SSE THTC Monopoly

Glass1970

Hello,
Been reading this post with interest. We're in Argyll and are SSE THTC "hostages" too. We've been offered smart meters for a couple of years now but every time I calculate the costs it's _just_ cheaper to stick with what we've got (that was before the massive recent price hikes though!)
Just got my bill and I've got new rates of 62.36p standard, and 45.98p heating plus 57.45p standing charge.
This is well above what the Government promised would be the limited maximum rates suppliers could charge.
I've emailed SSE, but I doubt I'll get an answer but I'm wondering since we're on a legacy tariff (that lets face it SSE would like rid of!) then somehow the Governments promises don't apply to us.
Has anyone else seen new rates for THTC?

SnakePlissken

Cardew said:

To a lesser extent people in England and Wales suffer if they have Economy 10(E10) as there is a very limited choice of supplier.

North Scotland produces energy from wind and hydro, so why can't the people living there get a fair rate.

The electricity generated from wind and hydro goes to the National grid and the various energy distribution companies in GB strike contracts for xxMW. So why should they be forced to sell it at a subsidy.



The other way of looking at this situation is why should the international companies that generate the electricity in Scotland be forced to sell to Scottish Hydro at a lower rate than they could achieve on the open market.


If your argument was valid, then those living close to Nuclear power stations should have cheaper electricity?

SSE own and operate the majority of generation in north of Scotland.

Scotland has a seperate national grid from England so there is no UK national grid in the sense that of one big is fully connected UK grid  Rather there are interconnectors to England and NI of 3 or 4Gw and 750MW. A new interconnector is in advanced planning  stages  or may have started contstruction to add another 2gw via undersea cable between Scotland and England.

SSEN, an SSE subsidiary  also own the transmission network in north of Scotland.

Currently there is not capacity for all renewables generated in Scotland to be transferred to England and with SSE alone adding 10GW over next 10 years in offshore wind to Scotland, new interconnectors will be needed to allow any additional generation to be exported to Englands grid.

[Deleted User]

SnakePlissken said:

Scotland has a seperate national grid from England so there is no UK national grid in the sense that of one big is fully connected UK grid  Rather there are interconnectors to England and NI of 3 or 4Gw and 750MW. A new interconnector is in advanced planning  stages  or may have started contstruction to add another 2gw via undersea cable between Scotland and England.

Wrong.  There is one fully connected synchronous UK national grid, which includes Scotland.  You can't just decide that some transmission lines are suddenly 'interconnectors' and don't count as part of a grid.  If you disconnected those transmission lines, the Scottish part of the grid would be at serious risk of crashing.

SnakePlissken said:

SSE own and operate the majority of generation in north of Scotland.

Not actually sure about this one, but it seems unlikely to me.  What are you counting as "the majority of generation"?  Do you have any list of generators or did you make this up?  Also, you do know that Scottish Power (which owns several of the biggest wind farms) is Spanish?

SnakePlissken said:

SSEN, an SSE subsidiary  also own the transmission network in north of Scotland.

Yes, but National Grid operate it and it is covered by the UK Grid Code and UK balancing system.  Again, part of the UK National Grid.

SnakePlissken said:

Currently there is not capacity for all renewables generated in Scotland to be transferred to England and with SSE alone adding 10GW over next 10 years in offshore wind to Scotland, new interconnectors will be needed to allow any additional generation to be exported to Englands grid.

Currently, Scotland imports several TWh of electricity each year to cover periods when its renewables don't even cover local demand, let alone trying to send anything elsewhere in the grid.

SnakePlissken

SnakePlissken said:

Cardew said:

To a lesser extent people in England and Wales suffer if they have Economy 10(E10) as there is a very limited choice of supplier.

North Scotland produces energy from wind and hydro, so why can't the people living there get a fair rate.

The electricity generated from wind and hydro goes to the National grid and the various energy distribution companies in GB strike contracts for xxMW. So why should they be forced to sell it at a subsidy.



The other way of looking at this situation is why should the international companies that generate the electricity in Scotland be forced to sell to Scottish Hydro at a lower rate than they could achieve on the open market.


If your argument was valid, then those living close to Nuclear power stations should have cheaper electricity?

SSE own and operate the majority of generation in north of Scotland.

Scotland has a seperate national grid from England so there is no UK national grid in the sense that of one big is fully connected UK grid  Rather there are interconnectors to England and NI of 3 or 4Gw and 750MW. A new interconnector is in advanced planning  stages  or may have started contstruction to add another 2gw via undersea cable between Scotland and England.

SSEN, an SSE subsidiary  also own the transmission network in north of Scotland.

Currently there is not capacity for all renewables generated in Scotland to be transferred to England and with SSE alone adding 10GW over next 10 years in offshore wind to Scotland, new interconnectors will be needed to allow any additional generation to be exported to Englands grid.

Details of transfers over interconnecters are here and as spreadsheet shows majority of tge transfers are out of scotland not into Scotland through the interconhectors ..


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1043309/ET_5.6_DEC_21.xlsx&ved=2ahUKEwi6mOzo2pz6AhUISEEAHRsKBHwQFnoECEQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2eDHmuMCFh19CWLQBh9QqJ

[Deleted User]

And your point in quoting yourself without answering any other points is?

The transfer from Connah's Quay to Daines tends to be from West to East, the transfer from Creyke Beck to Thornton tends to be from East to West, and the transfer from Sellindge to Canterbury is sometimes from South to North.  None of this means anything useful either.  (although Sellindge is an interesting one because it's on the transfer route between Belgium and France)

SAC2334

Glass1970 said:

Hello,
Been reading this post with interest. We're in Argyll and are SSE THTC "hostages" too. We've been offered smart meters for a couple of years now but every time I calculate the costs it's _just_ cheaper to stick with what we've got (that was before the massive recent price hikes though!)
Just got my bill and I've got new rates of 62.36p standard, and 45.98p heating plus 57.45p standing charge.
This is well above what the Government promised would be the limited maximum rates suppliers could charge.
I've emailed SSE, but I doubt I'll get an answer but I'm wondering since we're on a legacy tariff (that lets face it SSE would like rid of!) then somehow the Governments promises don't apply to us.
Has anyone else seen new rates for THTC?

My friend in Aberdeenshire is also a " THTC hostage " who's current rates are acceptable but what you have been offered from Oct 1 st is absolutely horrendous..I can only suggest that there will be a deduction on these rates to bring you into line with North Scotland Eco 7 rates or something similar .
According to the billing on his SSE account you can now change supplier and there is a helpline number to Citizens advice

Can you update on here on how you get on when you speak to SSE about this. 
My friend has recieved no communication as yet about the new Oct 1 rates

Glass1970

Thanks,
Yes I let everyone know if I get any "sensible" rates. If anyone else has any prices, then please post them here!
We use around 11k heating and 2k normal domestic and that's just minimal heating on in a couple of rooms. I reduced it drastically last year. By my calculations our bill will be typically £1000 per month over winter and a if I fancied paying direct debit they would want just over £600 per month.
This can't be right and I just really hope these figures are wrong.

BUFF

You might want to ask them how those rates fit in with the Energy Price Guarantee (I hope for you that they were calculated pre that & will be recalculated)?

Glass1970

BUFF said:

You might want to ask them how those rates fit in with the Energy Price Guarantee (I hope for you that they were calculated pre that & will be recalculated)?

Yup, that's exactly what I asked them... now we wait for an answer.
It's either going to be that I can heat a few rooms... or none at all :-(
If anyone gets their rates first please do post them here and put me out of my misery!

Rosie1001

SAC2334 said:

Glass1970 said:

Hello,
Been reading this post with interest. We're in Argyll and are SSE THTC "hostages" too. We've been offered smart meters for a couple of years now but every time I calculate the costs it's _just_ cheaper to stick with what we've got (that was before the massive recent price hikes though!)
Just got my bill and I've got new rates of 62.36p standard, and 45.98p heating plus 57.45p standing charge.
This is well above what the Government promised would be the limited maximum rates suppliers could charge.
I've emailed SSE, but I doubt I'll get an answer but I'm wondering since we're on a legacy tariff (that lets face it SSE would like rid of!) then somehow the Governments promises don't apply to us.
Has anyone else seen new rates for THTC?

My friend in Aberdeenshire is also a " THTC hostage " who's current rates are acceptable but what you have been offered from Oct 1 st is absolutely horrendous..I can only suggest that there will be a deduction on these rates to bring you into line with North Scotland Eco 7 rates or something similar .
According to the billing on his SSE account you can now change supplier and there is a helpline number to Citizens advice

Can you update on here on how you get on when you speak to SSE about this. 
My friend has recieved no communication as yet about the new Oct 1 rates

Have they checked with EDF complex metering team ..they can do economy 7 and 10 set ups