Energy and Climate Change CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Penelope Draffan

I write to you to express a concern I have in view of the forthcoming simplification of electricity tariffs.

In the countryside, there is no mains gas, so many people use storage heaters, as we do. These only come on during reduced tariff hours, eg on Economy 7 between midnight and 7 am, or Economy 10, which has 10 reduced hours spread out over the 24 including the afternoon and evening. Unlike central heating using gas or oil, where the householders can set the timer for the heating to go on and off, with storage heaters it is fixed by the tariff hours.

I am very concerned that the electricity companies should maintain Economy 10. We use it, and with our supplier we have midnight—5 am, 1–4 pm and 8–10 pm. This works perfectly. My husband is 74 and I would like to draw your attention to the fact that if the Economy 10 tariff is not maintained, it is the elderly, those at home with young children, the sick and handicapped as well as those who work at night, who would find themselves going from 7 am until midnight without any heat input. The most vulnerable would be most affected and I do not believe that the electricity companies should be allowed to do away with Economy 10 in the new tariffs.

Thank you for your attention.

March 2013