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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
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Renewable Energy: Economy 7

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJun 27th 2014 edited
     
    I was wondering in this age of smart meters do I still need a separate economy 7 meter in my new build electrical distribution design?


    thought I knew it all because I'd read all the books and surfed the net, but it's not the same as actually doing it!
    • CommentAuthorbarney
    • CommentTimeJun 27th 2014
     
    Generally the whole house tariff just switches over to off peak rate at the required times. Ie the timeclock closes and put a signal on the meter to change rate and also allows power to any specific off peak loads. Any "normal" loads also go to the off peak tarrif

    How you then set up your internal systems to operate during the off peak period is up to you - timeclock on washing machine and dishwasher for example - or input control to heat pumps, immersions etc etc

    Regards

    Barney
  3.  
    I've read that the answer to this depends upon where you live. Worth checking with your Distribution Network Operator.

    http://www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/Our-company/electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/

    David
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2014
     
    Posted By: davidfreeboroughI've read that the answer to this depends upon where you live. Worth checking with your Distribution Network Operator.

    Agree that it depends where you live, but its not the DNO who supply the meter that determines how it works, it's your electricity supplier.

    The meter that I have been supplied with switches the whole house to economy rate at the appointed time but also has both a power output that is only live during economy hours (so you don't need to keep your own timeclock synchronised to the meter's) and a signalling output that you can use to control devices connected to the main power output, again without relying on your own timeclock.

    (FWIW, it's a Landis & Gyr economy 7 meter, Type 5246C)

    Depending on what kind of meter you are actually supplied with, it may make sense to ask for an Economy 7 connection in the first instance. In my case, I believe that if I now opt for a standard tariff (perhaps whilst changing supplier) they are unlikely to install a replacement meter but will simply reprogram the existing one. I should thus avoid the additional cost of a replacement meter of whatever kind.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2014
     
    I have E7, comes on at 23:00 to 00:00 and then again at 01:00 to 07:00

    I have made it work for me. My washing machine has a built in delay timer (I use it). The storage heater and water heating now have extra timers fitted to set back the time they come on (why heat when it is not needed). This has saved some of the standing losses.

    One reason I have stayed with E7 is the reliability and zero maintenance (that has to save £100/year alone).
    It is true that sometimes the house is not warm enough, but a few minutes with a fan heater solves this (and is a concious decision to turn them on).

    Last year I worked out that I would need to be paying 10p/kWh all in on a standard tariff, but if I wanted to start saving and have a warmer house then it would have to be about 7p/kWh (about the same as gas).

    Gas prices are the backstop price for E7, so if they rise, then the cost of off peak will rise (though still saving on the maintenance).

    All in All I am quite happy with the service and if I had more roof area (and spare cash) to put PV on, then I would and then save on the day rate (18p/kWh).

    Worth noting that I live in the far SW with it's mild climate and very soft water.

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