Multi Rate Watt Hour Meter? Trust The Answer

Meter readings and energy tariffs are the two most important elements that make up the energy bill.

Only by providing meter readings to your supplier can you be sure that you only pay for what you use. Without it, your supplier will estimate how much energy you use and bill you based on that.

Energy prices, on the other hand, are how much your supplier charges for each unit of energy you use.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to take a meter reading, but also how to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Record your digital electricity meter readings so you can see how your electricity usage varies at different times of the week, month and year.

The electricity meter belongs to the electricity company and is sealed with a seal. Breaking the seal to tamper with the meter risks prosecution and penalties.

Electricity meters are devices used by utility companies to measure how much electricity a household or apartment is using. Electricity companies usually read these electricity meters monthly and bill the electricity consumer for the amount of electricity used in the month. Digital electricity meters have numeric displays that show numbers in kilowatt hours. A kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. If you have a 100 watt light bulb that is left on for an hour, it will use 100 watt hours or 0.1 kilowatt hours.

Most people only have one meter in their home/business, so suddenly coming across new types of meters with multiple tariffs can be very confusing. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of meters, what they all cost, and what they all do.

Types of counters:

Standard meters Standard meters record the gas or electricity consumption you use on a single-tariff multi-tariff meter (two-tariff meter) A meter with two tariffs, one for day and one for night-time multi-tariff meter (three-tariff meter) A meter with three tariffs, one for day, one for the night and one for the weekend Meters for multiple locations Multiple separate meters in different locations Connected meters two separate electricity meters or one meter with two feed-in points

What are multi-tariff meters?

Multi-tariff meters offer cheaper unit kWh prices for “off-peak hours” over the 24-hour period of the day. Off-peak times may include night rates and weekend rates. These have tariffs other than the standard tariff, called either Economy 7 or Economy 10, both of which offer the opportunity for eligible users to save a significant amount on energy costs.

The non-productive times vary depending on:

Your commercial electricity provider

Your location

The gauge you have

Two-tariff meter – This is sometimes referred to as an Economy 7 meter, a two-tariff meter distinguishes between peak and off-peak hours and charges less for off-peak times. Economy 7 times are typically classes between 10pm and 8:30am – however there may be slight variations with some providers.

Three-tariff counter – This counter takes into account weekend usage and peak and off-peak coverage and calculates all three tariffs at different rates. If you consume energy in weekend, it would be the best choice for your business.

Multi-rate counter vs. multi-site counter

Larger companies benefit from multi-site meters if they have several different premises. However, every business should consider how much energy it actually uses to determine the best meter.

Do you already have a multi-tariff meter?

Although multi-rate meters look like standard meters, a multi-rate meter has small gray lettering across the screen that tells you if it’s a multi-rate meter. The digital display alternates between two or three displays (this depends on whether you have an Economy 7 or Economy 10 fare).

Economy details 7

Economy 7 (also known as “differential” or “multi-tariff” tariff) is an energy plan that can help you pay less for your electricity.

With Economy 7 you pay cheaper rates for 7 hours at night. The cost difference can be up to 50% depending on the electricity provider.

If you have storage heating and hot water, Economy 7 is the best choice as you can heat overnight at your off-peak rate; so you get heating and hot water all day long. Storage heaters should be wired to use off-peak tariff only and water heaters can be set to come on overnight.

All of the electricity you use during off-peak times is billed more cheaply, not just your heating and hot water bill. Energy used outside of these times may be more expensive than the standard rate.

non-productive times:

How to read an economy 7 meter

Reading the meter is slightly different for each meter depending on what type you have.

The first type has 2 displays. The top row (labeled “Normal”) shows your day rate and the bottom row (labeled “Low”) shows your night rate.

The second meter type has a single row of numbers that shows your daily electricity consumption rate. To see the reading for your night tariff, press the red button.

It is possible to get a multi-rate counter smart meter. Smart meters help you more easily spot patterns in your gas and electricity usage, so you can figure out where you can save. A smart meter means no more meter readings or estimated bills. And that also helps you waste less energy and lower your carbon emissions.

Economy details 10

Economy 10 works almost the same as Economy 7, except you get 10 hours of cheaper electricity than 7. Economy 10 usually offers 3 of the cheaper hours in the afternoon, with 7 more overnight.

Credit meter GMT Credit meter BST PAYG meter GMT PAYG meter BST Southern Scotland (MPAN 18) 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 5.30am – 8.30am

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m

9.30pm – 1.30am Northern Scotland (MPAN 17) 4.30am – 7.30am

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 5.30am – 8.30am

2.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m

9.30pm – 1.30am Merseyside and North Wales (MPAN 13) 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 4.30am – 7.30am

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8.30pm – 12.30am 5.30am – 8.30am

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m

21:30 – 01:30 All other areas 00:00 – 05:00

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m

21.00 – 23.00 00.00 – 5.00

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m

21:00 – 23:00

When considering getting a multi-tariff meter, you should also consider the following:

Think about whether you can use more than half your electricity at night, if not, you’re probably paying too much because you’re using too much electricity at the more expensive tariff during the day. Regardless of whether your devices have timers, unless you regularly stay up until midnight or 1am, you’ll need to set a timer to turn them on at night when the Economy 7 off-peak times begin. Your lifestyle, if you drive an electric vehicle and it works for you to charge it overnight, for example Economy 7 could be ideal.

Other types of gauges

Total heating total control counter (THTC).

THTC meters are only used in certain parts of Scotland. They are good if you heat your house and water with electricity and you are at home most of the day. Electricity for your heating and hot water is recorded on one meter and the rest on another meter. You heat with your storage heaters for between five and twelve hours a day. The provider will create these for you and check the weather forecast to find out the best times to do so.

Counter for Storage Heater Control (SHC).

SHC meters are only used in some areas of Scotland. This type of meter runs alongside your heating, whether electric or gas, giving you an extra boost. It records eight hours of cost effective heating from your storage heaters. This includes at least three hours between 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. and two hours between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Any other energy you consume is recorded via a different meter.

Flexiheat/Superdeal Counter

These meters are only available in certain parts of England and are used in all electric heated homes. Flexiheat and Superdeal meters record the electricity you use using three meter readings; one for “day”, one for “night” and one for “storage heat”. The “storage heat” meter reading records for seven hours to charge your storage heaters. Superdeal meters also store two hours of heat for the afternoon, keeping you warm throughout the day.

Related counters

If you have related meters, you may have two separate electricity meters or one meter with two supply points. A supply point is the provision and billing of electricity by suppliers. Most gauges only have one.

For more information on this post and how Energy Solutions can help you with electricity, gas or water, click on the links or see the contact details at the bottom of the page.

Device for measuring electricity consumption

“Energy meter” redirects here. For the meter showing energy in a video game, see Energy (video games)

Analog electricity meter for the North American household.

Electricity meter with transparent plastic housing (Israel)

Electronic household meter for North America

An electricity meter, electricity meter, electricity meter, energy meter, or kilowatt-hour meter is a device that measures the amount of electrical energy used by a household, business, or any electrically powered device.

Electricity meter or energy meter measures the total power consumed over a period of time.

Energy suppliers use electricity meters that are installed at the customer’s premises for billing and monitoring purposes. They are usually calibrated in accounting units, the most common being the kilowatt hour (kWh). They are usually read once per billing period.

When energy savings are desired during specific periods of time, some meters can measure demand, the maximum power consumption over a specific interval. Time-of-day measurement allows electricity tariffs to change during the day to record usage during high-cost peak periods and off-peak, lower-cost periods. Also, meters in some areas have relays for load shedding on demand during peak periods.[1]

history [edit]

Direct current [ edit ]

An Aron type DC power meter showing calibration instead of energy consumed

As commercial use of electric power spread in the 1880s, it became increasingly important that an electric meter, similar to the gas meters then in existence, was required to allow customers to be properly billed, rather than being billed a fixed number of lamps per month to deliver.

DC meter measured charge in ampere hours. Since the supply voltage was supposed to remain essentially constant, the meter reading was proportional to the actual energy consumed. For example, if a meter reads 100 ampere hours on a 200 volt supply, 20 kilowatt hours of energy has been delivered.

Many experimental types of gauges have been developed. Thomas Edison initially worked on an electromechanical direct current (DC) meter with a direct reading register, but instead developed an electrochemical metering system that used an electrolytic cell to totalize current consumption. Periodically the panels were removed and weighed and billed to the customer. The electrochemical meter was labor intensive to read and not well received by customers.

A ‘reason’ meter

An early type of electrochemical gauge used in the UK was the ‘Reason’ gauge. This consisted of a vertically mounted glass structure with a mercury reservoir at the top of the counter. As current was drawn from the supply, electrochemical action transported the mercury to the bottom of the column. Like all other DC meters, it recorded ampere hours. Once the pool of mercury was depleted, the meter became an open circuit. Therefore, the consumer had to pay for another supply of electricity, whereupon the supplier’s representative unlocked the meter from its holder and turned it over to return the mercury to the storage tank and supply. In practice, the consumer would call in the utility representative before the supply runs out and only pay for the load used, which is read on the scale. The agent would then reset the counter to zero by reversing it.

In 1885 Ferranti offered a mercury motor meter with a register similar to a gas meter; This had the advantage that the consumer could easily read the meter and check consumption.[2] The first accurately recording electricity meter was a DC meter by Dr. Hermann Aron, who patented it in 1883. Hugo Hirst of the British General Electric Company introduced it commercially in Great Britain from 1888.[3] Aron’s gauge recorded the total charge consumed over time and displayed it on a series of watch faces.

Alternating current [ edit ]

The first example of the AC kilowatt-hour meter, manufactured according to the patent of the Hungarian Ottó Bláthy and named after him, was presented by the Ganz-Werke at the Frankfurt Fair in the autumn of 1889, and the first induction kilowatt-hour meter already came onto the market from the factory at the end of the same year. These were the first AC watt-hour meters, known as Bláthy meters.[4] The currently used AC kilowatt-hour meters work on the same principle as Bláthy’s original invention.[5][6][7][8] Also around 1889, Elihu Thomson of the American company General Electric developed a recording wattmeter (watt-hour counter) based on an ironless commutator motor. This meter overcame the disadvantages of the electrochemical type and could be operated with either AC or DC power.[9]

In 1894, Oliver Shallenberger of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation applied the induction principle, previously used only in AC ampere-hour meters [10], to produce a watt-hour meter of the modern electromechanical form, using an induction disc whose speed of rotation was made proportional to the power in the circuit.[11 ][12] The Bláthy meter was similar to the Shallenberger and Thomson meters in that they were two-phase motor meters.[5] Although the inductive gauge only worked with alternating current, it eliminated the sensitive and interfering commutator of the Thomson design. Shallenberger fell ill and was unable to refine his original large and heavy design, although he also developed a multi-phased version.

units [edit]

Panel mounted solid state electricity meter connected to a 2 MVA substation. Remote current and voltage sensors can be read out and programmed remotely via modem and locally via infrared. The circle with two dots is the infrared port. Seals of originality can be seen

The most common power meter unit of measure is the kilowatt-hour [kWh], which is the amount of energy consumed by a one-kilowatt load over a one-hour period, or 3,600,000 joules. Some electric companies use the SI megajoule instead.

Demand is usually measured in watts, but is averaged over a period of time, typically a quarter or half hour.

Reactive power is measured in “thousands of volt-ampere blind hours” (kvarh). Typically, a “lagging” or inductive load, such as a B. a motor, a positive reactive power. A “leading” or capacitive load has negative reactive power.[13]

Volt-ampere measures all power going through a distribution network, including reactive and actual power. This is equal to the RMS product of volts and amperes.

Electric current distortion through loads is measured in a number of ways. Power factor is the ratio of resistive (or real) power to volt-amperes. A capacitive load has a leading power factor and an inductive load has a lagging power factor. A purely resistive load (such as an incandescent light bulb, heater, or kettle) has a power factor of 1. Current harmonics are a measure of waveform distortion. For example, electronic loads such as computer power supplies draw their current at peak voltage to fill their internal storage elements. This can result in a significant voltage drop near the peak of the supply voltage, which manifests itself as a flattening of the voltage waveform. This flattening causes odd harmonics that are not allowed if they exceed certain limits because they are not only wasteful but can also interfere with the operation of other devices. Harmonic emissions are required by law in the EU and other countries to be within certain limits.

In addition to measuring by the amount of energy consumed, other types of measurement are available. Gauges that measured the amount of charge (coulomb) consumed, called ampere-hour meters, were used in the early days of electrification. These depended on the supply voltage remaining constant for an accurate measurement of power consumption, which was not a likely circumstance for most power supplies. The most common application was dedicated gauges for monitoring the state of charge/discharge of large batteries. Some meters only measured the amount of time charge flowed without measuring the magnitude of the voltage or current. These are only suitable for constant load applications and are rarely used today.

operation [edit]

Mechanism of electromechanical induction meter. 1: Voltage coil: many turns of fine wire covered in plastic, connected in parallel with the load. 2: Current coil: three turns of thick wire connected in series with the load. 3: Stator: concentrated and limited magnetic field. 4: Aluminum rotor disk. 5: Rotor brake magnets. 6: Spindle with worm gear. 7: Display dials: The 1/10, 10, and 1000 dials rotate clockwise while the 1, 100, and 10000 dials rotate counter-clockwise

Electricity meters work by continuously measuring instantaneous voltage (volts) and current (amps) to indicate the energy used (in joules, kilowatt hours, etc.). Meters for smaller services (e.g. small private customers) can be switched directly between the source and the customer. For larger loads, more than about 200 amp load, current transformers are used so that the meter can be located somewhere other than in line with the supply conductors. The gauges fall into two basic categories, electromechanical and electronic.

Electromechanical[ edit ]

The most common type of electricity meter is the electromechanical watt-hour meter.[14][15]

With a single-phase AC power supply, the electromechanical induction meter works through electromagnetic induction by counting the revolutions of a non-magnetic but electrically conductive metal disk that rotates at a speed proportional to the power flowing through the meter. The number of revolutions is therefore proportional to the energy consumption. The voltage coil dissipates a small and relatively constant amount of power, typically around 2 watts, that is not registered on the meter. The current coil similarly draws a small amount of current in proportion to the square of the current flowing through it, typically up to a few watts at full load, which is registered on the meter.

The disk is acted upon by two sets of induction coils, effectively forming a two-phase linear induction motor. One coil is connected in such a way that it generates a magnetic flux proportional to the voltage and the other a magnetic flux proportional to the current. The voltage coil field is delayed by 90 degrees due to the inductive nature of the coil and calibrated using a delay coil. This creates eddy currents in the disk and causes a force to be exerted on the disk that is proportional to the product of the instantaneous current and instantaneous voltage. A permanent magnet acts as an eddy current brake, exerting a counter force that is proportional to the speed of rotation of the disc. The balance between these two opposing forces causes the disc to spin at a speed proportional to the power or rate of energy consumption. The disk drives a counting mechanism that counts revolutions, much like the odometer in a car, to provide a measure of the total energy used.

Different phase configurations use additional voltage and current coils.

Three-phase electromechanical induction counter, measurement 100 A 240/415 V power supply. Aluminum horizontal rotor disk is visible in the center of the gauge

The disc is carried by a spindle that has a worm gear that drives the register. The register is a series of dials that record the amount of energy used. The dials can be of the cyclometer type, an easy-to-read odometer-like display, with a single digit for each dial being displayed through a window on the face of the counter, or of the pointer type, with a pointer indicating each digit. With the round hand type, adjacent hands usually rotate in opposite directions due to the gear mechanism.

The amount of energy represented by one revolution of the disk is denoted by the symbol Kh, which is in units of watt-hours per revolution. The value 7.2 is often seen. Using the value of Kh one can determine its power consumption at any given moment by measuring the disc with a stop watch.

P = 3600 ⋅ K h t {\displaystyle P={{3600\cdot Kh} \over t}} .

Where:

t = time in seconds that the disk needs for one revolution, P = power in watts.

For example, if Kh = 7.2 as above and one revolution took 14.4 seconds, the power is 1800 watts. With this method, the power consumption of household appliances can be determined by switching them on one after the other.

Most residential electricity meters must be read manually, either by a utility representative or by the customer. When the customer reads the meter, the meter reading can be transmitted to the utility company by telephone, post or internet. The electric company usually requires a visit by a company representative at least once a year to verify the readings provided by the customer and to perform a basic safety check of the meter.

In an induction meter, a phenomenon that can affect accuracy is creep, which occurs when the meter disc rotates continuously with the potential applied and the load terminals open. A test for creep failure is called a creep test.

Two standards govern measurement accuracy, ANSI C12.20 for North America and IEC 62053.

Electronic [ edit ]

Electronic meters show the energy used on an LCD or LED display, and some can also transmit readings to remote locations. In addition to measuring the energy consumed, electronic meters can also record other parameters of the load and delivery, such as: B. instantaneous and maximum consumption rate, voltages, power factor and reactive power consumed etc. For example, recording energy consumption during peak and off-peak times.

The meter has a power supply, a measurement engine, a processing and communication engine (i.e., a microcontroller), and other add-on modules such as a real-time clock (RTC), a liquid crystal display, infrared communication ports/modules, and so on.

The measurement engine receives the voltage and current inputs and has a voltage reference, sampler and quantizer, followed by an analog to digital conversion section to get the digitized equivalents of all inputs. These inputs are then processed using a digital signal processor to calculate the various dosing parameters.

The largest source of long-term error in the meter is drift in the preamp, followed by the accuracy of the voltage reference. Both also vary with temperature and vary greatly when the gauges are outdoors. Characterizing and compensating for these is an important part of meter design.

The processing and communication section has the responsibility of calculating the various derived quantities from the digital values ​​generated by the measuring machine. This also has the responsibility for communication using different protocols and interfaces to other add-on modules that are connected to it as slaves.

RTC and other add-on modules are connected as slaves to the processing and communication section for various input/output functions. In a modern gauge, most if not all is implemented in the microprocessor, such as B. RTC, LCD controller, temperature sensor, memory and analog to digital converter.

Communication methods[ edit ]

Remote meter reading is a practical example of telemetry. It saves the cost of a human meter reader and the resulting errors, but also allows for more metering and remote deployment. Many smart meters now include a switch to pause or restore service.

In the past, rotary meters could remotely report their measured information using a pair of electrical contacts connected to a KYZ line.

A KYZ interface is a Form C contact provided by the gauge. In a KYZ interface, the Y and Z wires are switch contacts that are shorted to K for a measured amount of energy. When one contact closes, the other opens to ensure counting accuracy.[17] Each change of state of the contact is considered as an impulse. The pulse frequency indicates the power requirement. The number of pulses indicates the measured energy.[18]

The KYZ relay generates pulses. The term KYZ refers to the contact designations: K for Common, Y for Normally Open and Z for Normally Closed. When installed in an electricity meter, the relay changes state with each full or half turn of the meter disk. Each change of state is called a “pulse”. When connected to external devices, the consumption (kW) as well as the total consumption (kWh) can be determined from the rate and number of pulses.

KYZ outputs used to be connected to “totalizer relays” that fed a “totalizer” so many meters could be read at once in one place.

KYZ outputs are also the classic way to connect electricity meters to programmable logic controllers, HVACs or other control systems. Some modern meters also offer a contact closure that alerts when the meter detects a demand near a higher electricity tariff to improve demand-side management.

Some meters have an open collector or IR LED output that emits 32-100ms pulses for each measured amount of electrical energy, typically 1000-10000 pulses per kWh. The output is limited to max. 27 V DC and 27 mA DC. These S0 outputs usually follow the DIN 43864 standard.

Many meters designed for semi-automatic reading have a serial port that communicates through the meter’s front panel via an infrared LED. In some multi-unit buildings, a similar protocol is used, but on a wired bus that uses a serial current loop to connect all meters with a single connector. The plug is often located near a more accessible location.

In the European Union, the most common infrared protocol is “FLAG”, a simplified subset of Mode C of IEC 61107. In the United States and Canada, the preferred infrared protocol is ANSI C12.18. Some industrial meters use a programmable logic controller protocol (Modbus or DNP3).

A protocol proposed for this purpose is DLMS/COSEM, which can work over any medium, including serial ports. Data can be transmitted via Zigbee, Wi-Fi, phone lines, or over the power lines themselves. Some meters can be read via the Internet. Other more modern protocols such as OSGP (Open Smart Grid Protocol) are also being used more and more frequently.

Electronic gauges now use low-power radio, GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth, IrDA, as well as a wired RS-485 connection. The meters can save the entire usage profile with a time stamp and pass it on at the push of a button. The demand values ​​stored with the profiles accurately reflect the customer’s load requirements. This load profile data is processed by the energy suppliers for billing and planning purposes.

AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) and RMR (Remote Meter Reading) describe various systems that allow meters to be checked remotely without the need to send a meter reader. An electronic meter can transmit its measured values ​​to a central accounting office via telephone line or radio.

Monitoring and billing methods [ edit ]

Commercial uses[ edit ]

Large commercial and industrial facilities can use electronic meters that record electricity consumption in blocks of half an hour or less. This is because most power grids experience spikes in demand throughout the day and the utility may wish to price incentivize large customers to reduce demand at these times. These peaks in demand often correspond to mealtimes or, as is well known, commercials interrupting popular television programs.

Energy monitoring at home[ edit ]

A potentially effective way of reducing energy use in the home is to provide users with practical, real-time feedback so they can change their energy use behavior. Recently, inexpensive energy feedback displays have become available that may measure energy (watt-hours), instantaneous power (watts), and may additionally measure MAINS voltage, current, run time, apparent power, capture peak power and peak current, and have a manually set clock. The display can graphically show the power consumption over the week.[19][20]

A study by Hydro One using a consumer-readable meter in 500 Ontario homes showed an average 6.5% reduction in overall electricity use compared to a similarly sized control group. Based on the success of the pilot, Hydro One then offered free performance monitors to 30,000 customers.[21] Projects like Google PowerMeter take information from a smart meter and make it more easily available to users to promote environmental protection.[22]

A model of a pluggable electricity meter used to measure the consumption of a single device.

Plug-in electricity meters (or plug-load meters) measure the energy consumption of individual devices. There are a variety of models on the market today, but they all work on the same basic principle. The meter is plugged into an electrical outlet and the device to be measured is plugged into the meter. Such meters can help save energy by identifying key energy users or devices that are using excessive amounts of standby power. Web resources can also be used if an estimate of power consumption is sufficient for research purposes. An electricity meter can often be borrowed from the local energy authority[23] or a local public library.[24][25]

Multiple tariff[ edit ]

Electricity retailers may want to charge customers different rates at different times of the day to better reflect generation and transmission costs. Because it is typically not cost-effective to store significant amounts of electricity during periods of low demand for use during periods of high demand, costs vary significantly depending on the time of day. Inexpensive generating capacity (base load) such as nuclear power can take many hours to start, which means surplus during periods of low demand, while expensive but flexible generating capacity (such as gas turbines) must be kept available in order to be able to react at any time (spinning reserve) to peak demand , maybe for a few minutes a day, which is very expensive.

Some multi-tariff meters use different tariffs for different demand quantities. These are usually industrial meters.

Household variable meters typically allow for two to three tariffs (‘peak’, ‘off-peak’ and ‘shoulder’) and a simple electromechanical timer can be used in such installations. Historically these have often been used in conjunction with electric storage heaters or hot water storage systems.

Multiple tariffs are facilitated by time-of-use (TOU) meters that include or are associated with a timer and that have multiple registers.

Switching between the tariffs can take place via a ripple control or via a radio switch. In principle, a sealed timer can also be used, but is considered more susceptible to manipulation in order to obtain cheaper electricity.

Radio-activated switching is common in Britain, with a night-time data signal being broadcast within BBC Radio 4’s longwave carrier, 198 kHz. The low load charging time is typically seven hours between midnight and 7am GMT/BST and is designed to power storage heaters and immersion heaters. In the UK, such fares are typically referred to as Economy 7, White Meter or Dual Rate. The popularity of such tariffs has increased in recent years, at least on the domestic market, due to the (perceived or actual) shortcomings of storage heaters and the comparatively much lower cost of natural gas per kWh (typically by a factor of 3-5 times lower). Still, a significant number of properties do not have a gas option, with many in rural areas being off-grid and others expensive upfront to upgrade to a radiator system.

An Economy 10 meter is also available, providing 10 hours of cheap off-peak electricity spread over three time slots over a 24-hour period. This allows for multiple charging of storage heaters or good time distribution to run an electric wet heating system at a cheaper electricity price.[26]

Most meters using Economy 7 switch the entire power supply to the cheaper tariff during the 7 hour night time, not just the storage heater circuit. The downside of this is that the daily rate per kWh is significantly higher and the basic fees are sometimes higher. For example, as of July 2017, regular (“single rate”) electricity in the London area is 17.14p per kWh at the standard rate for EDF Energy (the incumbent post-privatisation electricity supplier in London) with a base charge of 18.90p per day.[ 27] The equivalent cost for Economy 7 is 21.34 pence per kWh during peak usage and 7.83 pence per kWh during off-peak periods and a basic charge of 18.90 pence per day.[28] Timers installed on washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and electric heaters can be set to turn on only during off-peak hours.

Smart meters[ edit ]

Smart meters go one step further than simple AMR (Automatic Meter Reading). They offer additional features including real-time or near-real-time reads, power outage notification, and power quality monitoring. They enable the price-setting bodies to introduce different consumption prices depending on the day and the season.

Another type of smart meter uses non-intrusive load monitoring to automatically determine the number and type of devices in a home, how much energy each is using, and when. This meter is used by energy suppliers to carry out surveys of energy consumption. It eliminates the need to place timers on all appliances in a home to track how much energy each one is using.

Prepayment counter [ edit ]

A displays information and statistics such as current tariff and remaining credit. The button labeled B activates a small emergency loan should the customer run out of prepaid meter and magstripe tokens from rented accommodation in the UK. The button marked with displays information and statistics such as the current tariff and the remaining balance. The button marked with activates a small emergency loan if the customer has used it up

A prepayment key

The classic electricity retail business model provides that the electricity supplier bills the customer for the amount of energy consumed in the previous month or quarter. If the retailer believes the customer may not pay the bill, a prepayment meter can be installed in some countries. This requires the customer to make an advance payment before the electricity can be used. [citation needed] When the available balance is exhausted, a relay cuts off the power supply.

Mechanical prepayment meters used to be common in rental accommodation in the UK. Disadvantages included the need for regular visits to remove cash and the risk of the cash being stolen in the postage meter.

Moderne Halbleiterelektrizitätszähler in Verbindung mit Chipkarten haben diese Nachteile beseitigt, und solche Zähler werden üblicherweise für Kunden verwendet, die als ein geringes Kreditrisiko gelten. In Großbritannien können Kunden Organisationen wie die Post Office Ltd oder das PayPoint-Netzwerk nutzen, wo wiederaufladbare Token (Quantum-Karten für Erdgas oder Plastikschlüssel für Strom) mit dem Geld aufgeladen werden können, das der Kunde zur Verfügung hat.

In Südafrika, im Sudan und in Nordirland werden Prepaid-Zähler durch Eingabe einer eindeutigen, codierten zwanzigstelligen Zahl über eine Tastatur aufgeladen. Dadurch sind die Token, im Wesentlichen ein Zettel, sehr günstig in der Herstellung.

Weltweit laufen Experimente, insbesondere in Entwicklungsländern, um Vorauszahlungssysteme zu testen. In einigen Fällen wurden Prepaid-Zähler von Kunden nicht akzeptiert. Es gibt verschiedene Gruppen, wie zum Beispiel die Standard Transfer Specification (STS) Association, die herstellerübergreifend gemeinsame Standards für Prepaid-Messsysteme fördern. Prepaid-Zähler, die den STS-Standard verwenden, werden in vielen Ländern verwendet.[29][30][31]

Tageszeitmessung [ bearbeiten ]

Time of Day Metering (TOD), auch als Time of Usage (TOU) oder Seasonal Time of Day (SToD) bekannt, beinhaltet das Messen von Tag, Monat und Jahr in Tarifslots und mit höheren Tarifen zu Spitzenlastzeiten und niedrigen Tarifen in Schwachlastzeiten. Während dies zur automatischen Verbrauchssteuerung durch den Kunden genutzt werden kann (mit der Folge einer automatischen Laststeuerung), liegt es oft einfach in der Verantwortung des Kunden, seinen eigenen Verbrauch zu steuern oder entsprechend zu bezahlen (freiwillige Laststeuerung). Dies ermöglicht den Energieversorgern auch, ihre Übertragungsinfrastruktur entsprechend zu planen. Siehe auch Demand-Side-Management (DSM).

Die TOD-Messung teilt die Raten normalerweise in eine Anordnung mehrerer Segmente auf, einschließlich Hoch-, Nieder-, Mittel- oder Schulter und kritischer Höchstwert. Eine typische Anordnung ist eine Spitzenlast, die während des Tages auftritt (nur an Nicht-Ferientagen), z. B. von 13:00 bis 21:00 Uhr von Montag bis Freitag im Sommer und von 6:30 bis 12:00 Uhr und 17:00 bis 21:00 Uhr im Winter . Komplexere Anordnungen umfassen die Verwendung kritischer Spitzen, die während Zeiten hoher Nachfrage auftreten. Die Zeiten der Spitzennachfrage/Kosten werden in verschiedenen Märkten auf der ganzen Welt variieren.

Große gewerbliche Nutzer können Strom stundenweise kaufen, indem sie entweder prognostizierte Preise oder Echtzeitpreise verwenden. Einige Versorgungsunternehmen erlauben Privatkunden, Stundensätze zu zahlen, wie beispielsweise in Illinois, wo Day-Ahead-Preise verwendet werden.[32][33]

Leistungsabgabemessung [ bearbeiten ]

Viele Stromkunden installieren eigene Stromerzeugungsanlagen, sei es aus Gründen der Wirtschaftlichkeit, der Redundanz oder des Umweltschutzes. Wenn ein Kunde mehr Strom erzeugt, als für den Eigenbedarf benötigt wird, kann der Überschuss zurück in das Stromnetz eingespeist werden. Kunden, die in das “Netz” zurückspeisen, müssen normalerweise über spezielle Ausrüstung und Sicherheitsvorrichtungen verfügen, um die Netzkomponenten (sowie die des Kunden) im Falle von Fehlern (elektrische Kurzschlüsse) oder der Wartung des Netzes (z. B. Spannung bei einem Ausfall) zu schützen Linie, die von einer Einrichtung eines exportierenden Kunden kommt).

Diese exportierte Energie kann im einfachsten Fall dadurch abgerechnet werden, dass der Zähler in Zeiten des Nettoexports rückwärts läuft und somit den erfassten Energieverbrauch des Kunden um die exportierte Menge reduziert. Dies führt letztendlich dazu, dass der Kunde für seine Exporte zum vollen Einzelhandelspreis für Strom bezahlt wird. Sofern nicht mit einer Ratsche oder einem gleichwertigen Gerät ausgestattet, zeichnet ein Standardmessgerät den Stromfluss in jede Richtung genau auf, indem es einfach rückwärts läuft, wenn Strom exportiert wird. Soweit gesetzlich zulässig, behalten die Versorgungsunternehmen eine profitable Spanne zwischen dem Preis der an den Verbraucher gelieferten Energie und dem gutgeschriebenen Satz für die vom Verbraucher erzeugte Energie, die in das Netz zurückfließt.

In letzter Zeit stammen Upload-Quellen typischerweise aus erneuerbaren Quellen (z. B. Windkraftanlagen, Photovoltaikzellen) oder Gas- oder Dampfturbinen, die häufig in Kraft-Wärme-Kopplungssystemen zu finden sind. Eine weitere potenzielle Upload-Quelle, die vorgeschlagen wurde, sind Plug-in-Hybridautobatterien (Vehicle-to-Grid-Stromversorgungssysteme). Dies erfordert ein “intelligentes Netz”, das Zähler umfasst, die Strom über Kommunikationsnetze messen, die eine Fernsteuerung erfordern und den Kunden Zeit- und Preisoptionen bieten. Vehicle-to-grid systems could be installed at workplace parking lots and garages and at park and rides and could help drivers charge their batteries at home at night when off-peak power prices are cheaper, and receive bill crediting for selling excess electricity back to the grid during high-demand hours.

Location [edit]

Current transformers used as part of metering equipment for three-phase 400 A electricity supply. The fourth neutral wire does not require a current transformer because current cannot flow in the neutral without also flowing in metered phase wires. ( Blondel’s theorem

A commercial power meter

Electricity meters placed outside the homes of residents in a common place, which is accessible only for the department staff and concerned residents

The location of an electricity meter varies with each installation. Possible locations include on a utility pole serving the property, in a street-side cabinet (meter box) or inside the premises adjacent to the consumer unit / distribution board. Electricity companies may prefer external locations as the meter can be read without gaining access to the premises but external meters may be more prone to vandalism.

Current transformers permit the meter to be located remotely from the current-carrying conductors. This is common in large installations. For example, a substation serving a single large customer may have metering equipment installed in a cabinet, without bringing heavy cables into the cabinet.

Customer drop and metering equation [ edit ]

Since electrical standards vary in different regions, “customer drops” from the grid to the customer also vary depending on the standards and the type of installation. There are several common types of connections between a grid and a customer. Each type has a different metering equation. Blondel’s theorem states that for any system with N current-carrying conductors, that N-1 measuring elements are sufficient to measure electrical energy. This indicates that different metering is needed, for example, for a three-phase three-wire system than for a three-phase four-wire (with neutral) system.

In Europe, Asia, Africa and most other locations, single phase is common for residential and small commercial customers. Single phase distribution is less-expensive, because one set of transformers in a substation normally serve a large area with relatively high voltages (usually 230 V) and no local transformers. These have a simple metering equation: Watts = volts x amps, with volts measured from the neutral to the phase wire. In the United States, Canada, and parts of Central and South America similar customers are normally served by three-wire single phase. Three-wire single-phase requires local transformers, as few as one per ten residences, but provides lower, safer voltages at the socket (usually 120 V), and provides two voltages to customers: neutral to phase (usually 120 V), and phase to phase (usually 240 V). Additionally, three-wire customers normally have neutral wired to the zero side of the generator’s windings, which gives earthing that can be easily measured to be safe. These meters have a metering equation of Watts = 0.5 x volts x (amps of phase A − amps of phase B), with volts measured between the phase wires.

Industrial power is normally supplied as three phase power. There are two forms: three wire, or four wire with a system neutral. In “three wire” or “three wire delta,” , there is no neutral but an earth ground is the safety ground. The three phases have voltage only relative to each other. This distribution method has one fewer wire, is less expensive, and is common in Asia, Africa, and many parts of Europe. In regions that mix residences and light industry, it is common for this to be the only distribution method. A meter for this type normally measures two of the windings relative to the third winding, and adds the watts. One disadvantage of this system is that if the safety earth fails, it is difficult to discover this by direct measurement, because no phase has a voltage relative to earth.

In the four-wire three-phase system, sometimes called “four-wire wye”, the safety ground is connected to a neutral wire that is physically connected to the zero-voltage side of the three windings of the generator or transformer. Since all power phases are relative to the neutral in this system, if the neutral is disconnected, it can be directly measured. In the United States, the National Electrical Code requires neutrals to be of this type.[34] In this system, power meters measure and sum all three phases relative to the neutral.

In North America, it is common for electricity meters to plug into a standardised socket outdoors, on the side of a building. This allows the meter to be replaced without disturbing the wires to the socket, or the occupant of the building. Some sockets may have a bypass while the meter is removed for service. The amount of electricity used without being recorded during this small time is considered insignificant when compared to the inconvenience which might be caused to the customer by cutting off the electricity supply. Most electronic meters in North America use a serial protocol, ANSI C12.18.

In many other countries the supply and load terminals are in the meter housing itself. Cables are connected directly to the meter. In some areas the meter is outside, often on a utility pole. In others, it is inside the building in a niche. If inside, it may share a data connection with other meters. If it exists, the shared connection is often a small plug near the post box. The connection is often EIA-485 or infrared with a serial protocol such as IEC 62056.

In 2014, networking to meters is rapidly changing. The most common schemes seem to combine an existing national standard for data (e.g. ANSI C12.19 or IEC 62056) operating via the internet protocol with a small circuit board for powerline communication, or a digital radio for a mobile phone network, or an ISM band.

Accuracy [edit]

Electricity meters are required to register the energy consumed within an acceptable degree of accuracy. Any significant error in the registered energy can represent a loss to the electricity supplier, or the consumer being over billed. The accuracy is generally laid down in statute for the location in which the meter is installed. Statutory provisions may also specify a procedure to be followed should the accuracy be disputed.

For the United Kingdom, any installed electricity meter is required to accurately record the consumed energy, but it is permitted to under-read by 3.5%, or over-read by 2.5%.[35] Disputed meters are initially verified with a check meter operating alongside the disputed meter. The final resort is for the disputed meter to be fully tested both in the installed location and at a specialist calibration laboratory.[36] Approximately 93% of disputed meters are found to be operating satisfactorily. A refund of electricity paid for, but not consumed (but not vice versa) will only be made if the laboratory is able to estimate how long the meter has been misregistering. This contrasts with gas meters where if a meter is found to be under reading, it is assumed that it has under read for as long as the consumer has had a gas supply through it.[37] Any refund due is limited to the previous six years.[38]

Tampering and security [ edit ]

Meters can be manipulated to make them under-register, effectively allowing power use without paying for it. This theft or fraud can be dangerous as well as dishonest.

Power companies often install remote-reporting meters specifically to enable remote detection of tampering, and specifically to discover energy theft. The change to smart power meters is useful to stop energy theft.

When tampering is detected, the normal tactic, legal in most areas of the United States, is to switch the subscriber to a “tampering” tariff charged at the meter’s maximum designed current[citation needed]. At US$0.095/kWh, a standard residential 50 A meter causes a legally collectible charge of about US$5,000.00 per month. Meter readers are trained to spot signs of tampering, and with crude mechanical meters, the maximum rate may be charged each billing period until the tamper is removed, or the service is disconnected.

A common method of tampering on mechanical disk meters is to attach magnets to the outside of the meter. Strong magnets saturate the magnetic fields in the meter so that the motor portion of a mechanical meter does not operate. Lower power magnets can add to the drag resistance of the internal disk resistance magnets. Magnets can also saturate current transformers or power-supply transformers in electronic meters, though countermeasures are common.

Some combinations of capacitive and inductive load can interact with the coils and mass of a rotor and cause reduced or reverse motion.

All of these effects can be detected by the electric company, and many modern meters can detect or compensate for them.

The owner of the meter normally secures the meter against tampering. Revenue meters’ mechanisms and connections are sealed. Meters may also measure VAR-hours (the reflected load), neutral and DC currents (elevated by most electrical tampering), ambient magnetic fields, etc. Even simple mechanical meters can have mechanical flags that are dropped by magnetic tampering or large DC currents.

Newer computerised meters usually have counter-measures against tampering. AMR (Automated Meter Reading) meters often have sensors that can report opening of the meter cover, magnetic anomalies, extra clock setting, glued buttons, inverted installation, reversed or switched phases etc.

Some tampers bypass the meter, wholly or in part. Safe tampers of this type normally increase the neutral current at the meter. Most split-phase residential meters in the United States are unable to detect neutral currents. However, modern tamper-resistant meters can detect and bill it at standard rates.[39]

Disconnecting a meter’s neutral connector is unsafe because shorts can then pass through people or equipment rather than a metallic ground to the generator or earth.

A phantom loop connection via an earth ground is often much higher resistance than the metallic neutral connector. Even if an earth ground is safe, metering at the substation can alert the operator to tampering. Substations, inter-ties, and transformers normally have a high-accuracy meter for the area served. Power companies normally investigate discrepancies between the total billed and the total generated, in order to find and fix power distribution problems. These investigations are an effective method to discover tampering.

Power thefts in the United States are often connected with indoor marijuana grow operations. Narcotics detectives associate abnormally high power usage with the lighting such operations require.[40] Indoor marijuana growers aware of this are particularly motivated to steal electricity simply to conceal their usage of it.

Regulation and legislation [ edit ]

Following the deregulation of electricity supply markets in many countries, the company responsible for an electricity meter may not be obvious. Depending on the arrangements in place, the meter may be the property of the meter Operator, electricity distributor, the retailer or for some large users of electricity the meter may belong to the customer.

The company responsible for reading the meter may not always be the company which owns it. Meter reading is now sometimes subcontracted and in some areas the same person may read gas, water and electricity meters at the same time.

The introduction of advanced meters in residential areas has produced additional privacy issues that may affect ordinary customers. These meters are often capable of recording energy usage every 15, 30 or 60 minutes. Some meters have one or two IR LEDs on the front: one used for testing and which acts as the equivalent of the timing mark on the older mechanical meters and the other as part of a two-way IR communications port for reading / programming the meter. These IR LEDs are visible with some night vision viewers and certain video cameras that are capable of sensing IR transmissions. These can be used for surveillance, revealing information about peoples’ possessions and behaviour.[41] For instance, it can show when the customer is away for extended periods. Nonintrusive load monitoring gives even more detail about what appliances people have and their living and use patterns.

A more detailed and recent analysis of this issue was performed by the Illinois Security Lab.[42][further explanation needed]

See also[edit]

Notes [edit]

References[edit]

“Handbook for Electricity Metering” by The Edison Electric Institute

You may have heard of the term night energy and wondered if electricity is cheaper at night.

Although most utilities charge the same tariff for electricity consumed during the day, some electricity tariffs offer cheaper rates for low-load electricity consumed at certain times in the evening and night hours.

If you’re looking to get a better rate for your bill, try our free energy rate comparison tool.

Economy 7 or Economy 10 fares

Customers with an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff benefit from off-peak electricity.

With the Economy 7 tariffs you benefit from 7 hours of low tariff per day, while with the Economy 10 tariffs you benefit from 10 hours of low tariff per day.

Exact off-peak times vary by operator but are generally between 10pm and 8am.

If you’re not currently on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 fare, you can still check our lowest available fares before deciding if switching to an off-peak fare would be better for you.

Is electricity cheaper at night with Economy 7 & 10 tariffs?

In most cases, your off-peak electricity is cheaper with an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff.

Therefore, these tariffs are a good option for people who use most of their electricity overnight. It should be noted that the “peak times” during the day are often more expensive than a standard fixed tariff. But if you use most of your energy at night, you’ll save money.

Before you choose an Economy 7 or Economy 10 fare, everyone in your household must be on board. By using a lot of energy during peak hours, you can quickly lose the benefits of the money you save during off-peak hours. They require your household to plan and commit to charging and running appliances and storage heating water tanks mostly at night to be cost effective.

Since the Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs only apply to electricity, you cannot use dual-fuel contracts. That puts off some savvy customers, as price comparisons between a standard dual-fuel contract and an Economy 7 or 10 fare are difficult.

It’s worth noting that for an Economy 7 or Economy 10 plan, you’ll need to install a meter that will show you two different metrics, for your “peak” usage and “off-peak” usage.

Understanding peak and off-peak current times

Off-peak times vary slightly depending on the provider, but are generally between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Then the least amount of energy is taken from the grid and energy suppliers can afford to offer lower prices.

Peak time is daytime. The unit price for an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff will be higher during the day than for a normal energy contract. Ask your energy supplier about the specific hours for their tariff.

Benefits of Economy 7 or Economy 10 fares

The main advantages of the Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs will be those who use most of their electricity at night, since the unit price will be reduced.

For example, if you run a business that is most active at night, or charge electric vehicles at home or in your business, or have storage heaters for your water or home, you could benefit from reduced off-peak tariffs.

Many of us are guilty of leaving our devices plugged in, even when they’re fully charged or in standby mode. The Energy Saving Trust estimates this costs the average household at least £35 each year[1]. By committing to charging and running your devices mostly overnight, you reduce your bills with an Economy 7 or Economy 10 plan.

The cost of running a standard washing machine for an average household is £24 per year, with an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff the cost drops to £12 per year, a savings of 50%.

However, if you don’t use most of your electricity at night, be aware that the energy unit rate is more expensive during the day. Before you buy one of these plans, you should check your current energy consumption. Installing a smart meter can help you understand your energy consumption.

Many Economy 7 and Economy 10 plans require the installation of a special smart meter that measures how much energy you use at certain times of the day, and this can help you monitor your energy use and become more energy efficient.

If you’re not sure if you’re currently on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 fare, check a recent utility bill.

There are other ways to save energy. Try our free energy tariff comparison.

Use of electronic devices at night

With an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, it makes sense to use devices safely overnight. These tariffs are therefore ideal for customers who use most of their energy at night, especially if you have an electric car that you charge at home or storage heaters.

Using your appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine and other high energy consuming appliances at night on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff will also save you an estimated 50% on your energy bills provided you commit to using them during the break -rush hours.

Finally, a word of warning: every year there are over 7,000 home fires caused by faulty wiring or overloaded outlets. Therefore, regularly check your devices, especially household appliances, and do not overload extension cords or sockets. When a fire breaks out at night, it tends to go unnoticed.

Switch to an off-peak electricity plan with Love Energy Savings

At Love Energy Savings we make it easy to compare off-peak electricity prices. With our innovative energy comparison calculator you can compare the best Economy 7 and Economy 10 from numerous energy suppliers.

To find out how much you could save by switching, simply fill out our online comparison tool here.

If you want more information on how to save money on your energy bills, check out our latest energy guides and advice.

[1] https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-energy-efficiency/home-appliances

In Belgium, every household connected to the electricity grid has a meter. There are several types: single, dual, night-only, etc. But which one should you choose? According to what criteria? Follow the guide to find out!

summary

When a house is connected to the electricity grid, the consumer is faced with a difficult choice. Should you install:

A single rate meter (also referred to as a single rate, known as a “single” meter);

(also spelled Single Rate, known as “Single” meter); Or a dual-rate counter (sometimes spelled dual-rate, known as a “dual” counter);

(sometimes spelled Dual Rate, known as “Dual” Meter); Or a third way to add a night meter solely for heating the apartment?

The question is relevant because the goal is clearly to choose the most advantageous system based on one’s consumption profile.

Once this question has been clarified, the consumer still needs to know whether a meter exchange is possible, for example to convert a two-tariff meter into a single-tariff meter. But don’t panic, Energyprice.be is here to support you in your choice and possible next steps.

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1. What is a gauge and what is it used for?

An electricity meter measures the amount of electricity consumed over a period of time. There is also a gas meter that measures gas consumption.

The amount of electricity is given in kilowatt hours (kWh), the gas consumption in cubic meters (m3). However, your gas supplier bills you in kWh because they convert the cubic meters into kilowatt hours on your annual bill.

The gauge consists of one or two dials that display numbers. These numbers form your readings, which determine your energy consumption at all times.

The single tariff meter has a single scale and therefore a single reading, while the dual tariff meter has two scales and therefore two readings.

1.1. meter reading

Your distribution system operator (DSO) asks you to read your meters every year. These meter readings are then sent to your supplier, who calculates your annual energy consumption.

When you receive your adjustment invoice (or yearly breakdown), the supplier deducts the installments paid in the previous year and corrects your situation.

1.2. meter number

Each counter has a number. This meter number consists of the serial number and the identification number. The serial number is engraved on the gauge, while the last three digits represent the identification number.

Each meter number is unique. If your meter is defective, it will be replaced with a new meter with a new number. If you have a defective meter, please contact your distribution network operator (DSO).

>> Free tool: Find and contact your DNO

1.3. The EAN code

In contrast, the EAN codes (which identify your points of delivery) are constant and do not change when your meter is replaced.

A house that consumes electricity always has an electricity EAN code and an electricity meter number.

The EAN code (a sequence of 18 digits, always starting with “54”) is systematically displayed on utility bills. It also appears on the annual breakdown (also called the adjustment bill). If a house has a gas supply and an electricity supply, it has two EAN codes and two meter numbers.

So if the DNO replaces a faulty meter, the consumer still keeps their EAN code. However, if the consumer moves, their EAN codes and meter number(s) will change.

1.4. The reading types: YMR, MMR and AMR

There are three types of meter reading in Belgium (applies to single-tariff and dual-tariff meters):

YMR (Yearly Meter Reading),

MMR (Monthly Meter Reading)

and AMR (Automatic Meter Reading).

In general, MMR and AMR meters are intended for high volume commercial users.

> YMR, the annual reading The YMR meter is a meter that is manually read once a year by the DSO or by the consumer himself. Since the consumption is known in hindsight, the consumer pays installments (i.e. commissions) until the adjustment invoice is drawn up, which is based on the actual consumption. Upon receipt of the adjustment invoice, the consumer either pays a surcharge to the supplier if their rates have been understated, or the supplier reimburses (in the form of a credit) if the rates have been overstated. > MMR, the monthly reading The MMR meter is read automatically or directly by the network operator every month. For this meter, the consumer does not receive an installment or annual adjustment bill, as he pays exactly what he consumes.

> AMR, the (almost) real-time reading The AMR meter is a remote reading meter (or quarter-hour meter). The measurement takes place automatically every 15 minutes. As with the MMR meter, the consumer only pays for what they have used. Here, too, there is no installment billing and no annual adjustment bill.

1.5. Open meter or closed meter

In addition, the gas or electricity meter can be open or closed. If you want to be supplied with gas or electricity, the meter must be open. If the consumer moves into a house where the meters are closed, he must ensure that his meters are opened so that he can be supplied by an energy supplier of his choice. Opening a meter is subject to a fee, the amount varies depending on the network operator.

Here are some examples of the cost of opening an electricity meter:

Sibelga (Brussels): €108.90 VAT included VAT

ORES (Wallonia): €165.00 VAT included (initial commissioning of a meter is free).

RESA (Wallonia): free

Fluvius (Flanders): (not specified)

> Open measuring device

There are three steps to opening a counter:

First you have to conclude an energy contract with the provider of your choice. To do this, it is essential to know your EAN code. To know where to find this number, read this article. Two working days after signing the contract, you can ask your DSO to open your meter. The operator checks whether a contract has been concluded for your delivery point. If necessary, you can make an appointment with the DNO for one of their employees to come to your home to open the meter. If your installation is new or renovated, you must have a certificate of conformity for your electricity meter (or for your gas meter) issued by an approved body (or by your installer for your gas meter). On the day of the appointment, you or another adult will provide access to your meter. The technician may check your certificate and open your meter. He then checks whether the electricity or gas supply to your house is in order.

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2. Three electricity meters, each with its own advantages

The individual tariff counter (individual tariff) does not differentiate between peak traffic times (during the day) and off-peak traffic times (at night and at the weekend). With this meter, the electricity consumed is billed to you at a uniform rate, regardless of the time and day of the week.

(single tariff) makes . With this meter you will be billed for the electricity consumed regardless of the time and day of the week. The dual tariff counter differentiates between peak traffic times (during the day) and off-peak traffic times (at night and on weekends). Depending on when the electricity is consumed, the consumer is charged the day rate or the night rate.

. Depending on when the electricity is consumed, the consumer will . The night meter provides power for devices that only operate at night, such as B. storage heaters or water heaters. This counter is always accompanied by a single-tariff or a dual-tariff counter.

3. Which meter for which consumer?

3.1. single rate

A uniform tariff applies to the individual tariff meter, regardless of the time and day of the week. It therefore benefits consumers who use most of their electricity during the day, such as schools or offices. This type of meter is also suitable for people with a small household and therefore low consumption. What about you?

Household size One-tariff meter Two-tariff meter 1 person 600 kWh 300 kWh day – 300 kWh night 2 people 1,200 kWh 500 kWh day – 700 kWh night 3 people 3,500 kWh 1,600 kWh day – 1,900 kWh night 4 people 4,500 kWh 1,900 kWh day – 2,600 kWh night 5 people 7,500 kWh 2,700 kWh day – 3,900 kWh night

The single tariff (or normal tariff) is generally also recommended for households with a photovoltaic system.

3.2. Double rate

The two-tariff meter is a meter that differentiates between two tariffs depending on the day and time of consumption: a day tariff and a night tariff. Since the night rate is cheaper than the day rate, it is in the consumer’s interest to store household appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, etc.) outside of peak times (ie weekends) whenever possible.

It should be noted that peak and off-peak times may vary from region to region and even from zip code to zip code, depending on the DNO.

Depending on circumstances, weekday and weekend off-peak hours may last from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

To find out exactly what the situation is in your community, simply contact your DNO.

>> Online tool: Find your distribution system operator

If you live in the Brussels region, you can visit the Sibelga website to find a list of communes and peak and off-peak times.

3.3. night only

The night counter is only connected to heating systems and cannot be used during the day. It is therefore advantageous for people or households with storage heaters and/or water heaters.

However, this type of meter is very rare nowadays. In addition, since 2015 the unit price per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the night meter has almost always corresponded to the unit price per kilowatt hour for a two-tariff meter in off-peak hours (night tariff). .

4. How do I change my counter?

4.1. Exchange your meter

If your meter is defective, you will need to contact your network operator to request a replacement. In this case, intervention and replacement of the energy meter are free.

4.2. Changing from a one-tariff meter to a two-tariff meter

According to the gas and electricity network operator ORES, the cost of replacing a single-tariff meter with a dual-tariff meter is around 250 euros. However, this cost can vary depending on a number of parameters: repositioning of the meter or upgrading of the meter.

4.3. Switching from a dual-tariff meter to a single-tariff meter

If a consumer wants to switch from a two-tariff meter to a one-tariff meter, all they have to do is submit an application to the distribution network operator and the switch will be made remotely. The operation costs around €35.

5. Differences in the price per kWh depending on the meter

The advantage of the dual rate meter is that it offers an “off-peak” rate that is more competitive than the “peak” rate. With the single tariff, this is always somewhere between the “off-peak” tariff and the “peak” tariff.

5.1 Comparison of three common types of energy contracts

Here are some examples of unit prices in Flanders for the month April 2022.

ENGIE – Simple variable

Price (c€) Ratio to single tariff Single tariff 25.80 / double tariff – DAY 30.20 +17.05% Double tariff – NIGHT 21.35 – 17.24% Night only 21.35 – 17.24%

TotalEnergies – TOP (fixed)

Price (c€) Ratio to single tariff Single tariff 32.57 / double tariff – DAY 36.80 +12.98% Double tariff – NIGHT 28.63 -12.09% Night only 28.06 -13, 84%

>> See other similar listings

The values ​​entered in this table are given in euro cents per kilowatt hour (€c/kWh). The ratio represents the price difference between the single rate price and the dual rate and night only price.

It is clear that the tariff for the night meter is the same for most providers as the night tariff for the dual-tariff meter. Unsurprisingly, this dual-rate nightly plan is the cheapest. Then comes the tariff for the single-tariff meter. However, this is cheaper than the daily rate (two-rate meter).

5.2. monitoring

The difference between the rates doesn’t seem to be significant, and yet:

The daily tariff for the two-tariff meter is up to 14% more expensive than the tariff for the one-tariff meter.

The night rate is up to 13% cheaper than the rate for the single rate meter.

The same observation can be made for the night-only meter tariff.

Conclusion

If you live alone and use little energy, you can usually just have a single-tariff meter. However, it is in your interest to switch to a two-tariff meter if you use a lot of energy in the evening. Replacing your meter can be quite expensive, but in the long run the savings will outweigh the cost.

To find out from what consumption it is worth switching from a single-tariff meter to a two-tariff meter or vice versa, please call us on 0800 37 456. Our consultants are at your disposal from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

1. What is an Economy 7?

Economy 7 (E7) refers to the meter type typically associated with an Economy 7 electricity tariff. They are sometimes referred to as a difference plan or a multi-rate plan. E7 meters are typically found in homes that use electricity for heating and hot water instead of gas.

With an Economy 7 tariff, your electricity is billed at two tariffs – a day tariff and a night tariff. You pay a lower electricity price for seven hours at night (additional tariff) and a higher electricity price during the day. This means that the meter will show two different numbers; one set of numbers for your ‘normal’ or daytime usage and another for your ‘low’ or cheaper nighttime usage. This can also sometimes appear as Rate 1 and 2 or R1 and R2.

Is electricity cheaper at night with E7?

As a rule – the 7 hours of low tariff at night are usually cheaper, but to be on the safe side you can inquire with your energy supplier.

Can you get an E7 meter/tariff for gas?

No, there is no Economy 7 tariff for gas. Gas is mainly used for cooking, central heating and hot water, which you cannot use mainly at night.

2. Why is it called Economy 7?

The meter got its name from the seven hours cheaper (secondary) electricity at night.

3. What are the economy 7 times?

The off-peak times for your E7 meter vary depending on where you live and the provider. Normally, you get your seven hours of night power sometime between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. This can be broken down into time periods. You can contact your supplier to know your exact economy 7 off-peak power hours.

What if the clocks change?

E7 counters typically do not self-adjust as clocks advance or decrement. This means that your off-peak times may differ between British Summer Time (BST, when clocks are advancing) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, when clocks are going back). Be sure to ask your supplier how this affects you.

4. How do I use my Economy 7 meter?

Economy 7 meters can save you energy and lower your bills if you plan ahead and use your electricity off-peak.

Set your devices to off-peak times

Setting home appliances to turn on at night can make a big difference in your bills. Things like washing machines, dishwashers, bread makers, slow cookers, etc. can easily run overnight to make the most of the off-peak rates.

If you have an electric vehicle, you can also save money by charging it overnight. Some energy suppliers are now offering more competitive tariffs specifically for EV owners. Find out more about EDF electric vehicle tariffs

Night storage heaters and Economy 7

If you have storage heaters you can get the most out of Economy 7 by programming them to charge overnight. So they charge at the best time to use electricity. They keep you warm during the day without using the higher daily rate.

Check your energy when you are more at home

If you work from home or spend more time indoors during the day, it’s worth checking if Economy 7 is still the best choice for you. The daytime peak electricity tariff is usually more expensive than a single tariff tariff, so switching tariffs may be better for you. Many providers (including us!) can offer you electricity at a flat rate without you having to change your meter.

5. Can I have an Economy 7 smart meter?

The current smart meters can work in an Economy 7 mode. So if you have an EDF Economy 7 meter but want a smart meter, book your installation in MyAccount or call us on 0333 200 5104 to speak to us about your needs.

6. Does Economy 7 still exist? Can I have it?

We no longer install E7 meters or have a tariff called “Economy 7”. However, we offer a wide range of energy tariffs and smart meters.

Many people have E7 meters that may no longer be right for them. Check your electricity consumption and compare energy tariffs to ensure you have the best plan for your needs. If you’re unsure about switching, read our blog on choosing the best plan or check out our guide to switching providers.

7. What is the difference between Economy 7 and Economy 10 meters? Are there other counter types?

In short, Economy 10 gives you 10 hours of electricity at a lower rate. It’s a bit more complicated though! For this reason, they are referred to as “complex measuring devices”.

What is a complex counter?

A complex meter is basically any meter except Single Rate or Economy 7. Meters like Economy 9, Heatwise and Warmwise.

Why is Economy 10 known as a complex gauge?

They are called “complex” because they usually have two or more installments. In this way, your secondary tariffs can be grouped by day and night. Depending on the time of year, here is an example of what E10 off-peak times might be;

Three hours with little traffic in the afternoon (e.g. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Two o’clock in the evening (e.g. 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Five nights (e.g. 00:00 – 05:00)

You really need to be organized when you are on E10 as the electricity price will likely be a lot higher during peak times which could end up costing more than you think. They are not called “complex” for nothing!

Are there other types of complex gauges?

In a word – many! Some complex meters are restricted by the property type, others by the sales territory you are in. Not sure what distribution network you are in? Visit the Ofgem website for more information. Here is a summary of some of the most common complex gauges;

• 2 MPAN E10 (3 registers) – Available in the Eastern distribution area only, this meter has three off-peak periods specifically for heating and hot water. This means you need to have your heating and hot water on a separate circuit from the rest of your home’s power supply. All other electricity consumption (washing machines, hair dryers, etc.) would be charged at the appropriate day or night rate.

• Cyclocontrol – You will find this system in apartment blocks and maisonettes in Greater London. It regulates heating and hot water together and can be adjusted to changing heat and hot water requirements depending on the weather. As a result, the power requirement is evenly distributed over an area throughout the day.

• 2 MPAN Economy 9 – This meter offers nine hours of cheaper electricity, day and night, especially for heating and hot water. All other electricity consumption (washing machines, hair dryers, etc.) would be charged at the appropriate day or night rate.

• Heatwise – Available in the East Midlands sales area, this meter is for heating and hot water only. This means you need to have your heating and hot water on a separate circuit from the rest of your home’s power supply. There are three different off-peak times; three hours in the afternoon, two hours in the evening and five hours overnight.

• Off-Peak (Type 1, Type 2 and Type U) – These are only available in the South East, South West and London distribution areas. Off-peak meters provide cheaper power at times of the day or night.

• Warmwise – These offer eight hours of cheaper electricity specifically for heating and hot water at different times of the day. This means you need to have your heating and hot water on a separate circuit from the rest of your home’s power supply. All other electricity consumption (washing machines, hair dryers, etc.) will be charged at the appropriate day or night rate.

If you’re still not sure what type of meter you have, you can check your invoice or contact your supplier to find out more. If you are also interested in learning more about electricity and electricity meters, you can find more information in our blog on electricity meters.

How do I know if I have an Economy 7 fare?

Consider whether or not this fits your lifestyle. For example, if you have unusual working hours, your routine may fit Economy 7 times because you use most of your electricity at night anyway.

If you have storage heaters and a hot water tank, you will likely find that your home and water are nice and warm in the morning but cool down again in the evening.

To get the most out of Economy 7, it helps if appliances like the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer have a timer so you can run them overnight during the cheaper Economy 7 hours.

If you heat your house and water with gas, Economy 7 could still suit you well, assuming you use most of your electricity at night.

An Economy 7 tariff is best for people who have electric storage heaters and a hot water tank. The idea is that you heat the electric storage heaters overnight and slowly release the heat the next day, and you also heat all your hot water for the next day overnight. If you heat your home and water with electricity but don’t have storage heaters or a hot water tank, Economy 7 Energy probably won’t be as profitable for you.

As a rule of thumb, you would need to use more than 40% of your electricity at night to make Economy 7 profitable. Some Economy 7 plans charge nearly double the standard nightly rate for any electricity used during the day, which can negate the benefits of the cheap electricity you get at night. The more electricity you use at night and the less you use during the day, the more money you save with Economy 7 Energy.

Economy 7 can save money for some households, but it is not the right electricity plan for everyone. It works most effectively for those with storage heaters – if you don’t have one, you may not be saving any money. Some people on Economy 7 find that their bills get more expensive because they don’t use enough energy during their Economy 7 periods. Whether it is worth it for you or not depends on various factors:

When you do your comparison with Uswitch, we ask you if you have Economy 7. If you agree, we will adjust your results so that you only see relevant tariffs. Compare Economy 7 prices now to find the best electricity prices for you.

You may also need to have a new meter installed, which your utility company will often charge you for. You may be able to continue using your Economy 7 meter when switching to a standard tariff; Again, your current supplier should be able to tell you if this is the case.

Switching from Economy 7 to Standard feels easy, but you’ll need to contact your electricity supplier to find out more about the process. This is because you will likely need to meet some acceptance criteria in order to make the switch.

We will then show you which Economy 7 fare is best for you. Contact the supplier directly and ask them to upgrade you to Economy 7. You may find the cost of installing Economy 7 meters.

You should start by comparing Economy 7 prices. When we ask if you have Economy 7, select “Yes” and select a carrier and fare from the list – it doesn’t matter. Use your current consumption data and estimate as best as possible the percentage of your electricity consumption that you use at night.

If you do not have an Economy 7 energy system, but want to upgrade to one, you will need to go through the Economy 7 meter installation process.

Economy 7 could be a cheaper option for those who use more energy at night than during the day. Standard energy tariffs mean that customers are charged the same amount per unit of electricity used, no matter what time of day or night they use it. On the other hand, if you have an Economy 7 fare, you will be charged more during the day and less during the allocated Economy 7 times. That means washing clothes or running the dishwasher outside of the daytime hours is more cost-effective if you have an Economy 7 meter.

Economy 7 gives you cheaper electricity for seven hours every night. These tariffs use a different type of electricity meter that, unlike a standard meter, can separately track the electricity you use during the day and night. You will then be charged these different tariffs for the electricity you use during the day and night. The daily rate is often more expensive than a regular rate daily rate, so it may not suit every lifestyle. However, it might work for you if you tend to use more energy during advertised Economy 7 times.

Economy 7 is a type of energy plan used in conjunction with Economy 7 meters and is designed to help you save money on energy consumption during night hours. Economy 7 meters, which have to be specially installed, record day and night electricity consumption separately, so that a different kWh tariff can be offered via an Economy 7 tariff – a bit like peak and off-peak telephone calls. For energy customers, this can be a great way to save money.

Tom: Yes, for day and night. And it would probably also say day rate and night rate next to it.

Amy: Oh, so this is for the day and night?

Tom: You would also have two standard tariffs here in the event of a power failure. So there would be two amounts of consumption and two rates of unit rates.

Tom: An Economy 7 meter is a type of electricity meter that gives you two tariffs depending on the time of day. Essentially, they charge you more for daytime use and less for nighttime use. So if you have storage heaters or are able to do overnight washing and such then sometimes it can be cheaper. So you can find out if we go back to your meter number which is on the last page and you see where it says 01, that means you are not on an economy 7 meter. If it were you, that would say 02 instead.

Amy: When switching, I’m asked if I have an economy 7-meter. How do I know? Can I find this on my bill? How do I know if I have one?

If you are unsure whether or not you have Economy 7 energy, take a look at your electricity bill. If you have two different fares, one for the night and one for the day, then you have Economy 7.

The Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) on your bill also starts with ’02’ if you have Economy 7. Find out where to find this information with our guide to understanding your energy bill.

If you don’t have a receipt handy, look at your meter. If you have Economy 7, your electricity meter will have two sets of numbers – one labeled “low” and one labeled “normal” (your meter may not look exactly like our picture).

Alternatively, there may be a set of numbers labeled ‘daily rate’ and a red button that you press to get your nightly value.

If in doubt, call your energy supplier and ask them.

Compare energy prices here

It’s a good idea to compare energy regularly to see what the current prices mean for you, even if there are fewer offers. Enter your zip code to get started.

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What is an economy 7 meter?

It’s pretty easy to find out if you have an Economy 7 meter. The gauge itself has two sets of numbers – one labeled “low” (meaning “night”) and one labeled “normal” (meaning “day”), although your gauge may not look exactly like the one in our picture.

Alternatively, there may be a set of numbers labeled ‘daily rate’ and a red button that you press to get your nightly value.

How to read an economy 7 meter

There are two types of Economy 7 meters – how you read your meter depends on which type you have.

The first type has two displays – the top row is for your day rate and is labeled ‘Normal’ and the bottom row, labeled ‘Low’ shows the night rate. Always check both gauges when reading your Economy 7 meter.

The second type has a single row of numbers showing your electricity consumption per day. To get a reading of your night tariff, press the red button.

When will Economy 7 start?

The cheaper Economy 7 period usually runs from either 11pm to 6am, 12am to 7am or 1am to 8am. However, this can vary depending on where you live and the energy supplier.

Economy 7 times also change when the clocks are advanced or put back. If in doubt, contact your provider.

Can you get an economy 7 smart meter?

You get a smart meter in the Economy 7 tariff, but not all providers can offer it. How easy you can do this depends on your supplier. Your options may be limited depending on what’s available at the time of your switch, but there should be at least some Economy 7 smart meter plans available.

An Economy 7 smart meter will typically show you separate readings for your peak and off-peak usage on an in-home display. Like all smart meters, an Economy 7 smart meter sends meter readings to your supplier, eliminating the need for you to do this manually. This can help your queries be more accurate as they are based on regular counter readings.

Is electricity cheaper at night?

During off-peak economy 7 times, electricity is much cheaper than regular electricity tariffs. However, during peak periods, rates are much higher than your regular electricity provider’s rates.

On balance, if you consume electricity like an average household, Economy 7 would probably be more expensive than any other electricity plan.

If your lifestyle suits Economy 7, i.e. you use electricity late at night and plan your biggest energy consumers in the off-peak hours, then you can save money with Economy 7 compared to the average normal tariff. However, you can probably save more by simply switching to a cheap non-Economy 7 energy plan.

How does the Economy 7 heater work?

Economy 7 heating works the same as normal heating, as long as the heaters are not gas-powered, but electricity. Whether you use an Economy 7 electric storage heater, an Economy 7 water heater, or another Economy 7 heater, operating it at night (if it suits your lifestyle) is cheaper than operating it during the day.

Storage heaters are particularly effective when they are designed to operate off-peak. They use energy to generate heat but hold it until you need it. Homes with a combination of storage heating and Economy 7-Meter usually set the storage heating to run in the middle of the night. During peak periods, the stored heat from the storage heater is released to heat the house throughout the day.

Economy 7 and electric vehicles

Economy 7 is an excellent energy tariff option for the growing number of people who have bought an electric vehicle. The obvious thing to do is to charge the vehicle overnight, and it’s best to take advantage of cheaper energy prices during Economy 7 hours.

You may be able to take advantage of tariffs specifically targeted at electric vehicle owners. So it’s worth taking a look at what’s available for you.

What is Economy 10?

Economy 10 (aka Heatwise) is like Economy 7, except you get 10 hours of cheaper electricity instead of seven. Also, three of those hours are in the afternoon and seven are overnight. It is not possible to compare Economy 10 fares with Uswitch. Therefore, contact your energy supplier if you want more information.

Economy 10 vs. Economy 7

Economy 10 is similar to the Economy 7 electricity tariffs, except that off-peak times last 10 hours instead of seven.

Unlike Economy 7, Economy 10’s off-peak hours typically operate in three separate intervals rather than sequentially (hence there are three separate unit fares).

Typically, Economy 10 gives you three off-peak hours (low fares) in the afternoon, four hours in the evening and three hours in the early morning.

To get the most out of an Economy 10 fare, you would have to plan more than you would with an Economy 7 fare, but you would at least get more hours of the low fare.

Subject: Smart meter introduction of Eco7

I already spoke to SP about Economy 7. They said they are phasing it out because it was designed for night storage heaters. Your problem is to replace every 7 meters of economy and not mount new ones. Your installers do not need to install new Economy 7 meters and this situation is unlikely to change. They will not price Economy 7 fares until I have fitted an Economy 7 meter and they cannot fit an Economy 7 meter. We have a small swimming pool that we would like to heat at night. We originally switched to SP to use the Economy 7 fare. We were told we would have to take a standard fare first and then switch to Economy 7 after setting up the account. After 3 failed visits to install the 7 meter economy gauge they admitted that they have no new gauges to install, they will not be installing a used gauge and that they have no intention of installing a new economy 7 meter gauge. to order the device. They advised me to find an installer to install an economy 7 meter and then contact them to change the tariff. I think that’s probably the case with all electricity providers, so we gave up.

One of the many amazing benefits of a smart meter is that you never have to submit manual readings again. However, it may happen that this is still required, especially if you have a first generation meter (SMETS1) that has not yet been registered in the Smart Network. That’s why we’ve put together the following step-by-step guides, just in case we ever ask you to read.

If you have a traditional meter, try our How to read your meter guide.

Just before we start we should mention that once we have your smart meters installed you will have either a Landis & Gyr or an EDMI setup which you can read more about here. Steps to read these gauges are also included in the guide below.

For those of you who already know what kind of gauge you have, we’ve got you covered.

Smart electricity meter

Smart gas meters

Before you start:

Make sure you’re looking at your smart meter on the wall and not your in-home display (IHD). As great as your IHD is, it’s always best to take readings from your actual gauge.

Smart electricity meters:

Remember that power readings are recorded in “kWh” (kilowatt hours). So pay attention to this value when scrolling through your display (but remember to ignore the numbers after the decimal).

If you have a keyboard

Meters with this setup:

Secure Liberty 100 (SMETS1)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press 6 on the keyboard until you see “IMP R01” followed by 8 digits. You will then see 8 digits (e.g. 0012565.3) followed by kWh at the bottom right of the screen. This is your peak/time of day reading. This is your reading, so for this example your reading would be 12565

If you are an Economy 7/Multi-Rate customer:

Press and hold the 6 on the keypad until you see “IMP R02” followed by 8 digits – this is usually your night/non-peak traffic reading ).

If you have A and B buttons

Meters with this setup:

Landis & Gyr E470 (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the B button to wake up the display. Hold the green “A” button to cycle through until you see R01. Your R01 register reading should now be visible on the screen

If you are an Economy 7/Multi-Rate customer:

Press and hold the “B” button for 3-5 seconds. Simultaneously press the “A” button and you should notice the display return to your R02 register. This is your second register reading

When you have two white buttons with arrows and other marks around them

Meters with this setup:

EDMI-ES-10B (SMETS2)

These buttons can be located on the left or below the display. Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press and hold the OK button to bring up the main menu – the screen will say “Billing”. Press and hold the OK button again to enter the Billing submenu. Use the arrows to scroll to Advanced (press > twice). Press and hold OK button to enter Advanced submenu – you will see TOUmtrx appear. Press and hold OK button to enter TOUmatrx submenu and you will see RATE1 appear

If you are an Economy 7/Multi-Rate customer:

Follow the same steps above to ensure you are in the TOUmatrx menu. By pressing the Left/Down button you can scroll through the list of tariffs and associated kWh values, including your R02 register reading

If you have two gray buttons

Meters with this setup:

Honeywell Magpie AS302P (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the Display or Select button to wake up the display. Pressing the button scrolls the counter display to the counter reading. The number you are looking for is the one followed by kWh. As before, write down all the digits, ignoring any digits after the decimal point (if any). We only need integers In this example the count is 23541

If you have three gray buttons

Meters with this setup:

Honeywell Elster AS300P (SMETS1)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Hold down the gray middle button until the main menu loads. “General” should appear on the screen – press and hold the center button again to select this option. ‘Time & Date’ should be visible – now use the bottom button to scroll until you see ‘TOU Tab’. Press and hold the middle button again to hover over “TOU Register” and you should now see “Imp. R1′ with a value below

If you are an Economy 7/Multi-Rate customer:

You can use the bottom button to scroll through your other register values, e.g. B. “Imp. R2′ Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only need integers In this example the count is 23541

If you have two round blue and orange buttons

Meters with this setup:

Aclara SGM1400 (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the blue “A” button to wake up the display. Keep pressing “A” until you see “Total Active Import”. Your reading should now be visible on the screen

If you have an orange button on the left and blue buttons on the right

Meters with this setup:

Itron EM425-DE (SMETS1)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the orange button You will see a series of digits followed by kWh. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if present. We only need integers. The reading in this example is 12565

If you have two white keys

Meters with this setup:

Kaifa MA120 (SMETS2)

To get a reading from this smart meter:

Your meter will automatically cycle through each reading so you don’t have to press anything. Wait for your import metric to appear. It is shown in kWh. In this example, your reading would be 12559

Smart gas meters

Slightly different from electricity, gas readings are presented in “m3” (cubic meters). Some gas meters also have a habit of “falling asleep” so you may notice your display is blank when you first look at it. Don’t worry though, you should be able to wake it up easily by following the appropriate steps below!

If you have a keyboard

Meters with this setup:

Secure Liberty Eg4v11 (SMETS1)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press 9 on the keypad until “VOLUME” appears on the display. Then you will see a series of digits (e.g. 00063.5) followed by M3 at the bottom right of the screen. This is your reading. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only need the whole numbers. The display in this example is 00063

If you have A and B buttons

Meters with this setup:

Landis & Gyr G470 (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press either the red “A” or black “B” button to wake up the display. Your reading should now be visible on the screen. It can display “METER INDEX”. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only need integers In this example the count is 135

If you have two gray buttons on either side of the display

Meters with this setup:

G4 Metrix GWi (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press either button to activate the display. The display should light up. You will see a series of digits followed by m3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if present. We only need the whole numbers. The read value in this example is 63

If you have three square red buttons

Meters with this setup:

Flonidan UniFlo G4SZV-1 (SMETS2)

Your keys may or may not be labeled A, B, and C. Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the “A” button or the left button. You will see a series of digits followed by m3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point, if any. We only need the whole numbers. The reading in this example is 135

When an orange and a blue arrow appear on the right side of the screen

Meters with this setup:

Itron Gallus SV G G4 (SMETS1)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the orange key You will see a series of digits followed by m3 Ignore any digits after a decimal point if present. We only need integers In this example the count is 135

When you have two white buttons with arrows and other marks around them

Meters with this setup:

EDMI GS-60B (SMETS2)

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

Press the right button. This might be marked “OK”. The display should wake up and you will see a series of digits followed by m3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if present. We only need integers In this example the count is 135

If you have two gray arrows with and a button in the middle

Meters with this setup:

BK-G40E

Here’s how to get a reading from these smart meters:

If your gas meter has a serial number that contains a K and begins with a BK-G4E, it is an Elster smart meter. The reading is displayed on the screen. When the display has gone to sleep, press any button to get the reading shown on the display.

Your meter is not listed above?

If you think your smart meter is not pictured above, please send us a clear photo capturing the entire face of your meter to [email protected]. We’ll then figure out how to read it and add your meter type to our guide!

As a business owner, it’s in your best interest to understand your meter readings so you can budget your utility bills correctly and ensure you’re making enough profit to cover your expenses.

Here is a simple guide to the different types of electricity meters and how to take accurate readings:

Types of electricity meters

There are six different types of electricity meters:

– Digital single tariff meter

– Two rate/economy 7 meters

– Select counter

– Single rate 6 digital counters

– Electronic counter

– Wattless measuring device

How to understand your meter readings

It’s really important to provide your utility company with accurate meter readings as this means they can bill you accurately and you won’t get any nasty surprises later.

Single Rate Digital Meter – write down all numbers from left to right. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or any numbers shown in red.

Two Rate/Economy 7 meters you have two rows of numbers. The top line shows you how many units of off-peak electricity you have used, and the bottom line shows you how many units of off-peak electricity you have used.

Follow the instructions for a digital single rate meter to get an accurate reading and provide your utility with both sets of numbers.

Dial Display – Read the five dials from left to right, ignoring the dial marked 1/10. Write down the number the pointer just passed and make sure it is the lower of the two numbers on either side of the pointer. If the dot rests exactly on a number and the following dial reads nine, then drag one away from the number

Single Rate 6 Digital Meter – Follow the instructions for the Single Rate Digital Meter.

Electronic meter – ignore the red button. Use the blue button to scroll through the display screens until you find your reading. Write all the numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers after the decimal point or any numbers shown in red.

Wattless Meter – Follow the instructions for the Single Rate Digital Meter.

Properly understanding your meter reading is the best way to ensure you are not overpaying for your business stream. If you think you’re paying too much, take the time to research different business electricity rates and make sure you’re getting the best deal for your business needs.

Find out more about reading your gas or electricity meter at http://www.britishgas.co.uk/business/manage-account/how-to-read-meter.html

Disclaimer: The information on this page was correct as of August 20, 2021.

You may have heard of Economy 7 Meters in our other guides and wondered what it is, or maybe you have one yourself and want to know more about it. Anyhow, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you understand what an Economy 7 meter is and how it works. As always, we are here for you.

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What is Economy 7?

Economy 7 is a kind of energy plan that is used together with special meters and allows you to pay different amounts for your energy depending on the time of use. With Economy 7 there are 7 hours overnight when you can pay up to 50% less for your energy than during the day.

How does Economy 7 work?

If you have an Economy 7 plan, you have two electricity meters that give you the two separate readings – one for your daytime use and one for your nighttime use. You need to share these two readings with your energy supplier to ensure they charge you the right rates at the right time.

An economy 7 meter is best suited for those who can use most of their energy overnight, e.g. B. if you have storage heating or an electric vehicle or if you can use your energy-intensive devices overnight.

How do I know if I have an Economy 7 meter?

One of the easiest ways to find out is by looking at your most recent utility bill. Your bill will be divided into two parts – one for each tariff. You can also view the MPAN at the bottom of your invoice. If you have an Economy 7 meter, it starts with “02”.

Alternatively, you can also look at your meter. If two readings are available then you are also on Economy 7. Alternatively a reading could be displayed saying ‘Day’ or ‘Off-peak’ and you press the button to display the ‘Night’ rate.

Is economy 7 available on gas or just electricity?

Unfortunately, Economy 7 is a power-only plan. The reason for this is that it is not convenient to use most of our gas powered appliances overnight as they are typically used for cooking and heating. It could also be a health hazard to use gas overnight since you won’t notice a leak as quickly.

Even if you don’t get the cheaper plans at night, you don’t get expensive plans during the day either, so you can use your devices whenever you want without paying extra.

How do I read my Economy 7 meter?

If you have an Economy 7 meter, you need to submit two readings to distinguish the two different tariffs.

Your night reading may be labeled as “Low Tariff” on your meter. Read this number from left to right, including zeros, ignoring any numbers in red.

Your daily reading could be called “normal” and should be below your night reading. You should read this number from left to right, including zeros and ignoring any numbers in red.

If you have an Economy 7 electronic meter, you can only view one reading at a time. Press the button next to your reading to toggle between the two rates. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point. Your day rate will appear next to a “4” and your night rate next to a “5”. If you want to see your total consumption, press the button again up to the number displayed next to a “6”.

You must provide these readings separately so your utility company knows how much to charge you.

What happens if I submit my Economy 7 meter reading the wrong way round?

If you accidentally submit your Economy 7 day and night rates the wrong way around, it’s important that you fix it. It’s likely that you’re using a lot of energy overnight if you have an Economy 7 meter, and you don’t want to pay the higher daily rate for that.

All you have to do if you have sent your Economy 7 meter reading wrong is contact your supplier and let them know. They can manually re-enter them for you so there is no confusion between the two rates the next time you send your readings.

Can I have an economy 7 prepaid meter?

Energy suppliers often do not give a specific yes or no answer to this question.

Some providers support Economy 7 prepaid meters, others do not. It can be difficult to figure out what works and what doesn’t, so you’ll need to call your chosen provider to find out.

The most likely providers to support Economy 7 meters are prepayment-only providers like Boost and Utilita.

When will there be the cheap and the expensive economy 7 times?

Economy 7 times vary by provider and location. However, the most common times for cheaper energy are:

11pm-6am

00:30-07:30

1-8 p.m

1.30am-8.30am

Your Economy 7 times may change as the clocks go back and forth. For example, your nightly rates may be between 1:00 AM and 8:00 AM in the summer, but when the clocks are changed for the winter, these may change to 12:00 AM and 7:00 AM.

Always check with your supplier to ensure you are using your energy at the right time.

Pros and cons of Economy 7

Economy 7 meters isn’t for everyone, but we’ve weighed the pros and cons for you.

Advantages Disadvantages Much cheaper energy overnight – up to 50% cheaper!

Big savings when you use over 40% of your energy at night

Save money by charging your electric vehicle at cheaper times

to the cheaper hours Heating your storage tank overnight is cheaper Energy costs much more during the day

If your circumstances change, you may no longer benefit

The choice of tariffs and providers is very limited

The transmission of meter readings is more complicated

You may not be able to use enough energy overnight

It’s all about electricity

Can I still get a smart meter?

Automatic meter reading! Did you know that with a smart meter you never have to transmit a meter reading again? 100% accurate bills, all the time. Call us to learn more about automatic meter reading. 020 3992 7717 Get a call back

An upgrade to a smart meter with Economy 7 may still be possible, but is not yet supported by all providers. Most of the “Big Six” can install smart meters with an Economy 7 meter, but it might be difficult to find another provider that does.

Octopus Energy has smart tariffs similar to Economy 7 that you can switch to without needing an Economy 7 meter. It’s a lot cheaper than most Economy 7 fares you’ll find and comes with a free smart meter.

Can I switch to a standard tariff?

If you’ve decided that an Economy 7 meter is no longer right for you, you may want to switch to a Standard fare. Some providers let you do this without having to change your meter – they simply add the day and night readings together and charge a single rate.

However, some providers may need to change your meter. Most providers do this for free, but some may add a hefty fee and any exit fees from your current plan.

If you change your meter, be sure to check which tariff you’re using afterwards, as your provider may switch you to their standard tariff first. Most providers’ standard plan is the most expensive they have, so compare and choose the plan that’s right for you.

If you need help switching plans, call the utility switchboard

How much can I save?

We took some of the most popular energy providers and compared their unit cost for a credit meter to an Economy 7 meter.

Provider Standard Meter Rate (per kWh) Economy 7 Day Rate (per kWh) Economy 7 Day Rate (per kWh) British Gas 16.96p 21.386p 10.162p EDF Energy 15.95p 17.46p 10.14p Bulb 16.081p 18.036p 8.748p Octopus Energy 15.876 p. 17.293 p. 10,773S

In order to achieve significant savings, you must be able to use at least 42% of your electricity 7 times a night in the cheaper Economy.

How to get the most out of Economy 7

Once you’ve chosen Economy 7, you want to make the most of it to benefit from maximum savings. Here are a few tips to help you save as much as possible.

Check your Economy 7 times – Since Economy 7 times varies by carrier and area, make sure you know when fares are changing. This prevents you from accidentally using a lot of energy during peak periods when it is more expensive. Don’t forget that the times change with the time change!

– As Economy 7 times vary by carrier and area, find out when fares will switch. This prevents you from accidentally using a lot of energy during peak periods when it is more expensive. Don’t forget that the times change with the time change! Maximize your nightly consumption – To achieve meaningful savings, you need to use at least 40-50% of your energy 7 times during the cheaper Economy. Try to use as many devices overnight as possible. Set your dishwasher, washing machine and anything that needs charging to get it done overnight.

– To achieve significant savings, you must use at least 40-50% of your energy 7 times during the cheaper Economy. Try to use as many devices overnight as possible. Set your dishwasher, washing machine and anything that needs charging to get it done overnight. Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances – Any energy consumed by appliances that you can’t use overnight will be much more expensive. When you invest in energy efficient appliances, you use less energy during the day.

– Any energy consumed by devices that you cannot use overnight will be much more expensive. When you invest in energy efficient appliances, you use less energy during the day. Make sure your meter’s clock is working correctly – older, mechanical Economy 7 meters are notorious for flashing. Check that the watch is working correctly and showing the right prices at the right time.

– Older, mechanical economy 7 meters are known to fail. Check that the watch is working correctly and showing the right prices at the right time. Make sure you’ve chosen the right fare – While there aren’t many fares available for Economy 7 customers, some are designed for different purposes. If you use the cheap tariffs to charge your electric car, many providers have tariffs that are explicitly tailored to this.

– While not many fares are available for Economy 7 customers, some are designed for different uses. If you use the cheap tariffs to charge your electric car, many providers have tariffs that are explicitly tailored to this. Switch Energy Providers – While some providers don’t support Economy 7, there are many out there that do. You may be able to save even more by switching.

– While some providers don’t support Economy 7, there are many out there that do. You may be able to save even more by switching. Reduce overall energy use – Although you can make significant savings with an Economy 7 meter, reducing your energy use both day and night can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Would I benefit more from an Economy 10 meter?

An Economy 10 meter works the same as an Economy 7 meter, but you get 3 extra hours of cheaper off-peak electricity. These usually take place in the early afternoon. With an Economy 10 meter it is easier to use more energy in off-peak times, but you have a very limited choice of provider and tariff – even less than with Economy 7.

If you need further assistance… Give us a call and speak to one of our supply experts who will guide you through your query and help you resolve it as quickly as possible. Who knows, you might even save some money by calling us through one of our panel partners! 0203 992 7717

This page was written by… Polly Tyler I have loved writing since I was a child and have worked on a number of different projects since leaving school including journalism, copywriting and marketing. Utilty Switchboard gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience and I loved every minute!