We have an Economy 7 meter for our electricity but we have gas radiators and no storage heaters. Am I just being a bit slow here but I assumed a day and night reading on our bills would just be for storage heaters so why are we being charged an Economy 7 rate? The house had storage heaters years ago and then the guys before us put radiators in but the meter has not been changed. Can you just tell me if we are paying a completely wrong type of electricity bill and do we need to get the meter changed and will it be any cheaper!

An exhausted Calamity Jane.

If you have no electric storage heaters (or don't wash your clothing and dishes in the middle of the night) it is improbable that an Economy 7 tariff would be cheaper.

Note that you are not necessarily on an Economy 7 tariff if you have its meter - you can be charged a standard tariff using readings from an Economy 7 meter. You'll have to look at your bill to check,

calamity jane,

If you haven't got storage heaters and don't use more than 20% of your energy at night i.e. 1am - 8am, then I'd advise you look at changing your meter to a standard credit meter.

This should come at no extra cost and can be arranged by contacting your current provider direct. Simply advise that you want to change your energy meter and ensure you check whether or not there is a fee involved (there shouldn't be).

If you do not have storage heaters to run during the E7 hours then you are paying a higher unit rate for your energy during the day than you would do on a standard credit meter tariff.

Hope this helps.

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Regards,

Scott Byrom
Utilities Manager
moneysupermarket.com

Having read the previous posts regarding being charged the wrong rate at the wrong time, i've just checked my meter and the numbers are changing on my Low reading ( I thought Low was your night reading, so surely this should'nt be turning now?) Some people seemed to be able to see what times they were being charged low from on their meter, but i can't work mine out. I have a Hortsmann dial one with a pin in the middle with two ends it is pointing at 6 and 18 and then a separate pin is pointing at 24. I can't even work out what time it thniks it is now!!!!! if anyone could help i would be extremely greatful.