Old meter, forcing us to stay on standard variable tariff?

Spittle1002

There are 2 X meters to here are photos of both 👍🏼

Spittle1002

They still haven't sent any 'special documentation' so I've got no idea if the first person was wrong to say we need it, or we do and its wrong that we haven't received it at all 2 months down the line 🤷‍♀️

With thanks in advance, Claire

Spittle1002

Ps tried to quote your comments to help but I haven't been a member quite long enough for it to let me post links apparently, sorry! 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

so what tariff are you on just now, have you had a bill yet?

Spittle1002

Hey,
SSE said we have to be on standard variable tariff, it's our only option, and we're unable to change off it because of the meter fitted (I'm not sure which one is the 'problem' one).
With thanks, Claire 

Gerry1

Which SSE tariff were you on?  Presumably the house had old style storage heaters or underfloor heating, and gas is not available?

Spittle1002

No idea what it was on before tariff wise as we didn't own the house, we only bought it 2 months ago when this started with SSE from. Called them to register first meter reading and organise getting off of standard variable right away and this all started that we can't because of the meter.  House had old electric storage heaters (now removed during gutting for renovations) and has zero gas mains right now.
With thanks, Claire 

Carrot007

Hi, Your setup is not that weird. Though yes it will cause the issues you say.

The older meter is just a standard meter on the standard tarrif (0393). And if it were not related to the secondary you could so on any single rate tarrif. It runs 24/7 supplying whatever the consumer unit is connected to (most things).

The newer meter is a RHT meter on SSC 0271. This is the issue. It is an old meter controleld by teleswitch (singnals on the radio that were meant to end years ago!).  The SSC name is 8 hours off peak. It's theoretical hours of operation are 23:00 though midnight and 00:30 trhough 07:30. Certainly a bit odd but the documentation on old teleswitches is often wrong.

This will control a specific ciurcuit with a seperate consumer unit. And was probably the old storage heaters. I would guess whatever idiot removed them decided not to pay the company for a logical disconnection and left this mess. It may not do anything anymore. Does the meter advance it's reading? (it is possible something else could be connected to it). The consumer unit may be labelled up so feel free to post pics of them. There as I says should be two.

Unless the RHT meter provides a useful purpose it is probably best off being removed. But if anything on your side needs connecting to the main consumer unit that is your job. This is is why they still hang around. bnecuase people do not know the costs involved in removal, including the fact the cost to get the meter removed it not cheap either.

Hopefully some of that helps you. Youi should also not change suppl9er while this meter exists and it may cause odd billing issues if a supplier takes you on (they should not), and the proper supplier is then not even obligated to take you back.

If you want any clarification feel free to PM me as I may not notice thread replies. If you do not, no trouble!

P.S. My tarrif talk is about the tarrif side from the suppliers point of view, the numbers are not meant to mean anything to you. And are not relevent to the cosumer side things called tarrifs and nothing to do with what they charge you. (Just thought I would add that bit in case of confusion).

Spittle1002

Hi, thanks for the reply, vast majority of what your saying makes sense, my only question is around what a consumer unit is, would the old storage heaters have been consumer units? 
I'm afraid we're the idiots that removed the old storage heaters as had no idea this sort of problem could arise, although we'll certainly be checking next time! 
With thanks, Claire 

MWT

Spittle1002 said:

Hi, thanks for the reply, vast majority of what your saying makes sense, my only question is around what a consumer unit is...

'Fuse box' in old fashioned terms.

If you were having the RHT meter removed then anything that it was connected to on your side, like the storage heaters, would have had to be connected to the 'fuse box' so they still had power.

If you've already removed the storage heaters (poor choice most likely) then I'd guess the only other thing you are likely to still have is an immersion heater connected to that meter.