SSE THTC Monopoly

pochase

As far as I am aware there are still only Octopus and EDF who might accept new customers when you call them.

Bulb I would expect being the last to accept new customers due to being in administration.

Glass1970

We tried Octopus a few years back but couldn't get anyone to actually understand the type of meter we have here, that's the problem. As far as I understand it, this tariff was created by SSE and you're pretty much stuck with them. With the DTS signals being turned off in March next year it's likely we'll be put under even more pressure to change. Someone here posted a phone number for EDF's "Complex Metering Team" that could be your best option.
Honesty I think the notion of heating your home by bits of copper wire buried in bricks is pretty much dead now. I'm awaiting to see if the Government gives us any better incentives next year to put an air-source heat pump in and we can go to a standard single rate meter and then we can change suppliers easily.

QrizB

Glass1970 said:

We tried Octopus a few years back but couldn't get anyone to actually understand the type of meter we have here, that's the problem. As far as I understand it, this tariff was created by SSE and you're pretty much stuck with them.

SSE's THTC webpage has a banner with a link to "contact our Electric Heating team now to arrange your upgrade.":
https://sse.co.uk/help/electric-heating/other-two-meter-tariffs

I hope they would respond positively to a request to replace your current THTC meters with a meter suitable for a conventional tariff.

I'm awaiting to see if the Government gives us any better incentives next year to put an air-source heat pump in and we can go to a standard single rate meter and then we can change suppliers easily.

There's currently a £5k subsidy for fitting a heat pump. Imn my opinion that subsidy is only likely to decrease, not increase, as heat pumps become more commonplace and economies of scale come into play.

Glass1970

QrizB said:

I'm awaiting to see if the Government gives us any better incentives next year to put an air-source heat pump in and we can go to a standard single rate meter and then we can change suppliers easily.

There's currently a £5k subsidy for fitting a heat pump. Imn my opinion that subsidy is only likely to decrease, not increase, as heat pumps become more commonplace and economies of scale come into play.

That's interesting. We gambled earlier this year that the incentives might actually be more. Our belief was that the Government would want more people to improve their heating rather than pay them to use an old system.
Obviously because we have storage heaters, we need a complete wet central heating system installing. Our first (and only quote) was £17k which had £10k of Government support (part grant, part loan) so meant we had to find £7k.
I *think* I read on a website just last week that the rules have changed and that, in certain circumstances, a grant to cover 100% of the cost when going from storage to air-source is available - BUT DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT! I'm still trying to find out the current position.

alid59

To add my tuppence worth, I live in North of Scotland and have the dreaded THTC. I no longer have storage or panel heaters and use air/air for heating. I still have the immersion for hot water backed up with solar thermal. I called their specialist heating team to request THTC be removed and an alternative meter to be installed only to be told quite bluntly "no we cant do that".

After pushing quite hard for their reasoning, I was told they wont fit an old style meter but only smart meters now but they don't work in my area so they will not install one, which I do partially understand. I did mention that surely a smart meter would still record energy usage but without the smart capabilities, again no real response to this question.

I will shortly be installing PV and the THTC metering systems are not at all practical for this type of install, which I pointed out and that SSE/OVO were effectively holding me to ransom, when all I am trying to do is improve my carbon footprint and reduce energy bills.

I was then offered a flat rate tariff of £0.29 and an email address of the "specialist" should I wish to proceed, I did some sums that night and there was not a lot different in my costs between THTC and this flat rate tariff but it would have made the PV install so much simpler, I have emailed a dozen or so times now to swap but as yet no response, my thoughts also were if on a flat rate tariff it would be easier to jump ship, but alas I think I am back to square one!! Not finding OVO/SSE very easy to work with inf-act quite rude at times and not helpful. Sorry for the rant!

David_in_Moray

Glass1970 said:

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.

Thanks for your concern but finally on Wednesday night I received an email from sse.com with my new post-1st October unit rates (all including VAT) :
Standing Charge (per day) 51.16p
Standard Energy (per kWh) 41.28p
Heating Control Energy (per kWh) 25.87p
those costs factored into my usage as stated previously come to £6388.55 less £400 Govn't Rebate and £300 Pensioner's Winter Fuel Allowance equates to £5688.55pa or £474.05pcm (SSE intended increasing my DD to £595pcm on 8th November).
I still have >£1000 in my account from the 8th September quarterly bill so with the heating off as long as possible I shouldn't be too far out for my next bill on 7th December (fingers crossed) good luck everyone!

David_in_Moray

Did my end of year meter readings on 1st December and sent them online to SSE (having been >£1000 in credit after last quarter's bill and stopping my proposed monthly Direct Debits of £940 Oct/Nov/Dec) and was <£11 in debit on my account!  SSE sent me two emails asking 'How are we doing'...so I told them!

EssexHebridean

Hopefully you will be able to agree a rather more realistic DD amount with them now then - although I’m guessing the last quarter hasn’t been particularly high use (although more than down in the south, where I am, undoubtedly) so do bear that in mind when discussing amounts with them. 

David_in_Moray

David_in_Moray said:

Did my end of year meter readings on 1st December and sent them online to SSE (having been >£1000 in credit after last quarter's bill and stopping my proposed monthly Direct Debits of £940 Oct/Nov/Dec) and was <£11 in debit on my account!  SSE sent me two emails asking 'How are we doing'...so I told them!

Now that the storage heaters ('Home All Day' auto-timers throughout set at 20C) have been switched on for the winter quarter since 1st December, I have updated my total energy usage and costs for December and January (VAT included) :

Standard Units    1052 @ 44.51p per kWh   £482.24
Heating Units      3651 @ 28.13p per kWh £1027.03
Standing Charge    59 @ 57.45p per day       £33.89
Total cost for 59 days                                  £1543.16  (£26.15 per day)
Projected for 90 days (next bill)                  £2353.98 
Less £400 EBSS & £500 Pensioner WFA  £1453.98   (£161.55 per week)

The figures above are just about manageable in my circumstances, but doubtless not so for many! 
Still no news from SSE/OVO on Smart Meters for the 70,000 THTC customers, nor a replacement tariff; unless someone else knows better?

ColdinIV25

Just joined the forum .....helping my mother-in-law, who lives alone in the Highlands. We transferred from SSE to OurPower in 2019; shortlived, and when they ceased trading were transferred to Utilita as supplier of last resort.  All a familiar tale, though Utilita's pricing is keener.  Recent letter for prices from 01/4/23 however has night rate prices going up x 3.5.  And are the meters for THTC being switched off?  Utilita hasn't said anything to us ......... Worst outcome would be billed at 100% on standard tariff, without us knowing.