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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Economy 7 question
I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less
than 10 years old. Recently I've been keeping careful note of the readings and in the last week the cheap rate reading has increased by 4 units even though the storage and immersion heaters which are the only appliances fed from the cheap rate circuit have been switched off for the entire period. After reading some old postings to this group I'm now no longer sure I understand how Economy 7 is metered. There are two consumer units in my flat - one with the storage and immersion heaters attached, which only becomes live during the night; and one for all other circuits which is permanently live. I had assumed that all electricity usage through the night CU is billed at cheap rate, and all usage through the main CU is billed at normal rate irrespective of the time of day. Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? This would make sense as the only things running during the night are a fridge/freezer, alarm clock, battery charger, and maybe one or two short uses of the electric shower - 4 units for a week sounds about right. Alternatively, should I be getting in touch with Powergen to tell them that the meter is faulty? Thank you. -- Ian Harding |
#2
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"Ian Harding" wrote in message ... I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less than 10 years old. Recently I've been keeping careful note of the readings and in the last week the cheap rate reading has increased by 4 units even though the storage and immersion heaters which are the only appliances fed from the cheap rate circuit have been switched off for the entire period. After reading some old postings to this group I'm now no longer sure I understand how Economy 7 is metered. There are two consumer units in my flat - one with the storage and immersion heaters attached, which only becomes live during the night; and one for all other circuits which is permanently live. I had assumed that all electricity usage through the night CU is billed at cheap rate, and all usage through the main CU is billed at normal rate irrespective of the time of day. Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? This would make sense as the only things running during the night are a fridge/freezer, alarm clock, battery charger, and maybe one or two short uses of the electric shower - 4 units for a week sounds about right. Alternatively, should I be getting in touch with Powergen to tell them that the meter is faulty? Thank you. -- Ian Harding I believe the latter is correct. |
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On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:54:34 +0100, Ian Harding wrote:
I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less than 10 years old. snip Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? *All* units consumed during the cheap-rate period are charged at the low rate. What you will have is one consumer unit that is restricted to the cheap-rate units only (heating). -- wanderer at tesco dot net |
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On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 15:10:54 +0100, Dave Jones wrote:
"Ian Harding" wrote in message ... I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less than 10 years old. Recently I've been keeping careful note of the readings and in the last week the cheap rate reading has increased by 4 units even though the storage and immersion heaters which are the only appliances fed from the cheap rate circuit have been switched off for the entire period. After reading some old postings to this group I'm now no longer sure I understand how Economy 7 is metered. There are two consumer units in my flat - one with the storage and immersion heaters attached, which only becomes live during the night; and one for all other circuits which is permanently live. I had assumed that all electricity usage through the night CU is billed at cheap rate, and all usage through the main CU is billed at normal rate irrespective of the time of day. Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? This would make sense as the only things running during the night are a fridge/freezer, alarm clock, battery charger, and maybe one or two short uses of the electric shower - 4 units for a week sounds about right. Alternatively, should I be getting in touch with Powergen to tell them that the meter is faulty? Thank you. -- Ian Harding I believe the latter is correct. What, that he should get in touch with PG? I don't think so. -- wanderer at tesco dot net |
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On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:54:34 +0100, Ian Harding wrote:
Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? Yes, this is why people buy time switches for their tumble driers, washing machines, dishwashers etc so that these power hungry devices don't cost so much to run. Especially when you consider that E7 day rate power costs more than non E7 power(*). (*) But there is such a spread in tarrifs these days you may well find a non E7 tariff that has costs higher than other E7 ones. -- Cheers Dave. pam is missing e-mail |
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Ian Harding wrote:
I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less than 10 years old. snip Am I right, or is _all_ electricity usage billed at cheap rate for the period the cheap rate supply is active? E7 has a few options If you have just one fuse board then all your supply will be at E7 rate at night with an extra charge for day units. but if you have a seperate fuse board for your Storage heating then the rest of the house will be at normal rate during the night, to complicate things some didgi meters will add extra units every night for standing charge, some dont Tip. your meter will never be read by anyone that understands how it works, if the timer meter is seperate, remove the seal, set the pointers for 24hr use, and you will be on E7 all day. dont tell anyone!. |
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"Ian Harding" wrote in message ... I have Economy 7 electricity, the meter is fully digital at a guess less than 10 years old. Recently I've been keeping careful note of the readings and in the last week the cheap rate reading has increased by 4 units even though the storage and immersion heaters which are the only appliances fed from the cheap rate circuit have been switched off for the entire period. IT depends on how it has been wired. My E7 meter (Old analogue one, although it was fitted about two years ago!) is wired so everything is on cheap rate at night, and everything is on normal rate in the day. Do you have a radio teleswitch/timer, or it is all contained in the meter? I have a seperate timer box, controled by radio, if I had a seperate circuit I wanted to be only live at night, this circuit would be wired through this. Sparks... |
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Incidentally, they seem quite happy to change the meters if, for example,
you switch tariff. There is also a predetermined "life" of meters. We recently got a letter saying our meter has reached the end of its useful life and is to be replaced on Wednesday. _____ www.wych.com |
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On Sun, 3 Oct 2004 00:21:56 +0100, "Sparks"
wrote: My E7 meter (Old analogue one, although it was fitted about two years ago!) is wired so everything is on cheap rate at night, and everything is on normal rate in the day. Many years ago, I lived in a student house that had economy 7 on a manual analogue timer. The timer paused when we had a power cut so that economy 7 ran from around 4.00pm until 11.00pm. We told the local electricity company several times, including letters sent recorded delivery. They never contacted us to resolve the problem. Graham |
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Sparks wrote:
IT depends on how it has been wired. My E7 meter (Old analogue one, although it was fitted about two years ago!) is wired so everything is on cheap rate at night, and everything is on normal rate in the day. Do you have a radio teleswitch/timer, or it is all contained in the meter? I have a seperate timer box, controled by radio, if I had a seperate circuit I wanted to be only live at night, this circuit would be wired through this. There is a single meter, the display cycles through the two separate readings and a total by pressing a button. There is no other equipment in the meter cupboard. It does sound as if my meter is recording everything used at night as cheap rate. I wasn't sure if this was how Economy 7 worked, but from what you and others have said it sounds the most likely explanation. -- Ian Harding |
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On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 16:47:04 +0100, Ian Harding
wrote: There is a single meter, the display cycles through the two separate readings and a total by pressing a button. There is no other equipment in the meter cupboard. It does sound as if my meter is recording everything used at night as cheap rate. I wasn't sure if this was how Economy 7 worked, but from what you and others have said it sounds the most likely explanation. Hi, Maybe the meter has an 'economy 7 only' output to save having storage and immersion heaters on timers. cheers, Pete. |
#13
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There is a single meter, the display cycles through the two separate
readings and a total by pressing a button. There is no other equipment in the meter cupboard. It does sound as if my meter is recording everything used at night as cheap rate. I wasn't sure if this was how Economy 7 worked, but from what you and others have said it sounds the most likely explanation. Out the bottom of the meter, how many cables are there? If there are only 4 (L&N in and out) then it is defiantly counting everything at night rate! If there are 5 or 6 then it still may be counting everything on the cheap rate, but only activating the second output at night. Sparks... |
#14
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Sparks wrote:
There is a single meter, the display cycles through the two separate readings and a total by pressing a button. There is no other equipment in the meter cupboard. It does sound as if my meter is recording everything used at night as cheap rate. I wasn't sure if this was how Economy 7 worked, but from what you and others have said it sounds the most likely explanation. Out the bottom of the meter, how many cables are there? If there are only 4 (L&N in and out) then it is defiantly counting everything at night rate! If there are 5 or 6 then it still may be counting everything on the cheap rate, but only activating the second output at night. I've just had a look. There are two output circuits so it must be switching the night one but metering all night units at the cheap rate as you say. -- Ian Harding |
#15
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Quote:
eminen |
#16
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On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 09:28:23 +0000, eminen
wrote: It does sound as if my meter is recording everything used at night as cheap rate. I wasn't sure if this was how Economy 7 worked, but from what you and others have said it sounds the most likely explanation.- That is how Economy 7 works. Time clock (with spring or battery reserve) tells meter to be on day or night rate. Typically 0:30 to 7:30 winter, 1:30 to 8:30 summer since time clock stays on GMT. All electric is on the current rate. Usually time clock has an output to big contactor that switches in the E7 storage heater distribution board where each heater feed has its own MCB. That switches on your storage heaters. -- Malcolm Malcolm Reeves BSc CEng MIEE MIRSE, Full Circuit Ltd, Chippenham, UK , or ). Design Service for Analogue/Digital H/W & S/W Railway Signalling and Power electronics. More details plus freeware, Win95/98 DUN and Pspice tips, see: http://www.fullcircuit.com or http://www.fullcircuit.co.uk NEW - www.CharteredConsultant.co.uk - The Consultant A-List |
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