Day/Night meter

remoteboy · 17-07-2021 9:22pm #1

Hi,

i have a regular 24 hour meter in my house but want to switch to a day/night meter (just bought an EV). I’ve heard that if you ask your electricity provider they arrange with Electric Ireland to change the meter free of charge. I’m currently on a 24 hour tariff - if I change to day/night will that tie me in to a new contract with my current provider (contract is up shortly and I’ll be looking to switch).

thanks for reading.

zega · 23-07-2021 11:22am

i think they are doing away with the traditional day/night meter setup,and if you enquire now they would push a smart meter on you.just my speculation,be worth ringing them up

23-07-2021 9:48pm

If you get a day/night meter mid contract, do you start a new 12 month contract with your provider, or finish the old contract under new terms?

remoteboy · 24-07-2021 10:00am

Hi, thanks for the replies. I ended up ringing my provider and can confirm that it doesn’t kick you in to a new contract - you just go on to whatever the rates are within your tariff. They’ve requested a day night meter (not smart) for me from Electric Ireland. I’m waiting on an install date.

crossmolinalad · 28-07-2021 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655088#Comment_117655088

We asked for a day and night meter also but they said no , you get a smartmeter and thats what they installed last week

remoteboy · 28-07-2021 7:11pm

Good to know.

Comer1 · 28-07-2021 7:25pm

What's the downside to a smart meter over a night meter?

I'm in the same boat myself, contract ending in a few weeks and want to switch to a night meter for a new EV. I had planned to request the day night meter from my current provider closer to the end of my contract. How close will depend on the lead time for an installation so I'd be interested in hearing from the OP what the time was between requesting and receiving an install.

remoteboy · 28-07-2021 11:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117675241#Comment_117675241

Tariffs are pricey on the smart meters. Cheaper on the day / night.

crossmolinalad · 02-08-2021 1:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117676163#Comment_117676163

Depends on what time you will use power We use at the cheapest time Nighttime the most at the moment so we will always cheaper than with an old meter

kabakuyu · 02-08-2021 1:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694984#Comment_117694984

Which provider and tariff do you use?

Comer1 · 09-08-2021 10:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117655088#Comment_117655088

Hi OP, did you get the meter installed? How long was it between requesting the meter and installation?

Thanks

remoteboy · 09-08-2021 11:41am

I’m still waiting. It’s been a couple of weeks since I requested.

crossmolinalad · 13-08-2021 1:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117695075#Comment_117695075

BG

paulbok · 20-09-2021 6:23pm

Gonna hijack this thread as it's semi-related.

I currently have a night meter that is unused, but I am still paying standing charges for. There were only storage heaters connected to it when we moved in which we got rid of.

I'd estimate we use 2-3 units overnight without scheduling washing machine etc, so it is crazy we haven't been making use of it.

As there is nothing connected to it (0 units used since storage heaters were removed), is it a major wiring job for an electrician to connect it up?

I'll guess it's a big fat 'depends' as to how the board is configured at the moment, so any advice is welcome.

Op, did you get your meter in the end and was it a big/expendive job?

Prefer to keep the old meters for now so I can better monitor day / night usage.

Hope to have a solar system installed in a few weeks, so will look at a Shelly CM clamp for monitoring then.

remoteboy · 25-09-2021 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117727347#Comment_117727347

ESB turned up yesterday to fit the day / night meter. Took them about 10 minutes. Looking forward to charging the EV at night now.

KevinK · 02-10-2021 7:53am

so its still possible to change to day/night meter?

remoteboy · 02-10-2021 8:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966193#Comment_117966193

Yep

02-10-2021 8:11am

Do you request from the electric Ireland or your energy provider?

Also, is your contract with your energy provider reset after switching to day/night, or do you just finish out your existing contract, albeit with different rates?

KevinK · 02-10-2021 8:12am

and just ro clarify my earlier question, I have a smart meter - can i still change to day/night meter?

02-10-2021 8:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966217#Comment_117966217

AFAIK day/night is not available on the smart meters. Hence why a lot of people don't want them.

I stand corrected if that has changed.

KevinK · 02-10-2021 8:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966278#Comment_117966278

Ya pretty sure day/night isnt available on the smart meter.

I'm wondering if I can change from smart meter to day night meter?

new build and meter installed during the week but not yet connected - nobody asked me which meter I wanted but it seems day night is much more preferable.

remoteboy · 02-10-2021 10:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966214#Comment_117966214

I requested it from my provider. Took about 6 weeks. I saw them doing a few more on the road after mine so I reckon they just wait until they have a load in the same area. Took them about 10 minutes to do.

As regards contract, when you sign up for a plan with your energy provider they’ll have different rates based on your meter type. When you change your meter you switch to the appropriate rates for your meter. No new contract required. At least that’s what they told me. Always best to check with your provider to be sure.

Bass Reeves · 02-10-2021 10:26am

AFAIK day/ night meters will be phased out. Everybody will be on smart meters within 1-2 years. The main reasons are, there is no requirement to read smart meters it can be downloaded remotely. In future if you change providers the ESB will update readings automatically. As well it will allow consumers to see there electricity usage in half hour segments.

It will encourage consumers to use night rate for washing machines and dishwashers rather than daytime use. Charging will probably be split into at least 3 segments if not 4+. Peak, off peak and night-time. There is information coming that there will be different morning and even peak rates as the highest peak is evening time 5-8pm

remoteboy · 02-10-2021 10:37am

Can definitely see that happening but gonna hold out until they sort out their unit rates for smart meters. Still way too expensive for night.

Ger Roe · 02-10-2021 10:51am

They aren't going to sort anything out to the advantage of the consumer, it will all to be of benefit to the supplier. Look at the current frequent price increases, the consumer will have to radically change their habits just to save money from the constant price increases. Cheaper ... electricity, yes (if you can manage your life around the restrictions required to reduce the impact of increases). Cheap electricity as a result of smart meters? ..... no.

No electricity supplier is interested in you using less electricity.... unless you are going to pay more for using less. The consumer will never win when supply is commercially motivated and when we are buying in a very small market base, with little or no competition between providers, inept government planning and ineffective independent regulation.

It's going to be an expensive cold winter.

02-10-2021 12:43pm

Load your houses up with solar!

paulbok · 02-10-2021 1:01pm

And many will still refuse to run those kitchen appliances (wm, dw, td) at night out of safety concerns.

I try to run them as much as possible at night, but have to start them when going to bed arournd 10-10:30. None of my 3 appliances have a delay function and have to be manually started if disconnected from the power so a smart plug won't help.

Smart plans definitely punitive for me, so will be hanging onto my old day/night meters as long as possible.

Bass Reeves · 02-10-2021 1:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966985#Comment_117966985

I be surprised if OP got an old day/ night meter. There is no way the ESB is putting in these old meters and replacing them maybe 4-6 months later. The smart metering project is supposed to be completed by 2024. If you get a smart meter you opt at present for the plan that is most applicable to to day, day/ night or smart metering.

The ESB is changing meters on a project basis. When its you turn in the installation process it will be installed around that time. You then can opt for smart metering but smart metering per say will not commence until the project is finished

KevinK · 02-10-2021 5:40pm

I don't think I will be allowed switch from a smart meter to a day /night meter but that seems very unfair.

With electric Ireland I can pay 16c during the day and 8c at night.

The best deal with a smart meter is either 15c all the time or 22c day time, 11c during the night and then 6c from 2am to 4am.

They really aren't comparable at all- seems totally unfair- why are people being punished like this for changing to smart meters and why hasn't more been said about it.

02-10-2021 5:59pm

Smart meters plans are crazy. I'll be refusing one in the short term until the price of the plans come down.

remoteboy · 03-10-2021 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117967156#Comment_117967156

It’s a digital one they installed. Not the old revolving disc one. Like the one pictured here -

https://www.esbnetworks.ie/existing-connections/meters-and-readings/how-to-read-your-meter/electronic-domestic-meters

Ger Roe · 03-10-2021 2:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117968209#Comment_117968209

I feel the same way... have one, but don't see it of being any benefit to me at the moment. The problem is, the suppliers literally have the power to wait and beat us in to submission. We will be using smart meters, not to avail of cheap electricity, but to mitigate against the considerable price rises, taxes and levies that are coming down the tracks.

randomname2005 · 12-10-2021 7:32am

For those of you (if anyone!) using a day/night tariff without an EV, was it hard to make it worthwhile? Outside of delaying the start of washing machine and dish washer (when feasible) and using the immersion at night, is there anything else you did that made a difference?

Am in the process of getting solar installed so day usage will be somewhat covered by the panels and wondering if it would make financial sense to switch to a day/night tariff.

Thanks in advance

RN

Bass Reeves · 12-10-2021 9:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118007455#Comment_118007455

No it would not make sense to switch to a day night tariff unless you have something like storage heating now virtually gone with the use of newer type electric heating and better insulation.

randomname2005 · 13-10-2021 8:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118007682#Comment_118007682

Thanks. No storage heating. Was wondering if the immersion and washing devices would be enough to make it worth while, but good to know not.

silver2020 · 13-10-2021 9:08am

The whole idea of smart meters is to make you change your usage pattern.

We've recently selected the free weekend day. We've traditionally done a lot of the housework on Saturdays, now we make a point of it with washing machine on timer to start at 5am so that it can go into the dryer when we wake and second/third loads put on followed by an ironing session.

Dishwasher timed for 1am and then we ensure all the Saturday dishes are in and done Saturday evening too, so just one cycle during the week.

Hot water for Saturdays is immersion rater than using the oil (stays hot right through for Sunday use)

Weekday use is literally the lights and TV/PC and the usual basics such as fridge.

Bill issued 2 weeks ago was about 30% LOWER than same period last year even after the price increases.

Mav11 · 13-10-2021 9:21am

FYI: I am on dual tariff, day/night meter. I was told about a month ago that there was a problem with the timer in the old meter and it would have to be replaced. ESB networks came out fairly rapid and replaced it with a new digital, non smart meter. Still on the old tariff, I'm happy with that!

13-10-2021 9:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012468#Comment_118012468

Nice one. Win win

Boardnashea · 13-10-2021 9:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117916657#Comment_117916657

I think that meter is probably on a separate circuit to power just the storage heaters and, yes, it would be a big job to reuse it. Just get them to stop the standing charge/remove the meter.

randomname2005 · 13-10-2021 10:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012433#Comment_118012433

It is definitely possible to make use of it and get some value. The only way I could see us getting a dryer is of the free weekend day stays in place and do what you are doing and dry clothes easier from October to April when the weather is less reliable.

I'm not sure how much you are using but there is a fair usage policy in place and a maximum every month.

The free day works when you are home and can make use of it but harder if working weekends or bringing the kids to activities or both.

paulbok · 13-10-2021 10:41am

I enquired about getting rid of the NR meter a few years ago and was told it would cost €200(I think) to have it removed. Switching to the so called smart meters will do that anyway, but until properly priced day/night plans are available, I'll hold off as long as I can on that.

I'd much rather get using the night rate as I use a few Kwh overnight and can push that up a little by scheduling appliances overnight. Also I have a PV install coming up so plan to charge the battery on that at night to use during the day. Could be around 10-12 units daily so at NR with a 8c saving on each, potential saving of around €25 a month there.

I've asked two different electricans about changing it, one said it's not a big job, the other said it is, but he says that about everything I've asked him to do before.

zzap64 · 13-10-2021 11:08am

Here's my experience of switching to a day/night meter recently (about a month).

I'm with SSE Airtricity and had just switched back to them so on a 30% discount plan.

I rang up about getting a day / night meter and they started talking about maybe smart meters were getting installed in the area and I should check about getting one of them. I said I didn't want a smart meter as the night rate is much more expensive. He agreed and carried on about booking a new day / night meter for me. I would imagine they are told to try and get the customer onto a smart meter as a first option.

He said changing over was free but if I wanted to change back (at any stage) it would cost... maybe €150 (I can't remember the exact figure)

I think, I rang on a Wednesday. He suggested ringing ESB Networks on Friday to see if I could get a quicker appointment. I didn't get around to it, but out of nowehere, my meter was installed on the Monday or Tuesday!

For reference the current rates on the discount plan I am on, inc VAT:

24hr meter: 15.36c / kWh

Day / Night meter: 16.38 day / 8.12 night

Smart meter: 16.04 day / 12.17 night / 17.10 peak

So you can see why I didn't want a smart meter, a tiny saving on the day rate (not doubt cancelled out by the more expensive peak rate (5pm to 7pm IIRC) but a 50% increase on the night rate!

With charging my car every 2 or 3 days and having the immersion on every couple of days at night, I'm actually using more units at night than in the day! Although that will change as I use mainly electrical heating during the day when the weather gets colder.

rivermisty · 13-10-2021 11:27am

I have a day/night meter and I schedule the major appliances to run over night. Next car will be an EV which should give us better value from the night meter.

I'm curious how people are putting on their immersion at night though. Do you have a timer on it? Mine is just an old fashioned up/down off/on switch. Also, I'm sure it used to be the case that using Gas central heating to heat the tank (with the rads off) was cheaper than electric immersion. Maybe that's with day time electricity rates though. Anyone know more on that? Thanks, r

zzap64 · 13-10-2021 11:31am

Our immersion has a timer on it. Our oil heating was never connected properly to heat the water without the radiators, but rarely use the oil for anything anyway.

SouthWesterly · 13-10-2021 11:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118007455#Comment_118007455

I've day/night and 3.24kw solar.my last bill was 267/ 336 kW. Down from 966 same time last year with no solar

SouthWesterly · 13-10-2021 11:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118013034#Comment_118013034

How does this work?

randomname2005 · 13-10-2021 12:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118013082#Comment_118013082

Thanks SW. I will have similar solar. Is that 267/336 day/night?

From other threads you are looking at getting an immersion diverter installed. They should have a timing ability built in. From the Eddi manual

https://myenergi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/eddi_manual_v2.3_english.pdf

Feature Set...

,,,
Built-in programmable boost timers

I was going to add in a timer switch thinking it would take an age to get solar installed, but looks like I won't need it.

SouthWesterly · 13-10-2021 1:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118013391#Comment_118013391

Hi yes. Day /night usage.

Considering expanding my solar but need an immersion wired up for an eddi. Not sure it's worth it currently. Heating is on for a few hours a day now and water is hot.

We don't use much hot water. We have an electric shower used on night rate in the mornings. Dishwasher, drier, washing machine all used at night.

necstandards · 06-12-2021 12:20pm

Getting an EV early next year and called current supplier regarding the day/night meter. They said it will be a smart meter, but i asked if it can read day/night and was told yes. From reading this thread, it seems contrary to what i was told.

Why are ppl saying the smart meters are useless for day/night tariffs until 2024?

paulbok · 06-12-2021 12:50pm

The new smart meters can certainly do day/night, the issue everyone has is that the day/night rates that you have to switch to with them are extortionate.

From ~18c day, 9c night to 24c day, 12c night and an even higher peak rate between 5-7pm.

Yes there is a lower night rate around 2-4am, but unless you have EVs to charge regurally, the smart day/night plans don't suit too many.

Scag Mattress · 06-12-2021 2:57pm

2-4 is a joke anyway, could you even use 20KW in 2 hours (single phase).

Can someone confirm the free day is capped ?

Day/Night meter

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