Tag: Switch energy suppliers

What are the best energy tariffs for electric cars?

The best energy tariff can be different for everyone depending on their budget, lifestyle and the time of the day to charge. Usually, people charge their cars overnight, while they sleep so that they can have their car ready to go in the morning. This is the best time to fill up your car as the electricity rates are much cheaper during the night. Some suppliers offer special deals for night time charging, which keeps your energy bill even lower.

Below you can find out the electric vehicle tariffs of the energy providers in the UK. If you are looking for the cheapest deal, you should consider the supplier that offers the cheapest rate during the time frame when you are most often going to charge your car.

Which tariff is the cheapest?

Octopus Energy is probably the most popular supplier that offers electric cars tariff as it was one of the first to join the electric vehicle electricity segment. Its electricity comes from 100% renewable sources. Octopus Go is on average over 50% cheaper than typical Economy 7 night time rates and offers the lowest standing charge and day rate. You can charge your car for the tenth of the price of a conventional one and keep your fuel costs around 1p per mile. The smart night tariff offers very cheap electricity for 5p/kWh between 12:30pm and 04:30am. This makes Octopus Go the cheapest tariff on the market.

Which suppliers offer the best electric vehicle tariffs?

Some of the most popular energy suppliers in the UK are already offering special electric vehicle tariffs for customers that want to charge their vehicles at home. You can find their rates and tariffs below and compare their prices to find the best deal for you.

Octopus Energy

If you are considering getting the Octopus Go tariff you need to be an Octopus Energy customer. You will also need to have a smart meter installed already. In case you do not have a smart meter or you have a different one, you can still join Octopus Go. However, you will be put on a standard tariff until the right smart meter is installed and you are fully set up for Octopus Go.

Octopus Go is designed for customers who either own an electric vehicle or have long-term lease of a battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle that they will be charging at home.

• You need to or lease or own an electric vehicle
• Free smart meter installation
• 5p/kWh between 12:30pm and 04:30am

EDF

EDF Energy offers its GoElectric tariff in three versions that you can choose from depending on your needs and lifestyle. The electricity is 100% zero carbon renewable from wind and solar power.

GoElectric is a single-rate tariff with fixed cost electricity all day. If you choose this tariff, you don't need to have a smart meter or be a customer of EDF already. You will pay from 25.53p per kWh all day, depending on your location.

With the GoElectric 35 tariff you can have 5 hours of cheaper overnight charging. You will pay 4.5p per kWh during off-peak, from 12 am to 5 am, and from 34.34p per kWh during peak hours. To sign up for this tariff, you need to have a smart meter installed.

The third tariff of EDF, GoElectric 98, offers more off-peak hours than any other tariff. You can enjoy half-price electricity on weekday evenings and all day during weekends. The price is 16.75p per kWh during off-peak, 9 pm to 7 am Monday to Friday and all weekend, and from 35.39p per kWh during peak hours

• Choose between fixed or variable tariffs
• Free smart meter installation
• 5 hours of cheaper overnight charging with GoElectric 35
• Half-price electricity all day during the weekend with GoElectric 98

British Gas

One of the biggest suppliers in the UK, British Gas, offers a dual fuel or electricity only tariff for EV owners. This is a fixed rate tariff designed exclusively for customers who drive electric cars and would like to charge their cars at home. The tariff offers cheaper off-peak electricity between 12:00am and 5:00am, so that you can charge your car for less while sleeping. The electricity used is 100% renewable.

You will need to have a smart meter installed. However, if you don’t have one yet, you will be upgraded by British Gas, free of charge. To take advantage of this special rate, you will need to either have a contract for electricity or both gas and electricity from British Gas.

• You can choose between dual fuel or electricity only
• Free smart meter installation
• Cheaper off-peak price between 12:00am and 5:00am
• You need to be a customer of British Gas

*Prices for this tariff are not available at the moment. Below you can see the cheapest Economy 7 tariff from British Gas that you can sign up for.

Ecotricity

The green supplier Ecotricity offers the Fully Charged Bundle tariff created for electric drivers. According to the provider, the Fully Charged Bundle can save you up to £215 in the first year. The bundle also includes a half price tariff for charging your car on the Electric Highway public charging stations, for 15p/kWh instead of 30p/kWh, without a connection fee or monthly subscription.

• 100% renewable electricity
• You can save you up to £215 in the first year
• 100% renewable electricity
• No exit fee
• Half-price for charging on public highways

E.ON

The supplier E.ON, offers the Fix and Drive deal for electric vehicles. This dual fuel tariff is a 12 month fixed rate deal. This is great if you want to be sure that your electricity cost will not increase during the year. If you select this tariff, you will also receive 850 free miles of electric vehicle driving. You will need to have a smart meter installed at your home, which the company can do for you. To benefit from this deal you must have your electric car registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

• Your tariff will not increase during the year
• Receive 850 free miles of electric vehicle driving
• Free smart meter installation
• Your car must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

*Prices for this tariff are not available at the moment. Below you can see the cheapest Economy 7 tariff from E.ON that you can sign up for.

OVO

OVO Drive is a different tariff as it offers a single flat rate of 16.6p/kWh per kWh at any time of day for electric vehicle charging. This means that you will not get a cheaper rate for overnight charging. Ovo Drive is a great choice for anyone that will charge their car at any time and wants a low fixed rate. Using OVO Drive's average rate of 16.6p/kWh, for a typical vehicle will cost you around 4.15p for every mile you drive. OVO Drive is a dual-fuel plan only, so you need to have both your electricity and gas with OVO.

For its electric vehicle tariff, OVO uses artificial intelligence technology from their intelligent energy partner Kaluza. Kaluza software uses live data on energy pricing, the weather and localised information on energy constraints to shift charging automatically away from peak times.

• Good for anytime charging
• Single flat rate tariff
• Dual-fuel plan only
• You need to have both your electricity and gas with OVO

Scottish Power

Scottish Power is another big supplier that offers a deal specifically created for electric drivers. The SmartPower EV deal offers a cheaper overnight rate from 12 pm to 5 am, and claims to be 90% cheaper than electric chargers at petrol stations.

• Cheaper overnight rate
• 90% cheaper charging at home than at electric chargers at petrol stations

*Prices for this tariff are not available at the moment. Below you can see the cheapest Economy 7 tariff from Scottish Power that you can sign up for.

Good energy

The 100% renewable energy supplier, Good Energy, launched a new electric vehicle tariff. With their Green Driver tariff, drivers can choose from two options, a 5-hour or 7-hour window for efficient overtime charging starting at midnight. This is another great deal if you tend to charge your car while sleeping as the tariff offers lower off-peak prices. Depending on the time period it takes for your car to charge, you can choose one of the two options.

• You can choose between 5 or 7 hour window for cheap overnight charge
• 100% renewable energy
• No exit fee

Can you save money from driving an electric vehicle?

Many people wonder if they can save from buying an electric car. Some are hesitant because electric cars can be more expensive to buy than conventional cars. However, in the long-run, EV can be cheaper as they save on fuel and taxes. There are also government grants that can support customers when buying an electric vehicle and reduce the car price by £2,500.

*based on average annual miles

Tax Savings with an Electric Car

For an average car most drivers are entitled to pay a £180 vehicle tax the first year, followed by £155 in the following years. This adds up to around £800 for the period of 5 years. At the same, if you drive an electric vehicle you will not be required to pay any road taxes and save £800.

Fuel Savings with an Electric Car

The average British driver usually drives around 7,600 miles a year and spends around £1,200 on petrol. If these 7,600 miles are driven on electricity only and the car was charged at home, this would cost him around £342 a year. This means that choosing an EV over the conventional one, can save around £850 a year and £4,290 for 5 years. Adding this up with the tax savings, EV drivers can save around £1,000 a year.

Grant and schemes to benefit from when buying EV

If you decide to buy an electric vehicle, there are grants that can help you offset some of the costs. They can include the cost for installation of a charging station at your home or a part of the purchase price of your car.

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme

If you want to install your own charging station at home, you can benefit from the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme This grant covers up to £350 per installation, a 75% contribution.

To benefit from this, you must own, lease or have already ordered an EV and have a parking spot at your home. In case of having 2 EVs, you can apply at the same time.

The grant works by a customer choosing an EVHS installer to install their chargepoint. The EVHS installer checks that they qualify and then applies on the customer’s behalf. The installer will bill the customer for the price of the installation, less the grant amount they have applied for. If the application is successful, the installer will be paid the grant amount that they have offset from the customer’s bill.

Plug-in car grant

To promote the switch to electric vehicles, the UK government offers the Plug-in car grant.The maximum amount of the grant depends on the type of vehicle. For cars that have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 112km (70 miles) without any emissions at all. The grant will pay for 35% of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £2,500.

For motorcycles to be eligible, they should have no CO2 emissions and can travel at least 50km (31 miles) between charges. The grant will pay for 20% of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £1,500. Not all low-emission vehicles can get a grant. Only vehicles that have been approved by the government are eligible for a grant.

What types of electric cars are on the market?

Some electric cars can run purely on electricity or partially. What differentiates them from the cars that use petrol or diesel, is that they are built to use an electric motor powered by electricity from batteries or a fuel cell. There are several types of electric vehicles:

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs)

BEVs use only battery-powered motors and are fully electric vehicles. Most of them can drive around 100 - 200 miles with one charge. Since they are all-electric vehicles, they are considered to be the most sustainable and greenest cars that can be found. Some of the most popular models on the market are Tesla Model X and Model 3, as well as BMW i3.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)

PHEVs run on both battery and conventional petrol or diesel engines. Usually these cars can run on electricity only for up to 70 miles. After that, the engine is powered by petrol or diesel. Although plug-in hybrid electric vehicles still use petrol, they are considered more sustainable because they offer the option to drive on electricity only for distances that would have been otherwise driven on gasoline or diesel. Popular PHEVs models include Mercedes E 300 e and Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)

HEVs or also known as self-charging hybrids are powered by the car's internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which uses energy stored in batteries. Unlike the plug-in hybrids, HEVs cannot be plugged in to charge their battery, therefore they require filling up with fuel. Some of the popular brands and models are Toyota Corolla, Skoda Superb iV and Toyota Prius.

Are electric cars more sustainable?

There has been an ongoing discussion about how sustainable electric vehicles really are, due to the emissions generated for their manufacturing.

Battery manufacturing

Based on a study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative , the battery and production for an EV undoubtedly produces higher emissions than the manufacturing of a normal car. In fact, their production makes 30 or 40% emissions. However, what makes EV cars more environmentally friendly is their life after production.

EV´s run on lithium-ion batteries and the production of them is very energy-intensive. They are produced in gigafactories with the use of raw materials such as cobalt and lithium. The MIT researchers point out that real benefits of using electric vehicles will be seen when electricity becomes fully renewable.

Are electric cars the future of driving?

At the end of 2020, the UK government announced that the sales of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars will be banned in 2030. The new hybrid cars will be given 5 more years, until 2035, if they are able to cover a big kilometer distance with zero emissions. The ban will not affect the second-hand market of petrol and diesel cars.

According to Statista, the UK is one of the biggest markets for EV in 2020. The plug-in electric cars and the hybrid cars accounted for more than 10% of all car registrations made in 2020. The sales of plug-in electric vehicles rose by 140% every year. At the same time, the sales of hybrid cars increased by 12%.

How to apply for Smart Export Guarantee

The Smart Export Guarantee allows homeowners to earn money by selling green electricity back to the National Grid. In order to be eligible for the SEG, homeowners must have a smart meter installed alongside their renewable energy generation equipment. This smart meter will measure how much electricity is being exported from the property.
As well as having solar panels, wind turbines or a hydro generator in place and your smart meter installed, there are a few other things you need to get in order before you apply for the SEG. These are:

• Your MCS certification (or equivalent)
• Your proof of ownership (most licensees stipulate that SEG tariff recipients must be the system owner).
• The application form. This can be found on the SEG licensee’s website.
• For anaerobic digestion, you’ll need to fill in an additional form. This can be found on Ofgem’s website.

Once you have submitted all relevant documentation, you’ll need to wait around 28 days for your application to be processed. In some circumstances, your SEG licensee may need to visit your property and inspect your equipment before you’re accepted onto the scheme.

What do I need to qualify for the SEG?

The Smart Export Guarantee is aimed at homeowners that are generating green electricity on a relatively small scale. The scheme is open to owners of the following technology types up to a capacity of 5MW, or up to 50kW for Micro-CHP:

• Solar photovoltaic (solar PV)
• Wind
• Micro combined heat and power (CHP)
• Hydro
• Anaerobic digestion (AD)

Of these, the most popular generation method is solar photovoltaic panels. Solar panels are affordable and easy to install and can be fitted to roofs, walls and in free-standing frames, allowing them to fit easily onto your property.

Wind generation is another viable option. On a large scale, wind is probably the most efficient form of green energy generation and currently, wind farms produce the majority of the renewable energy we consume in the UK. On some days, this can be up to 40% of the total electricity used

Which energy suppliers offer Smart Export Guarantees

Under the SEG, all UK energy suppliers with over 150,000 customers are legally obliged to be part of the scheme. Suppliers with fewer than 150,000 customers can choose whether or not to offer the Smart Export Guarantee.
According to Ofgem, mandatory SEG licensees include:

• Avro Energy
• British Gas
• Bulb
• E
• EDF Energy
• E.ON
• Green Star Energy (now part of Shell Energy group)
• Npower
• Octopus Energy
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power
• Shell Energy
• SSE (part of OVO group)
• The Utility Warehouse
• Utilita
• Green Network
• SO Energy

How much can you make selling energy back to the grid?

The Smart Export Guarantee was introduced to replace the Feed-in Tariff scheme. However, while the FiT scheme saw homeowners being paid for the energy they produced and consumed, as well as the energy they exported, SEG will only pay for energy that’s pumped back into the grid.

What’s more, while FiT saw rates set by the Government, SEG allows energy companies to set their own tariffs. The only requirement on these tariffs is that the amount paid for each unit of energy must be above zero.

This means that homeowners signed up to SEG will earn significantly less than those on FiTs. It also means that you’ll need to shop around to find the best rates for your SEG tariff.

The table below shows the SEG tariffs available from the most popular suppliers.

If you choose a tariff that pays 5.5p per kWh, and your system generates 3,000 kWh, you could earn around £165 per year. However, you’re likely to consume some of this energy yourself, so it’s more likely you’ll export around half to the grid, earning you approximately £82.50 per year.

How does SEG work with solar battery storage?

Because solar panels only generate electricity when exposed to the sun, batteries are used to store power for use at night and on overcast days. As the SEG only pays for energy that’s exported, you generally won’t get paid for any electricity stored in your batteries.

However, in some circumstances, stored energy is covered by the SEG. This means you could get paid for the electricity in your batteries. Check with your supplier to find out more.

How long do SEG payments last?

At the moment, there is no date for the SEG to come to an end. Energy suppliers are able to set their own terms and many offer 12-month contracts, although variable deals are also available.
If you signed up for a 12-month deal, your SEG payments would end when the contract period expired. It’s important to check the exact terms with each supplier before you sign on the dotted line.

Will I receive the Smart Export Guarantee if I’m already on a Feed-in tariff?

Although the Feed-in Tariff scheme has been discontinued, those already signed up will continue to receive payments for up to 25 years. As the FiT scheme is generally a lot more profitable than SEG, it makes sense to stay on your existing tariff if you’re already signed up to the scheme.
If you’re on a Feed-in Tariff and want to switch suppliers, there are some, such as Octopus Energy and SO Energy, that will allow you to keep your existing deal.

Am I eligible for SEG if I received a government grant for installation?

Some homeowners have used government grant schemes to cover the cost of purchasing or installing renewable energy generation equipment. If you were able to access a government scheme to pay for the cost of your equipment or installation, you are still eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee.

What to learn more about making your own energy and ways to save? Check out our related articles to learn more!

• Smart Export Guarantee
• Feed in Tariff
• Living Off the Grid
• Solar and Wind Power Kits
• Small Scale Hydropower
• Kinetic Floor Tiles
• Geothermal Heating

A prepay meter can be a great way to manage your energy spend. Many who have been burned by direct debits based on inaccurate estimated bills like to use a prepayment meter because they only ever pay for the energy they use. However, if you’re new to using a prepay meter, the electric meter top up process may be something of a mystery to you.

Checking the credit on your meter

Before you start your electric meter top up, you need to know how much credit you have. If you’ve just moved into a new property with a prepay meter set up, do not use the card or key left by the previous occupant. This will not only have their credit on it but any debts they may have accumulated. You will need to contact your energy supplier (the landlord, seller or estate agent should be able to tell you who supplies energy to the property) and get your own key or card.

If you absolutely need to use the previous occupant’s card, notify your supplier as soon as you can that you have done this, so they can adjust your credit accordingly.

Once you’re all set up, you’re ready to check how much credit is on your meter. There are several ways to do this.

Checking on the meter itself

You should be able to check how much credit you have by using your prepayment meter’s interface. Different energy suppliers use prepay meters from different manufacturers. However, you can usually check your credit by pressing either the "7" or "8" key and pressing the blue button. This will show you how much credit you have on your meter. If there is an "E" next to your balance, this means you are in emergency credit (more on that later).

Checking online

You can also check your account balance online before you carry out your electric meter top-up. Simply log into your customer portal and you should be able to see the balance available on your account. Usually under a "prepayment" tab.

Checking in-app

Likewise, many energy suppliers now have their own mobile apps that enable customers to check their smart meter balance wherever they are. Simply log into your app and there should be a tab that shows you your available balance.

Lost or damaged energy cards or keys

If you lose your key or card (or it is no longer working), you should notify your energy supplier as soon as possible. They will be able to send you a replacement. In the meantime, however, you will still be able to top up your electric meter without access to your key or card. But your options will be a little more limited.

How do I top up my electric meter?

The great news for energy consumers with prepayment meters is that there are more ways than ever to top up your account. You can do this in-store in hundreds of locations all over the country, online or via your mobile app.

Let’s take a closer look...

Where to charge your energy card or key

You can charge your prepayment energy card or key at any Paypoint or Payzone outlet. Click Here to find a Paypoint and Click Here to find a Payzone location close to you. Which service you use will depend on your energy supplier, so check with them first.

You can also top up at your local Post Office.

How much can you top up an electric key?

You can top up to a maximum of £49 per single transaction when using your electric key or smart card. Your meter will also hold a maximum of £249 credit at any given time.

Can I top up my electric meter online?

Yes. You can top up your electric prepayment meter either through your energy supplier’s website or mobile app. Indeed, many customers find it more convenient to top up in this way.

What if I want to top us using cash?

If you want to use cash to top up, you may be able to do this at your local Paypoint or Payzone store, or your local Post Office. However, in light of the pandemic, many stores will not accept cash payments as they represent a transmission risk. It’s worth calling your local store beforehand to check that they are happy to accept cash.

Can you top up your electric meter without a card or key?

If you don’t have access to your prepayment meter key or smart card, you can still top up your electric meter using your mobile app or logging into your customer portal. However, if you have lost or broken your key or card you should report this to your supplier as soon as you can.

Emergency credit: How it works

If you are unable or forget to top up your electric meter, you won’t necessarily be left in the dark. Most prepayment electric meters have an emergency credit budget. This can be used like an overdraft before you next top up your credit. However, this is limited. You can use emergency credit when your meter’s balance drops below a set amount (usually 50p-£1). The amount of emergency credit available will depend on your supplier, but most offer up to £10.

When you next top up, your emergency credit will be deducted from your balance.

How do I activate emergency credit on my electric meter?

You can activate your emergency credit via your prepayment meter’s interface. While details may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, the following should work for most meters:

• Press the A button twice to access the home screen.
• If EmCr is flashing, you can accept emergency credit.
• Press the A button again. A prompt will ask you if you want to "activate EmCr".
• Press B button.
• The screen should show "EmCr Accepted".

What happens if my emergency credit runs out?

If your emergency credit runs out, electricity will no longer be supplied to your home, so you will need to either:

• Top up your electric meter in-store or online immediately.
• Contact your energy supplier to see if they can extend more emergency credit to your account.

Get the best prepayment meter rates on the market. Switch your energy plan today

Energy consumers with prepayment meters often pay more than those with traditional credit meters. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy great savings by switching to a new supplier. There are a number of prepayment specialists that may be able to offer you a better value rate. So you can get more for your money with each electric meter top up.

The Switch-Plan team can find you the best prepayment tariff for your needs and manage your switch from end-to-end to bring you cheaper energy hassle-free.

Call us today on 0330 818 6223 to find out more.

We’re available from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Read more about electric meters:

• Electric meter reading
• Moving an electric meter

Your electric meter counts in units of kilowatt hours, or kWh. The number of kWh you have used will be displayed on your energy meter and will either be sent to your supplier directly (if you have a smart meter) or will be read by a meter technician or by yourself with support from your supplier.

Depending on how many kWh you have used and the price you pay per unit, this is how your electric bill is calculated.

Where is my electric meter?

Most new buildings will have the electric meter located on the exterior of the building in a secure and watertight box. This makes them easier to read for meter technicians, as they do not have to enter the property. It also means you do not have to be home for your meter to be read.

However, older style properties usually have the meter indoors, usually tucked away in a convenient place, either under the stairs or in a hallway cupboard near the front door. They are generally fixed to the wall or in a box.

Types of electric meter

There are a number of different types of electric meter. The following list should help you to identify which type you have in your home.

1. Standard electric meter – The most common type in the UK featuring a revolving dial display. Gradually being phased out by modern digital and smart meters
2. Smart meters – These give more accurate and up to date energy information by using a web connection to your supplier. They also have a digital display and can help you to reduce your energy consumption
3. Economy 7 meter – A special kind of meter that tracks energy in two different periods throughout the day, each with a different price per unit
4. Prepayment meter – Often called a pay-as-you-go meter. It needs to be topped up with prepaid energy using a key, card, or online app

Types of electricity tariff

There are electricity tariffs that apply to the different kinds of meters and within each meter category. If you pay the bills directly, you are allowed to choose which tariff you use. Each comes with different rates per kWh depending on your usage, with special tariffs for Economy 7 and prepayment options. Some energy providers also offer special deals for smart meters.

How does an electric meter work?

Your electric meter is positioned between the mains supply and the distribution centre for your home’s electricity. That means it counts every kWh your home uses by monitoring the voltage and current passing into your property.

So, when you switch on your oven and it starts to draw power in the form of electricity from the grid, your meter counts the volts that pass through it and keeps a running total. This is displayed on the dial or digital display.

The display shows only how much energy the property has used in total. So, if you want to get an idea of how much you are using in any given time period, you need to take a start and end reading.

Can I install my own meter?

The short answer is no, you’re not allowed to install your own electric meter. This needs to be carried out by a certified electrician. If you need to install or even move a meter, then you should contact your energy provider who can arrange a suitable technician at a convenient time.

Be aware that this may take some time to arrange and may involve a fee, depending on your requirements. Supplier policies do differ in this area.

Who is responsible for my electric meter?

Your energy provider is responsible for making sure that your gas and electric meters work. If you think there is an issue, get an error message on your display, or think that your bill is unusually high, then get in touch with them to have the issue dealt with. You should not try to to fix the problem yourself or employ an uncertified electrician to do so.

How to read your meter

With so many different types of meters, there are a number of ways to take an electric meter reading. Let’s break them down to make it easier.

Dial meter
Look at the numbers on the dials from left to right, ignoring the final red dial. Make a note of the numbers displayed. If the needle falls between two numbers, note down the last number the needle has passed.

Old style electric meters
These are the designs with a mechanical display that will show five black numbers on a series of rotating wheels. Write down all the black numbers, again ignoring any red ones.

Digital display meters
Most modern meters have a digital display. Simply write down the first five numbers on the display (you may need to press a button to wake the display feature). If you see any reading that starts with 0.1, then ignore it. The first five numbers are the most important.

Economy 7 meters
These can either be in digital or dial form so follow the advice above.

Smart meter
You don’t need to read a smart meter as it will send information directly to your supplier. However, you can use the display or associated app to keep tabs in your usage.

How do I give my electric meter readings to my supplier?

Your supplier is legally bound to read your meter in person at least every two years (if you do not have a smart meter). However, for more accurate billing you may want to provide them with more regular readings. Get in touch with them and they will give you more information on how to read your meter and supply relevant information.

What happens if you bypass your electric meter?

Bypassing your electric meter involves dealing with live wires which can be very dangerous. Even though it is only domestic level voltages, it is still enough to give you a nasty shock or cause serious injury. It is also theft and comes with associated legal penalties.

Around £400 million of electricity was stolen in the UK last year and whilst it might save you money now, if you are caught there could be severe financial penalties. Remember that electricity companies have to come and check their meter every two years, so there is a big chance of getting caught – not to mention the danger involved in attempting to bypass your meter.

If you really want to pay less for your electricity, then you can always switch to a better tariff or more affordable provider.

Read more about energy meters:

• Gas meter
• Smart energy meter
• Read energy meter
• Economy 7 meter

More and more people are making the conscious choice to use less power or find new ways of generating enough energy for their own needs. A combination of reduced demand and improved home generation technology is making living off the grid a viable option for more and more people both in the UK and around the world.

What are some ways of generating electricity when living off the grid?

The energy grid is the infrastructure put in place to supply homes and businesses with power. The grid generally refers to the network of power stations, substations, cables and connections that transfer electricity from generators to end users but it can also be applied to mains gas and other forms of utilities, such as water. Unless you want to live a really extreme lifestyle with zero energy whatsoever, the realities of living off the grid involve finding some way to generate power at home. There are eight commonly recognised ways of doing this, which are:

1. Solar power – This is when you turn the energy of the sun into power, converting photon energy into DC voltages using an array of solar panels, charge converters and batteries for storage
2. Wind power – Wind can be used to turn propellers which in turn generate electricity to be used in the home
3. Water power – Moving water has been used to generate power for centuries. Just think of an old fashioned water mill and instead of turning a large stone, the water drives a generator
4. Fuel based generators – Stand alone generators run on conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel which can be bought and transported more easily
5. Steam power – Using heat from the sun, wood, coal or gas, a boiler creates steam which at high pressure can be used to power a turbine and create electricity
6. Thermoelectric power – A thermoelectric module converts heat into DC power through moveable pistons or immersed wires in water tanks
7. Battery power – Charged batteries can be used to store energy and drive current around home electric systems
8. EMF – An up and coming new power source based on old ideas created by Tesla, this is a way of transmitting electricity without wires

Can you live off the grid legally?

The short answer is yes, there is no law that says you cannot live off the grid and generate your own power. However, that means not breaking any other law in doing so and only doing it on a site or property where you have permission to live.

While not illegal, it can be difficult to live off grid, especially in a city where planning restrictions can limit the kind of infrastructure you can put in place to generate power. Wind turbines, for example, are subject to planning permission. For most kinds of power generation you also require outside space, which means living off the grid is generally better suited to more rural environments.

What’s behind the off grid living trend?

While there is no single specific reason why people choose to live off the grid, in general it falls into two camps: ideology or necessity. For people who live in very remote areas such as small islands, in forests and the like, there is very often no mains connection, which means finding some way to generate power.

However, the growing trend for off grid living applies more to people who have made the conscious decision to try and live in a more sustainable way. Rather than relying on gas and electricity being there at the flick of the switch, they feel that modern energy consumption is wasteful and damaging to the planet. There is some truth behind this.

Living off grid gives you a much clearer understanding of both your energy needs and how to live in a way that minimises your consumption. When every kWh of power counts, you are less likely to waste it. There is also the benefit of not having to pay energy bills or be beholden to a supplier and reliant on anyone else for your power.

However, while living off the grid does have its advantages, it is not always easy and certainly not for everyone. If you are thinking about it, then you might want to consider the following.

Eight things to consider if you want to live off the grid

1. You need land – Almost all types of power generation require a certain amount of outside space. In fact, the more the better.
2. You need at least three basic necessities – Water, food and shelter
3. It’s hard work - Turning on a light switch is easy. Chopping wood, setting up solar systems etc requires effort and knowledge
4. You might have to do without – mains power runs 24/7/365. You might not have that luxury with a solar, wind or steam system. Living off the grid requires planning
5. It’s seasonal – You might find you have a surplus of energy when you least need it (in the summer) and a shortage when you really do need power. You always have to consider your seasonal needs
6. There are costs – Once your system is set up you might get free power, but solar systems, wind power and generators all cost money to buy and install. Plus there is maintenance
7. Reducing waste – This becomes a very important part of everyday life. Without a fridge or freezer to preserve food, and potentially power outages, you need to be able to manage your energy and minimise waste
8. Not everyone will like what you’re doing – The idea of going off grid is not to everyone’s liking so be prepared to be confronted about your choices

Of course, these are things you need to think about before making your choice. But if you can manage, then going off grid can be very satisfying, affordable and better for your health.

Steps to live off grid

If you have thought through all of the above and still find the idea appealing, then you need to think about finding a suitable place to go off the grid. This would ideally be somewhere with land or space to generate electricity that’s within your price range.

It is always a good idea to try out living off grid first, so book a short break in an off grid place or volunteer at an off grid project to see if it’s for you. Gather information, ask for advice, do your research and make sure you are well informed before you start the process.

If you have a mains connection and are choosing to disconnect then you will need to get in touch with your local distribution network or supplier to arrange a safe disconnection.

How expensive is it to live off the grid?

How long is a piece of string? You could choose to spend tens of thousands on a state-of-the-art solar system that could run washing machines and dishwashers or you could spend a few hundred on a small panel to power some lights, a phone charger and a radio. It all depends how you want to live your life off grid.

How many acres do you need to live off the grid?

For a small family, a ¼ of an acre is enough to have land to grow food and generate electricity from a solar system or generator. If you want to grow your own timber for harvesting, then you’ll need between 5 to 10 acres. Again, it all depends on what kind of off grid life you are looking to lead.

Would you like to know more about generating you own electricity? Great! Check out some of these related articles

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• Solar and wind power kits
• Home wind turbine
• Small scale hydropower
• Kinetic floor tiles

With so many smaller and independent energy suppliers to choose from, it’s surprising that around 70% of British energy consumers continue to rely on the "Big 6". Especially when home-grown, feisty new energy startups and plucky newcomers from overseas promise to deliver cheaper, greener energy and superior customer service than the major players offer.

Is Green Network Energy’s customer service any good?

Offering both domestic and business energy with a competitive range of tariffs and a highly renewable energy fuel mix (88.5% with 100% renewable options available), it’s easy to see why so many UK energy consumers want to add a touch of Italian flavour to their energy supply.

But while cheaper, greener energy is appealing to everyone, it’s hardly adequate compensation for poor customer service. Cheap bills will be of little consolation if something goes wrong with your bills or supply and you need to spend over an hour waiting for a customer service agent to pick up the phone.

So, just how good is Green Network Energy’s customer service?

We need to get the answers straight from the horse’s mouth… or rather, di prima mano!

Green Network Energy reviews: What do customers say about them?

Thanks to the wonders of the digital age, we have a wealth of reviews and other data to give us a clear idea of Green Network Energy customers’ lived experiences. Most of our data will come from the company’s Trustpilot page. We will also look at reviews from Reviews.io and data from their Citizens Advice ranking.

Green Network Energy’s Trustpilot page, shows that they have a respectable customer score of 4.2 at the time of writing. This classifies them as a "Great" rated energy supplier, verging on "Excellent".

Out of 9,512 reviews left by customers:

• 5,853 (62%) were rated "Excellent".
• 1,809 (19%) were rated "Great".
• 476 (5%) were rated "Average".
• 259 (3%) were rated "Poor".
• 1,115 (12%) were rated "Bad".

These are impressive numbers, even if the supplier just falls short of an "Excellent" rating.

Customer sentiment is less positive on Reviews.io, although this is common among all suppliers. Perhaps because suppliers actively invite reviews on Trustpilot, and consumers are generally more likely to leave a review without prompting if they have something negative to say. Here the company has only 15 reviews, with an overall rating of 1.75 out of 5 stars. 20% of reviewers stated that they would recommend Green Network Energy.

On Citizens Advice’s rankings, Green Network Energy are ranked #13 out of 38 suppliers listed, outperforming the energy titan British Gas, which came in at #14. Green Network Energy got 5 /5 stars for ease of switching and billing accuracy, but were rated 3 stars on customer guarantees, call centre wait times and number of complaints to third parties 19.8 per 10,000 customers).

Below, we’ll look at some customer reviews, and compare the good the bad and the ugly to get a better understanding of how Green Network Energy’s customers feel about the brand...

The good

Over 80% of Trustpilot reviews were either "Excellent" or "Great".

Positive reviews mention ease of switching, competitive tariffs, helpful and knowledgeable customer service staff, sensible / accurate bills, and an easy to use website.

Let’s take a look at a handful of quotes taken from positive reviews to provide a flavour of customer sentiment:

• "A great energy firm. Been with other firms but these are the best, no issues what so ever and information is very clear, so would highly recommend them".
• "Prices are very fair, and the online page allows you to increase or decrease your monthly amount during seasons you may need more heating and those you need less.If they remain as fair priced, I won't leave them. But I definitely recommend them on price".
• "The platform is user friendly. The prices are amazing!!!!!! I am really happy - this is the first time when I got to choose my supplier and I am really happy with the choice. Keep up with the good work :D".
• "Their billing system is pretty straightforward. Their website works. They didn’t change my direct debit every 3 months. They didn’t run up a huge credit balance on my account. They don’t have an oddball seasonal charging formula for summer / winter. They got my vote".

Green Network Energy value for money

Green Network Energy are not only a green energy supplier, they are also very competitive when it comes to pricing. An independent consumer survey carried out in September 2020 reveals that customers rate them 4 out of 5 stars for Value for Money, as well as 5 stars for billing accuracy and 4 stars for bill clarity.

The bad

Like all energy suppliers, Green Network Energy have their share of disgruntled customers.

Negative reviews focused on bills being higher than expected, meter problems, communications difficulties with call centre employees, problems with account management, and billing issues / inaccuracies.

• "I found a better quote, so transferred to another supplier. I sent in my final meter readings to my new supplier as instructed. To my astonishment, Green Network saw fit to take another £116 direct debit… 4 days after the contract ended".
• "The customer service team will tell you what you want to hear and then not act on it thus showing contempt for their customers".
• "You can’t make a payment on the website. Imagine having people who can’t set up web payments handling gas and electricity".
• "Sent me 3 letters claiming we owed money, even after we called every time with proof it had been paid in full, on time. Last time I called they told me to email but then never responded".

Have they won awards for customer service?

Green Network Energy have not won any awards for customer service, but were ranked #9 in the country for customer service at the energy awards, winning third place in the "green services" category.

The ugly

Sometimes, even the best energy suppliers find themselves getting things really wrong with their customers. Some of the more serious complaints are summed up by the comments below:

• "We paid diligently every month. Never missed a payment. Then we received a bill for almost double our agreed fixed tariff further down the line. I questioned why the bill had doubled. They said my usage had gone up. It had not. It had gone down. In fact, we had been on holiday and not using our home for half of the month".
• "Complaint still going on since April, still not resolved. Waiting for GNE to come back to me and today received a response to say not heard from me despite 6 complaint emails and acknowledgements".
• "Poor. Very poor service. Do not sign up with them if you are at all thinking of moving house. They will charge you when they say they won't. They never respond to emails. Their app is poor. The amount of time taken up with chasing them for their shockingly poor admin is not worth any savings you think you might make."

Green Network Energy response time

The Citizens Advice chart lists Green Network Energy’s average call centre at 2 minutes and 55 seconds. However, the aforementioned independent survey revealed response times to be significantly longer, averaging 7 minutes and 49 seconds. Email responses were slower than most, taking an average of 3 days and 22 hours.

Issue resolution and complaint handling

According to Citizens Advice, Green Network Energy have a complaints to third parties ratio of 19.8 per 10,000 customers. Data from Ofgem reveals that Green Network Energy resolve 49% of customer complaints within 24 hours, and 92% of complaints are resolved within 8 weeks.

Green Network Energy in the news

Unlike many energy suppliers, Green Network Energy have managed to steer clear of controversies and unflattering depictions in the news. In fact, the only recent mention they have had in the news was in October 2019 when they partnered with National Chamber of Fashion and Eco-Age, a communications agency supporting sustainable brands
Source: Green Energy News.

Think Green Network Energy may be the supplier for you? Get in touch with us today!

As we can see, there’s a lot to like about Green Network Energy. If you think they might just be the supplier for you, don’t make the switch without us!

Would you like to know more about energy suppliers in the UK? Great! Check out some of these related articles?

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Let’s take a closer look at the energy supplier Better Energy and find out who they were, where they operated and what services they provided to customers.

Who were Better Energy?

Better Energy was a UK gas supplier based in Nottingham. They began supplying homes in the East Midlands with gas in 2011 and expanded to offer their services to other parts of the UK, including Scotland and Wales.

The company frequently compared its prices to other energy companies to make sure that theirs was competitively priced. They only offered online billing so customers needed an email address in order to sign up for their services.

Were Better Energy any good?

Better Energy never received enough customer responses in the annual Which? energy company survey so they have no rating on that platform.

However, they did receive a rating of 1.8 on Trustpilot from 39 reviews, which is not great. Just 31% of the reviews rated their services as excellent, with more than half saying they were bad. Frequent customer complaints centred around top up services not functioning, as well as poor customer service and bad access to online accounts.

Who owns Better Energy?

Better Energy ceased trading but their customers have been absorbed into PFP Energy. PFP are a company based in Preston who work hard to keep their energy fair and simple. They pledged that all Better Energy customers would retain the same terms as their existing tariffs and would in some circumstances end up paying less.

Why did Better Energy close?

The company had its licence revoked by Ofgem, the industry regulator, after it failed to join the Data Communications Company (DCC) by the Ofgem deadline. This was originally set for November 2017. The DCC serves as the sector’s communication infrastructure for smart meters.

Their customers did not have their gas shut off and there was no interference to service while their supply was transferred to a new supplier. As mentioned above, the new supplier promised to match or better the rates that Better Energy customers were on, and customers were free to switch to another plan or provider at any time.

The newly appointed provider also agreed to honour any existing credit balances, which were automatically transferred with the account.

What happened to my Better Energy account?

If you were a one of their customers and want to access your online account then you need to open an account with your new supplier PFP. To do so, go to the PFP home page and click on ‘My Account’. Scroll down to the ‘Log in’ section and create a new account using the ‘Register’ tab.

Once you are logged in you will be able to manage your account in the same way as before.

What happened to my Better Energy tariff?

They offered five main gas tariffs. One was a prepayment tariff and the other four were direct debit. There were other cheaper suppliers but Better Energy were generally considered good value for money in terms of gas supply.

Although customers will now find themselves on a tariff with a different name under PFP, the terms of the tariff remain exactly the same.

Better Energy fuel mix

As they only supplied gas, they had no fuel mix statistics.

How to contact Better Energy?

Their contact numbers are no longer in operation. Customers will need to speak to their new supplier PFP and the regulator in order to find out more details about their accounts. They can do this in the following ways:

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Who were Lumo Energy?

Lumo Energy was an app-based energy provider and a subsidiary of OVO Energy. It started out as a comparison site for energy tariffs but ended up supplying its own energy plans. However, they retained this comparison element of their site to enable you to check if there were better tariffs available elsewhere.

Lumo Energy maintained an open and honest policy about informing its customers how it earned commission by switching them to other suppliers. As such, as well as offering some of its own deals in certain areas of the UK, you could also use it to find competitor tariffs. That meant that people could use the Lumo Energy app even if they did not offer any tariffs in their particular region.

All customer service was carried out through the Lumo Energy app, so there was no way you could speak to someone. This was a feature that some customers seemed to like, and others not so much.

Who owned Lumo Energy?

Lumo Energy in the UK was owned by OVO Energy, which made it a subsidiary of Imagination Industries. This is the holding company that owns OVO and itself is owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick.

Are Lumo Energy still trading?

Lumo Energy stopped trading as an energy company in the UK as of 2020. A statement on their website said they had made the difficult decision to close down and merge with sister company OVO Energy.

Existing customers were to receive an email about what this meant for them or they can visit the OVO Energy help centre for more information.

Lumo Energy customer reviews

Opinion of the Lumo customer service seems to have been very divided. Some people seemed to enjoy the fact that everything was done through the app, which made it very easy and convenient. You could manage every aspect of your account in one place.

However, other people found it very frustrating that you couldn’t actually speak to a real person if you had a problem. It also meant customers without smartphones or tablets were unable to use the Lumo Energy service.

Lumo Energy scored 4.1 out of five on Trustpilot, which is generally considered a good score. Most of the reviews rated the company as good or excellent, with only 18% saying the service was bad or poor.

The app was very easy to use and navigate, with well laid out functionality. All the information you needed was clear and easy to find although some customers found the amount of information was limited. It was rated as 4.4 stars out of five on the Google Play Store and 4.5 out of five on the App Store.

Lumo Energy tariffs

Lumo energy had only one tariff called the App-only fixed tariff. It was a fixed rate tariff for 12 months with exit fees of £30 per fuel. It could only be taken out as a dual fuel tariff. They only offered the tariff on traditional meters and a select amount of smart meters. Therefore, if you had an Economy 7, Economy 10 or prepayment meter then you couldn’t use their services.

Lumo Energy’s coverage in the UK was very limited and there was no actual list of all the areas it covered. In fact, the only way to find out if Lumo Energy supplied energy in your area was to go through the online quote process. So, in order to find out if they could supply you, you needed to apply for a quote and see if you got lucky.

Some customers with OVO were informed that they could get a better deal if they went with Lumo, only to find that Lumo did not supply their area. This caused some frustration amongst OVO customers.

Lumo Energy fuel mix

Lumo Energy worked hard to improve its fuel mix in recent years. It removed coal and nuclear from its fuel mix and only sourced its energy from natural gas and renewable sources. From April 2018 to March 2019 it got around 39% of its energy from natural gas and the rest from renewables.

However, as of October 2019 more than half of its energy came from renewable sources, placing it just above the national average for energy suppliers.

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Who are Ebico?

Ebico is more than just an energy supplier. It’s a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping UK energy consumers escape fuel poverty. As well as supplying energy, Ebico offers a range of other products including boiler cover. They are also leading the charge to install smart meters in UK homes to allow energy consumers to budget more effectively and escape fuel poverty.

Ebico do not supply their own energy. Their energy is supplied by lauded green energy supplier Robin Hood Energy. However, here’s where things get complicated.

In September 2020 British Gas bought out Robin Hood, meaning that new customers cannot take advantage of Ebico’s energy tariffs. However, both Ebico and Robin Hood energy have both given assurances that customers’ energy supply will not be interrupted.

What’s more, they have also assured that customers on fixed rate tariffs will continue to pay the same amount for their energy (or less) as they currently pay. However, their tariff’s names may change. After these tariffs expire, customers will lapse to British Gas’ standard variable rate.

This deal affects customers of other smaller energy brands to whom Robin Hood Energy also supplies gas and electricity including:

• Angelic Energy
• Beam Energy
• CitizEn Energy
• Fosse Energy
• Great North Energy
• The Leccy
• RAM Energy
• Southend Energy
• White Rose Energy
• Your Energy Sussex

Who owns Ebico?

Ebico is a non-profit entity and doesn’t have shareholders in the sense that traditional energy companies do. However, their energy supply was previously owned by Robin Hood energy and has now been taken over by British Gas.

How many customers does Ebico have?

Ebico Energy had in excess of 60,000 customers.

Ebico Tariffs

In order to prevent UK energy consumers from lapsing into fuel poverty, Ebico offered a broad range of tariffs in conjunction with Robin Hood Energy. These included green energy plans, fixed rate energy plans, variable plans and plans with zero standing charges for properties that spend much of the year empty.

As these rates are no longer available, there is no information on unit rates or monthly / annual costs. However, we list the available energy plans along with a brief description below:

Ebico Summer Saver 12m Fixed

• Limited time offer, available to only 2,000 new customers
• Fixed price for 12 months
• New customers only
• Online account management only
• Fixed monthly Direct Debit only
• £60 (£30 per fuel) early exit fee

Ebico Zero Green Fixed v5

• Fixed price for 12 months
• No standing charges
• Green energy
• No exit fees
• Minimum annual bill value provisions

Ebico Prime 12 Fixed v4

• Fixed price for 12 months
• Further savings for Direct Debit payments
• £60 (£30 per fuel) early exit fee

Ebico Prime 18 Fixed v2

• Fixed price for 18 months
• Further savings for customers who pay by Direct Debit
• £45 (£22.5 per fuel) online account management discount
• £60 (£30 per fuel) early exit fee

Ebico Prime 24 Fixed v5

• 24 months fixed price
• Further savings for customers who pay by Direct Debit
• £60 (£30 per fuel) early exit fee

Ebico Evergreen 12 Fixed v3

• 12 months fixed price
• Further savings for customers who pay by Direct Debit
• No early exit fees

Ebico Evergreen

• Variable price
• Further savings for customers who pay by Direct Debit
• No early exit fees

Ebico Standard

• Variable price
• Further savings for customers who pay by Direct Debit
• No early exit fees

Is Ebico cheap?

Ebico no longer advertises the cost of its tariffs. However, an independent consumer survey last year shows that Ebico’s customers rated the brand 4 out of 5 stars in terms of value for money. Former Ebico customers will be relieved to learn that British Gas will honour the cost of the tariffs they had with Ebico.

Did Ebico do business energy tariffs?

Unfortunately, Ebico did not have business tariffs in their range of offerings. However, Robin Hood Energy did offer business energy solutions. Again, however, these are no longer available, and all business customers are currently in the process of transferral to equivalent tariffs with British Gas.

Needless to say, British Gas is equipped to handle all energy supply needs for businesses. From microbusinesses to enterprise-level companies, they have a broad range of energy tariffs for business customers. Rates are not advertised. They are negotiated on a customer by customer basis. Your rates will depend on the size of your business, your location and your peak energy load hours.

Ebico Fuel Mix: Are they a green supplier?

Of course, Ebico did not supply the energy. Robin Hood did. And they were a green energy supplier. As of March 2019, Robin Hood Energy offered 100% renewable electricity. Prior to this, however, their energy mix was not 100% renewable. Below, we’ll break down Robin Hood energy’s previous fuel mix and compare it to the UK average.

Now that British Gas have taken over the supplies of Ebico / Robin Hood Energy customers, they may be relieved to know that they can still get renewable energy. Although its energy fuel mix is not yet 100% renewable, British Gas does offer 100% renewable energy tariffs. If your fixed rate tariff is about to expire or you are on a variable rate tariff, you may want to look into British Gas’ 100% renewable energy tariffs.

Are Ebico any good? What their customers say

It seems a great shame that Ebico’s energy customers are now serviced by British Gas. Because while the latter’s customer service record is something of a mixed bag, Ebico enjoyed positive customer sentiment prior to the British Gas buyout of Robin Hood Energy. An independent survey revealed that Ebico’s customers rated the energy brand:

• 4 stars for customer service
• 4 stars for value for money
• 5 stars for bill accuracy
• 4 stars for bill clarity
• 4 stars for digital tools

A thoroughly respectable score and a decent overview of customer sentiment. However, let’s see if we can get a more detailed overview of how customers felt about Ebico by looking at some customer reviews.

Ebico customer reviews

Ebico’s Trustpilot page is in something of a state of imbalance at the moment. As is often the case when there is a handover to another energy company, there are teething problems and some customers feel as though they have "slipped through the net". As such, a lot of the most recent Trustpilot reviews are negative.

They currently have an overall customer score of 3.6 out of 5 which puts them at the top end of "Average", verging on "Great".

At the time of writing, Ebico has 2,028 customer reviews. Of these:

• 1,146 (57%) were "Excellent"
• 409 (20%) were "Great"
• 121 (6%) were "Average"
• 80 (4%) were "Poor"
• 272 (13%) were "Bad"

While Ebico has seen a deluge of negative reviews lately, 77% of reviewers nonetheless consider them either "Great" or "Excellent". Over 4 times more than those who considered them "Bad".

A number of recent positive reviews have been left by customers expressing that they miss the brand now that they are with British Gas. One former customer remarks "I hope they will start to supply energy again and if they do I will be one of the first in the queue to sign up.".

Other positive reviews cite good value for money, helpful staff, quick and easy issue resolution, and smooth switching.

Negative reviews, on the other hand, focused on issues with the changeover to British Gas, including loss of credit on prepayment meters, failure to recompense for an overestimated bill, slow refunds and issue resolution, and long wait times to speak to a customer service agent. More than one review mentions being cut off in the middle of a conversation.

Do Ebico offer smart meters? Are they 1st or 2nd generation?

Yes. Smart meters are an integral part of Ebico’s mission to help energy consumers to take control of their energy supply and lift themselves out of fuel poverty. Ebico offer smart credit meters and prepayment meters to energy consumers via Robin Hood Energy. At present, British Gas have taken over the task of supplying smart meters to new customers and now exclusively uses 2nd generation SMETS 2 smart meters.

If you had one of these meters prior to the buyout, it will still be fully functional.

How to contact Ebico

Although British Gas are in the process of taking over Ebico’s customer accounts, you can still contact them to ask questions about the switch, make general comments and suggestions or make a complaint. You can call Ebico over the phone on 0800 028 6699. Alternatively, you can email customerservice@ebico-energy.org.uk.

Former Ebico or Robin Hood Energy customer? Not sure what to do? We’re here to help!

It’s always confusing and distressing when your energy supplier changes hands for reasons that are outside of your control. You may worry that your energy bills will rise rapidly or that you won’t get the renewable energy mix that you used to. But former Ebico customers (and customers of all Robin Hood’s energy brands) can breathe a sigh of relief. Because we’re here to help!

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Are Economy 7 storage heaters any good?

If you have a tariff that offers cheaper electricity at some times of the day, such as the Economy 7 meter which gives you cheaper rates for seven hours overnight, then storage heaters can be a good option.

Storage heaters take advantage of these hours when power is much cheaper, charging up with heat which they then slowly release during the day. These are a good option for homes without a mains gas connection, such as many rural properties or older buildings.

What are Economy 7 storage heaters?

Storage heaters are electric heaters that store thermal energy. They do this by heating up internal ceramic bricks at night which gradually release this heat energy over time, keeping your home warm during the day.

They are wall mounted and look like regular radiators, and should be fixed in any room that you want heating. There are different varieties available that heat in different ways, with costs varying according to efficiency and programmability.

How do Economy 7 storage heaters work?

To make the most of your storage heaters you need to be on an Economy 7 tariff. However, a lot of people do not realise this and end up charging their heaters at the wrong time of day, costing them a lot more money.

Think about your storage heaters as a rechargeable battery. In order to work efficiently, they need to be fully charged up before releasing the energy that is stored within. With an Economy 7 tariff, electricity is supplied to your home at two different rates. One is peak time and the other off peak. In order to make the best use of the storage heaters, you need to be charging them during these off peak hours – generally at night, usually from 12 until 7am.

Remember that storage heaters start leaking heat almost immediately and will lose the vast majority over a 12 hour period. This means that if you get home from work at 7pm, the majority of the heat stored will already have been released. This is when having a well insulated house and being sensible about closing doors and windows can really pay off.

How much do storage heaters cost?

Storage heaters can vary dramatically in price. It generally depends on the brand you choose and the type of heating you want. The cheaper manual models can be bought for around £150 per unit but the more complex models will be £250 and upwards. You need to factor in the cost of heating your home this way.

However, as storage heaters are stand-alone units and not part of a wider system you can buy them as and when you have the funds. In general, it is always better to go for the more advanced and efficient models as these give you more control over your heating.

How much does it cost to run Economy 7 heating?

It all depends how many heaters you have and how they are set up to heat your house. However, using Economy 7 meters and tariffs to heat your home is a good way to save money – provided you follow all the advice in this guide.

Assuming around 42% of your electricity is used at night to charge up heaters and you use the average amount it will cost around £516 a year with Economy 7. This is compared to around £538 per year with the cheapest normal tariff. This is because that 42% of energy use at night will be on a rate of 8p per kWh on average, as opposed to 12.1p during the day.

Other types of storage heaters?

There are several main types of storage heater that all work in slightly different ways. These include:

Manual storage heaters

These are the most basic kind of storage heater and also the most affordable. They store heat overnight and slowly release it throughout the day. They are not the most cost effective as they will continue to heat until they are manually switched off.

Automatic storage heaters

These feature in-built control options such as thermostats which let you control the amount of thermal energy both stored and released according to the room in which they are situated. Other automatic features include a combination system which incorporates a more traditional convection heating option. This offers on demand heating as and when you need it.

Quantum storage heaters

The most modern, efficient and expensive type of heater, these use fan-assisted operation to use less power when releasing heat. They also feature high quality LCD control panels which allow for accurate temperature selection to create a heating programme that suits your needs. They do cost more as an initial investment but will save you money over time

Storage heater features

Features common to storage heaters include:

1. Boost function to give extra warmth when you need it
2. Fan assist to dispel heat more effectively
3. Programmable schedules to let you customise your heating plan
4. Size setting to allow you to adjust for the size of the room
5. Remote control so you don’t have to get up to adjust the temperature

Features common to more modern and high end heaters include open window sensors and Wi-fi controls – all of which aim to give you more control over your heating throughout the day. Major brands of heater include Dimplex, Creda, Vent Axia and Stiebel Eltron.

Dimplex’s Quantum storage heater claims to be the most advanced and economical off peak heater available. You can programme it with daily and weekly schedules. You can set the room temperature and it will start to learn your habits to be more efficient.

Advantages of storage heaters

There are a number of key benefits and advantages of using storage heaters in your home. While gas heating is generally the most affordable, if you are not connected to the mains then this is a good option. Here’s why:

• Storage heaters use cheaper off peak electricity to heat the home making use of cheaper night time rates offered by Economy 7 and 10 meters and tariffs
• Modern storage heaters are much more efficient than they have been in the past, with more control over your heating – including automatic and quantum ranges
• Many modern storage heaters include a built-in thermostat, which means they only release heat when it is needed
• Installation is very simple with no need for miles of pipework and cabling
• They are very quiet to run, even when there is a fan convector
• They are more compatible with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar than other forms of heating

Disadvantages of storage heaters

However, it is not all good news for storage heaters. They do have a few key drawbacks which makes them a less preferable option for some people. These disadvantages include:

• They are weather dependent, meaning it is easy to under or over heat your home during periods of warmer or colder weather
• If you do have a gas connection, using this kind of heating is always going to be the more expensive option, even using Economy 7 hours to charge up
• Basic storage heater models can be very inefficient
• There will be some unavoidable heating overnight when the heaters are charging
• In the evening, often when you need it most, much of the heating power is already used up