Economy 7 and ending of RTS (Radio Teleswitch Service)

UncleK

My parents are under pressure from EDF to change to a smart meter. Given the end 2025 this look inevitable, but they are not looking forward to it, particularly given the difficulty in getting regular bills out of EDF in the last few years.
One thing came during a recent phone call with EDF - my father said the lady from EDF said the rate goes from night rate to full rate for two hours in the middle of the night but that's not EDF's doing that's the "local network operator" in control of that. They live in Kent so that would be SSEN - does that two hour thing sound right?

Gerry1

Yes, my E7 lower rate times are 2230 - 0030 and 0230 - 0730 GMT.

Ildhund

Yes, there are Economy 7 tariffs that include a couple of hours at peak rate during the night, balanced by more offpeak hours e.g. around midnight. The times are agreed between the DNO and the supplier, so EDF should know what they are.

Kent is in the UK Power Networks DNO region (Region ID 19, GSP group _J). SSEN is the next region West.

finaldiner

Hi,
I have an RTS meter but it's never been switched on (the night storage heaters were long gone when we moved in). Do I need to worry about what will happen in June 2025?

Scot_39

Before it likely also suppiied a Hot water tank  immersion heater.


What exactly do you mean by off ?

Gerry1

If you're not using storage heaters it's doubtful whether an Economy 7 tariff or similar will be beneficial.  Do the sums based on actual meter readings a year apart to see whether single rate would be cheaper than two-rate.  Most suppliers (but not the unhelpful Ovo) will happily bill at single rate without needing a meter change.

You don't have to worry, your supplier will soon pester you about removing the RTS unit or meter.

finaldiner

Scot_39 said:

What exactly do you mean by off ?

There's a sliding switch inside the glass of the transmitter that has always been set to 'off' and the lights have never been lit. The meter has 2 readings, of course, but I've always assumed that we just paid the higher rate for all the electricity we use (there are appliances plugged into the old night storage sockets). I just wondered if this means that I can ignore Octopus' email about having to get a smart meter because the RTS is being switched off?

QrizB

finaldiner said:

 I've always assumed that we just paid the higher rate for all the electricity we use (there are appliances plugged into the old night storage sockets).

Are you still on a dual-rate tariff like Economy 7, or a single-rate one?

finaldiner said:

I just wondered if this means that I can ignore Octopus' email about having to get a smart meter because the RTS is being switched off?

You're still going to need a replacement meter before too long. Why not get it changed now?

finaldiner

QrizB said:

finaldiner said:

 I've always assumed that we just paid the higher rate for all the electricity we use (there are appliances plugged into the old night storage sockets).

Are you still on a dual-rate tariff like Economy 7, or a single-rate one?

finaldiner said:

I just wondered if this means that I can ignore Octopus' email about having to get a smart meter because the RTS is being switched off?

You're still going to need a replacement meter before too long. Why not get it changed now?

We're on dual rate but I don't understand how that works if the RTS transmitter is off.

QrizB

finaldiner said:

QrizB said:

finaldiner said:

 I've always assumed that we just paid the higher rate for all the electricity we use (there are appliances plugged into the old night storage sockets).

Are you still on a dual-rate tariff like Economy 7, or a single-rate one?

We're on dual rate but I don't understand how that works if the RTS transmitter is off.

That indicator should only move in the middle of the night, when you're most likely asleep.

Do both registers of your meter move, or just one? Are you charged at both rates, and if so how many kWh of each do you use in a year? There's should be an Estimated Annual Consumption figure included on your bill?

If you have no (or negligible) cheap-rate electricity use, you'll save money (potentially tens or hundreds of pounds a year) by changing to a single rate tariff. Getting a smart meter might help with this.