Supplier and tariff for RHT meter

jd87

Hi all. I've just moved into an all-electric 1970s built flat which I have discovered has an RHT meter. This meter only supplies the hot water immersion which we will hardly ever use, and also two storage heaters which are both in bedrooms so not exactly ideal. We have other heaters in other rooms which don't seem to be on the RHT and we'd rather not have to mess about with setting storage heaters anyway.

The current supplier is Eon who have for now have put us on the only RHT tariff they can offer which in this region is priced as:

Normal (first 900 kWh/yr): 25.526p
Normal (remaining): 13.22p
RHT (all units): 9.387p
RHT daily standing charge: 9.24p/day

I've had a look at some other non-RHT tariffs around at the moment and I'm sure I'd be better off and happier ditching RHT. As we're renting and the wiring is complicated, we can't actually get rid of the RHT meter. Eon said they would be happy to bill both meters on any tariff if I really want to, but what about other suppliers? If I'm willing to pay a single rate do they have to offer me the full range of tariffs? Are suppliers set up for taking two meters on what would usually just be a normal tariff?

I already tried calling to ask OVO and had to explain to them what an RHT meter was and they didn't seem to get it. They seemed convinced I was talking about economy 10. If initiated a switch to them am I in for trouble?

Finally, if I do end up on a single rate tariff, is there any problem with me breaking open the RHT timer and setting it however I like?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi jd87

Thought I would just pop on with a bit of info about your particular metering set up.

Restricted Hour Tariff (RHT) meters provide electricity at a cheaper rate at certain times during every 24 hour period. They tend to be specifically designed for all electric properties with things like storage heaters or under floor heating.

As such, they're usually wired directly into the heating/water heating circuits at properties.

Customers on these systems usually have two meters using a time switch to switch between the two.

One meter records normal usage (lights, TV etc) whilst the second is for off peak usage for the heating and water heating.

They can be replaced with a more conventional meter but doing this may have implications for the heating/water heating. A certain amount of remedial electrical work may also be required within a property before the metering can be successfully changed.

For this reason, I always advise customers contemplating such a change to arrange for an independent approved electrician to check over the set up before going ahead.

The cost of the electrician is the responsibility of the customer. We also currently charge £51.06 to change a meter.

Switching times differ depending on the region you're in and the particular metering set up at the property. Do you know the switching times when the cheaper off peak rates are active?

If not, talk to one of our specialist metering teams. they'll be happy to tell you. Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my Profile and I'll find out for you.

As you say in your post, I'm afraid we only have one tariff available for RHT meters. Other suppliers may be able to offer alternatives but you'll need to contact each one individually as this type of metering doesn't appear on the comparison sites.

I must also apologise for the incorrect info it seems you were given by one of our agents. To be clear, it definitely isn't possible to bill RHT meters on any tariff. As above, the only tariff available for your current set up is the one you're already on.

Hope this is of interest jd87. Give me a shout if you need any more details as will be happy to help.

Malc

jd87

So I can't just choose to have both meters charged at the same rate after all? Why? That just seems totally unfair. I am offering to pay MORE for some of my electricity here! Surely the customer should have the choice of whether they think RHT is right for them or if they want to take advantage of all the cheaper tariffs on offer to everyone else.

Why can't it just be handled in the same way as someone with an Economy 7 meter who chooses not to have an E7 tariff?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi jd87

No, I'm afraid that isn't possible. Due to the specific metering set up installed at your property, the only tariff available to you with us is the one you're already on.

RHT meters were specifically designed for all electric properties so as to give a number of hours of cheaper electricity for heating purposes.

Going by the figures posted, it looks as though you're in the Eastern region and will be able to use the heating for between 11.5 hours and 15 hours per day at the cheaper off peak rate.

The specific number of hours and times will depend on your individual set up

All other electricity will go through the other meter and will be charged as per our standard tariff.

As per my earlier post, the only way round this with us is to change the meter but please be aware of the possible pitfalls I mentioned.

Sorry I can't offer anything more positive jd87.

Malc

jd87

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi jd87

No, I'm afraid that isn't possible. Due to the specific metering set up installed at your property, the only tariff available to you with us is the one you're already on.

Hi Malc, thanks for your help. I realise you just have to follow company policy and it's not your fault, but that policy is utterly unfair. The only reason it is "impossible" to bill me on another tariff is because someone at Eon has decided such. I just want forum users to know that I will be formally complaining about this and taking it to the ombudsman if necessary.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

jd87 wrote: »

Hi Malc, thanks for your help. I realise you just have to follow company policy and it's not your fault, but that policy is utterly unfair. The only reason it is "impossible" to bill me on another tariff is because someone at Eon has decided such. I just want forum users to know that I will be formally complaining about this and taking it to the ombudsman if necessary.

Hi jd87,

I'm sorry Malc is out of the office today, so thought I would try and reply for you.

It's not the fact of being company policy, it's to do with not being able to bill customers on tariff's that are just not compatible with the type of meter set up they have.

For example if you have a specific meter set up with multiple registers and we bill you on a standard tariff with just 2 rates, then we wouldn’t be able to bill you correctly.

Equally, if you had a standard meter, we can't bill you on an economy 10 tariff, as the rates, times etc don't match up.

The meter you have would have been fitted to work with your heating system so the equivalent tariff should work out cheapest for you. If it doesn’t then as Malc suggested it might be worth looking at changing the meter so that you have a greater choice.

I'm sorry we can't do anything about this for you, but hope we have been able to give you the information.

Helena

jd87

Hi Helena. Thanks for your reply. I do accept that a customer with a standard meter could not be billed on an economy 7/10/Rht tariff, but i'm afraid I do not accept that the opposite is true. You are saying I can't be billed on a standard tariff with two rates because I have two meters, but I disagree. What is so impossible about taking two sets of two meter readings, summing up the consumption indicated by both of them for a period and then billing for that in the normal way?

My meter set up is not beneficial for me only for the reason that Eon and an apparently small number of other suppliers are unfairly restricting the tariffs available to those with rht meters and preventing us from benefiting from cheaper online deals etc. The meter itself is not the problem so I refuse to pay for it to be changed.

I really do strongly feel that RHT meter users are another small category of energy consumers who have (like heating oil users for example) been completely forgotten about by the regulator.

Cardew

Agreed.

I can't see the difference between adding Economy 7 off-peak and peak readings together - as E.ON did with my account.

DVardysShadow

Cardew wrote: »

Agreed.

I can't see the difference between adding Economy 7 off-peak and peak readings together - as E.ON did with my account.

Or, if adding up is too hard for multi billion corporations, treat the readings as separate and have a special 'day rate on dual meter' tariff with a 24 hour rate on both meters. This is how the Co-op are doing mine. Full marks to the Co-op.

DVardysShadow

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena wrote: »

I'm sorry we can't do anything about this for you, but hope we have been able to give you the information.

Helena

Helena, this has to be either Pathetic or Obstructive. There are 2 obvious ways of dealing with this and they are both on this thread. And give the ease with which energy companies throw up new tariffs, it is beyond credible that you cannot deal with this.

Cardew

Normal (first 900 kWh/yr): 25.526p
Normal (remaining): 13.22p
RHT (all units): 9.387p
RHT daily standing charge: 9.24p/day

I really cannot believe those prices!

You can still get electricity on a single rate tariff with Tier 2 under 10p/kWh