SSE THTC Monopoly

David_in_Moray

If you haven't already, check out: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/

This has led me to recalculate my all-electric, well insulated, modest 3-bedroom detached bungalow's consumption based on the last two years projected forward from now; and is far less scary than a week ago when my Direct Debit was going to be hiked for the 5th time this year from £329 to £940pcm (I cancelled that as I still had £1017 credit in my account after my 8th September quarterly bill).

My average consumption over the past two years based on pre-1st October price cap as per last weeks bill would have been
£5545 (6512 units of Standard energy @ 32.51p pkWh and 13582 units of Heating energy at 23.89p pkWh plus daily standing charge 50.14p - all inclusive of 5%VAT) over twice the OFGEM average.
However, using the new post-1st October price cap calculator tool it should be £6,550pa (£546pcm) somewhat less than £940pcm!

We cannot get Smart meters for our subject tariff so are unable to shop around to compensate for our regional temperature norm of 5 Celsius lower than the more southerly regions of UK.

Furthermore, it appears from the OVO energy consumer Forum that the THTC meters are due to be made obsolete in March next year, which SSE has not divulged to its consumers, nor what they are going to do about replacing those meters, nor what tariffs will then be offered!

If it were not for the MSE and OVO consumer forums we would all be completely in the dark and at the mercy of unscrupulous handling of our Direct Debit mandates from probably the largest Energy Provider in the UK - please keep helping and informing as best you can MSE.

[Deleted User]

David_in_Moray said:

Furthermore, it appears from the OVO energy consumer Forum that the THTC meters are due to be made obsolete in March next year, which SSE has not divulged to its consumers, nor what they are going to do about replacing those meters, nor what tariffs will then be offered!

If it were not for the MSE and OVO consumer forums we would all be completely in the dark and at the mercy of unscrupulous handling of our Direct Debit mandates from probably the largest Energy Provider in the UK - please keep helping and informing as best you can MSE.

I can see a massive banner on the SSE THTC page saying that the meters will be obsolete soon, and there have been several posters on here complaining that they've had a letter from SSE saying their meter needs replacing because it might stop working (usually seem to be complaining because they don't want a smart meter - seems odd that you are saying "we cannot get smart meters").  But no, SSE are clearly keeping this a secret.

Glass1970

David_in_Moray said:

My average consumption over the past two years based on pre-1st October price cap as per last weeks bill would have been
£5545 (6512 units of Standard energy @ 32.51p pkWh and 13582 units of Heating energy at 23.89p pkWh plus daily standing charge 50.14p - all inclusive of 5%VAT) over twice the OFGEM average.
However, using the new post-1st October price cap calculator tool it should be £6,550pa (£546pcm) somewhat less than £940pcm!

Thanks David,
I'm not sure if any of these tariff guides are any good to us lot on "exotic meters" to quote SSE!
Your prices were the same as I was getting up to October, have SSE given you new rates yet?
I'm going to try and get them on the phone next week (wish me luck!)
If it really is a case that we are excluded from the price cap then it's going to be better for us to jump to a standard single rate meter now. We're not planning to use the storage heaters ever again and will be putting in an air-source heat pump next year so will probably struggle through this winter with hot water bottles and jumpers!
I don't fancy getting a smart meter though as I'm aware they can switch them into pre-payment mode all too easily.
I'll let you know how I get on.

QrizB

Glass1970 said:

David_in_Moray said:

My average consumption over the past two years based on pre-1st October price cap as per last weeks bill would have been £5545 (6512 units of Standard energy @ 32.51p pkWh and 13582 units of Heating energy at 23.89p pkWh plus daily standing charge 50.14p - all inclusive of 5%VAT) over twice the OFGEM average.

Thanks David,
I'm not sure if any of these tariff guides are any good to us lot on "exotic meters" to quote SSE!
Your prices were the same as I was getting up to October, have SSE given you new rates yet?

David's unit prices look to be only a smidgen higher than the current E7 rates for Northern Scotland. If you can find the forthcoming E7 rates for your region you might not be far off.

Glass1970

QrizB said:

Glass1970 said:

David_in_Moray said:

My average consumption over the past two years based on pre-1st October price cap as per last weeks bill would have been £5545 (6512 units of Standard energy @ 32.51p pkWh and 13582 units of Heating energy at 23.89p pkWh plus daily standing charge 50.14p - all inclusive of 5%VAT) over twice the OFGEM average.

Thanks David,
I'm not sure if any of these tariff guides are any good to us lot on "exotic meters" to quote SSE!
Your prices were the same as I was getting up to October, have SSE given you new rates yet?

David's unit prices look to be only a smidgen higher than the current E7 rates for Northern Scotland. If you can fond the forthcoming E7 rates for your region you might not be far off.

Nothing on the Ovo website about rates for October. I hope you're right though because if David gets my rates his bill's going to be £10,500 per year, or £880 per month.
I will have to try and get through to them on the phone and get some answers.

Glass1970

Well I tried calling them this morning.
First hurdle is finding their number. It's actually been removed from the current bills. I had to go back to an old bill to find it...

Then I called them and a recorded message says they are still working through the Governments new price cap and will be in touch soon with new rates. Oh and please hang up unless you are in dire financial crisis and about to have your electricity cut off.
Ok so I left it for the afternoon and low and behold an email pops up with new rates:
44.52p heating, 28.13p standard and 57.45p standing charge.
Slightly eye-watering but a bit better than what we had originally. I think we'll be only heating one room this year.
I'm still going to speak to them about going to a single rate meter because we're never going to be able to afford to use all the storage heaters anymore and hopefully will upgrade to an air-source heat pump next year.
Hope this help anyone.

QrizB

Glass1970 said:

Ok so I left it for the afternoon and low and behold an email pops up with new rates:
44.52p heating, 28.13p standard and 57.45p standing charge.
Slightly eye-watering but a bit better than what we had originally. I think we'll be only heating one room this year.
I'm still going to speak to them about going to a single rate meter...

I think (hope) you've got those rates back-to-front?

If you're going to switch, E7 might be a better bet. EDF's direct debit rates for North Scotland are 41.28p/kWh day, 15.58p/kWh night and 51.16p/day SC. You might even be able to afford the storage heaters.

https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/government_energy_price_guarantee_prices._standard_variable_deemed_and_welcome._credit_meters.pdf

SAC2334

yes, Qriz is correct. The heat price should always be lower than standard price  .. Must be back to front .My friend in Scotland won t turn his heat on at 44 p kwh  !

Glass1970

Oops! Yes, well spotted the figures are the wrong way round.
Not sure we'll bother with our storage heaters, they never seemed any good anyway.
I think it's time to make the jump to some new-fangled technology!

SAC2334

Does anyone know which suppliers my friend up in North Scotland can switch to who will accept the THTC and Standard meters ?. He has tried to switch in the past and it has eventually failed ?

I see Bulb have announced their Eco 7 rates at 38.59 day and 22.83 night  and 39 p dsc which is an improvement on SSE rates but not as good as EDF s. I think Bulb have said they can handle THTC meters