how does the ecomony 7 electricity tariff work?

Question

Is all my night time use billed cheaply or does it need special wiring?

Answer 1

If you are unable to get gas, then fit an Economy 7 meter and you can take advantage of electricity at around 40% of the peak rate by arranging to use your appliances during the off-peak hours. If you don't lead a nocturnal lifestyle, then buy equipment with delay timers (Bosh dishwasher, some expensive Hotpoint and Creda tumble dryers, some Hoover and Hotpoint washing machines) or make sure that you can easily access the sockets and fit separate delay timers (cost £15-20). Despite the large savings to be had, delay timers still hardly feature as sales aid: you have to go looking for them from Electrical Wholesalers.

Off-peak electricity charges are complex to understand; each supply company (REC) sets its own charges.
All of them increase the standing charge (tariff) for letting you buy cheap rate supplies. These tariffs vary from £15 to £25/ annum extra).
All of them have an off-peak rate of around 2.5p/kWh (compared with peak rates of 7p/kWh or Higher) at which you will be charged you will be charged for all electricity supplies for seven hours each night.
The economies to be gained from using an off-peak tariff will vary from area to area, but if properly managed it should result in a reduction in electricity bills of 15%, perhaps more.

Answer 2

Hi, the meter is dual, or sometimes multi rate and a signal, from a time switch or by radio switches the meter from 1 tariff to another. This means that all electricity used in that premises uses economy 7 cheap rate electricity.
The normal tariff sometimes is a little higher and there is a once every 3 month rental for the more expensive meter.
If you have a freezer and a fridge you will save money by having off peak.
In the summer it IS cheaper to heat the water by off peak than gas as the gas has to heat up itself as well as the water whereas in the winter the gas usually heats itself up for the central heating.
Hope that helps. as an aside having one nightstorage radiator even with gas C/H will save a lot of gas as the N/S heater gives heat off all thru the nite and saves the cost of the reheat times.
The wiring is only affected if you install special heating for the hot water or to install a N/S heater.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Night time is cheaper. It's not special wiring but a special meter is installed that switches automatically between night and day tariff. I think currently it's 0030 to 0730 for night, when the clocks change it's 0130 to 0830. It's preset by the electricity supplier so you can't alter it.

Answer 5

you need a separate meter, your electricity company will do this. There is a timer on it, set by the leccy company, so that the leccy you use during, say 11pm to 7am, is at a much cheaper rate. You'd be surprised what you can save - run your washing machine at night (get a delay timer, or a machine that allows you to delay the start), your fridge use, all of that is cheaper. It is worth doing.

Answer 6

You need to have a special electric metre fitted by the electric people. It has two sets of figures for using electricity. the night time units are measured and you are charged at one rate and then the daytime units are measured and you are charged more for this. Unless you actually have this metre fitted you cannot have economy 7 because they need to read the two sets of figures to work out how much to charge you.

Answer 7

You need to be registered as an economy 7 tarriff customer. then all your night time (7 hours) energy is charged cheaper. however, your day rate will be more expensive than normal users... read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_7

Answer 8

all night time use is cheaper