but typically much closer to 25%... And that's if you have storage heaters (which OP does not).
E7 period in BST is 2330-0630, an hour later during winter GMT.
The big electricity guzzlers (when they are lec appliances and not on gas, obviously) are things like...
Storage heaters (we use approx twice number of units during winter cold snaps)
Plug-in fan/oil heaters
Immersion heater (make sure it's set to heat water up during E7 period for no more than ~90mins)
Oven
Hobs
Kettle (only boil a little bit more water than you need)
Washing machine (if cold water feed only, which is common these days, use a lower temp wash when possible, try and do "rinse hold" washes during E7 period)
All those gadgets needlessly on standby
Fish tanks lights and heaters
etc.
Something doesn't sound right in OP case, definitely matching night figures with night meter readings?
Unlikely that your meter is wired Incorrectly, more likely it’s as mentioned previously, faulty due to timer or age. Ask for a digital one.
Why would you use more in the daytime?
It runs ~12-7am, not much on then other than water and storage heaters.
wondering whether a standard meter and tariff would be cheaper?
Normally yes, your day rate is around twice the night rate (albeit they should charge anyone a single rate on request,by adding the 2 rates). BUT you should see what is up with your set up, something had to be wrong. A cheap monitor will help. Definitely check the clock (and if that's out, they should recalculate and refund).
At best your night usage will be ~50%, but typically much closer to 25%… And that’s if you have storage heaters (which OP does not).
Comparison sites say the average is 55% IIRC, I don't know what EST or other stats say tho. Clients I see do vary but and for both these reasons I would question what you are saying.
The time E7 varies according to regions but yes it tends to be when people are a sleep so costs should be way less, that's kind of the point of it not when we use more.
Definitely check the clock (and if that’s out, they should recalculate and refund).
would it not actually be that he owes them money? if he's been getting more electricity at discount rates...
Yes but the rate is far cheaper at night so I could be worse off.
Yes but the rate is far cheaper at night so I could be worse off
Do you mean you could be worse off in future when they correct whatever is wrong with the meter? But that would be the correct charge, so at the moment you're getting it cheap.
Yes but the rate is far cheaper at night so I could be worse off.
Yep, that's what happened to me. Fortunately they didn't try to get any money back. ☺
Hey I didn't fit it and I have questioned it in the past. Going to do a cost for comparison exercise as single rates are cheaper. At this point I declare "without prejudice" and my mum made me ask!
I think by big kettle out back you mean hot tub, would this not require more electricity to heat itself over night as night temps are lower than day temps, more so in the autumn, winter and spring months?
The clock is always wrong on these meters, how much it is wrong by is the question