Economy 7

[Cogcog]

Used to be popular in the days or storage heaters and emersion heaters but less so now with condensing boilers and CH.

Does anyone still use it and how does it work out for you?

I looked at a couple of economy 7 packages and it seemed attractive if you could do things like washing at night or if you kept odd hours. The higher day time rate wasn't excessive (cheaper than some single tarrifs)and I am thinking it could work with my new underfloor heating which runs from a ground source heat pump which I understand takes a few hours to warm up in the morning, which could be done on the cheap electricity.

[FlossyThePig]

We use it as we have an electric Aga which is a very fancy storage radiator.

Moved from Scottish Power to Ovo early this year. Build up credit during the Summer when Aga turned off. Ovo pay interest on credit balance.

Dishwasher and washing machine have delay functions so operate during cheap period.

[anonymous-user]

We have it - dishwasher and washing machine at night. Immersion heater does hot water for morning showers. But then we have an oil boiler (no gas) which is a big factor - don't have to fire it up for hot water during the summer.

Mike

[anonymous-user]

I had it in my 1st house & was not too impressed back then. You have to plan ahead & there was little heat left by the evening when it was wanted. Maybe the storage technology has improved. Hooking it up to a 'free of charge daytime Electricity ' from solar panels may be lucrative?

[saleen836]

We have it, immersion on over night for Mrs Saleens morning shower, also the washing machine goes on over night. Keeps the 'leccy bill down a bit!

[caziques]

Presumably you have underfloor heating with a ground source heat pump - if so economy 7 could be of use. Just how useful depends on the size of the heat pump and how much "storage" you have.

Post some more details, ie size of heat pump, area being heated, location, storage capacity, if you want more ideas.

[Deva Link]

MH said:

We have it - dishwasher and washing machine at night.

We do that too - I think one advantage is it makes the missus think about what she's washing so she doesn't put them on during the day to do a few items.

There used to be a rule of thumb that you needed to use at least 40% of power at night to make E7 wrthwhile, but the newer tarrifs might have changed that.

[Skyedriver]

Deal sounds good but I don't trust any of the energy companies so woudn't recomend it
That said we have in our house on Skye where is feeds the crappy storage heaters. Wouldn't recommend those either.
If I can get those replaced I would go a more standard tarrif.

[Cogcog]

caziques said:

Presumably you have underfloor heating with a ground source heat pump - if so economy 7 could be of use. Just how useful depends on the size of the heat pump and how much "storage" you have.

Post some more details, ie size of heat pump, area being heated, location, storage capacity, if you want more ideas.

I am waiting for details from the techies at the GSHP company, but it is about 3500 sq feet of heating, about 2700 UFH.