Economy 7 and ending of RTS (Radio Teleswitch Service)

Ildhund

Gerry1 said:

Most suppliers (but not the unhelpful Ovo) will happily bill at single rate without needing a meter change.

OVO moved me from a double-rate E7 tariff to single-rate two years ago, when the increase in the offpeak price made storage heating prohibitively expensive. Why do you say they won't do this? 

finaldiner

QrizB said:

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.

Yes, we are charged at both rates. Over the last 2 years we've used 4762 units at the day rate and 1207 at the night rate (~25%). I thought that one of the coloured lights should be on the RTS at all times?

Gerry1

Ovo used to offer to bill an E7 meter at single rate (both registers charged at the single rate) but they stopped offering this in 2022.

Ildhund said:

Gerry1 said:

Most suppliers (but not the unhelpful Ovo) will happily bill at single rate without needing a meter change.

OVO moved me from a double-rate E7 tariff to single-rate two years ago, when the increase in the offpeak price made storage heating prohibitively expensive. Why do you say they won't do this? 

Ovo confirm that they won't bill a traditional two-rate E7 meter at single rate;  that's why the website won't even offer a single rate quotation.

QrizB

finaldiner said:

QrizB said:

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.

Yes, we are charged at both rates. Over the last 2 years we've used 4762 units at the day rate and 1207 at the night rate (~25%). I thought that one of the coloured lights should be on the RTS at all times?

Using 25% off-peak is far too low for a typical E7 tariff. It usually needs to be 40%+ for E7 to be cheaper. You would save money on a single rate tariff, and potentially save more money on one of Octopus's smart tariffs (these need a smart meter).

The off-peak indicator on that radio teleswitch isn't a light, it's when the white plastic lug on the mechanical flag moves from off (down) to on (up). In your photo it's off.

Ildhund

Gerry1 said:

Ovo confirm that they won't bill a traditional two-rate E7 meter at single rate;  

What do you make of this, then?

Can I switch from an Economy 7 plan to a single rate plan?

Unfortunately, we don't currently have the functionality to change smart meters from Single Rate to Economy 7, or vice versa. This is something we are looking to make possible in the future and we’ll keep you posted with any further updates here on the Forum! 

Although we're unable to physically change the functionality of meters right now. We can offer an Economy 7 to Single Rate plan! This means you’ll be paying the same rate for each register.

If this is something you’re interested in, please get in touch with our Support Team.

Everything you need to know about an Economy 7 (Eco 7) energy plan

Scot_39

QrizB said:

finaldiner said:

QrizB said:

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.

Yes, we are charged at both rates. Over the last 2 years we've used 4762 units at the day rate and 1207 at the night rate (~25%). I thought that one of the coloured lights should be on the RTS at all times?

Using 25% off-peak is far too low for a typical E7 tariff. It usually needs to be 40%+ for E7 to be cheaper. You would save money on a single rate tariff, and potentially save more money on one of Octopus's smart tariffs (these need a smart meter).

The off-peak indicator on that radio teleswitch isn't a light, it's when the white plastic lug on the mechanical flag moves from off (down) to on (up). In your photo it's off.

When Ofgem calculate the electric pc2 cap - mainly e7 these days - they assume a 42:58 ratio.

Your currently 20:80  - 20% of total - whereas need c35% -40% plus to match single rate but it varies 

Gerry1

Ildhund said:

Gerry1 said:

Ovo confirm that they won't bill a traditional two-rate E7 meter at single rate;  

What do you make of this, then?

Can I switch from an Economy 7 plan to a single rate plan?

Unfortunately, we don't currently have the functionality to change smart meters from Single Rate to Economy 7, or vice versa. This is something we are looking to make possible in the future and we’ll keep you posted with any further updates here on the Forum! 

Although we're unable to physically change the functionality of meters right now. We can offer an Economy 7 to Single Rate plan! This means you’ll be paying the same rate for each register.

If this is something you’re interested in, please get in touch with our Support Team.

Everything you need to know about an Economy 7 (Eco 7) energy plan

It means that Ovo's left hand doesn't know what Ovo's right hand is doing.

I checked by phone again today and was transferred to their Support Team.  I was told that if I joined them they couldn't offer single rate with my existing E7 non-smart meter, but that they could fit a smart meter.  I would then be able to a switch to single rate billing, but that it would start off with E7 and afterwards I could have it switched to single rate.

They certainly used to offer single rate billing: I was with them for a while before the energy crisis and they happily obliged.  Obviously they've chosen to not to do this any more, presumably to promote smart meters.

Ildhund

Gerry1 said:

It means that Ovo's left hand doesn't know what Ovo's right hand is doing.

Yeah, we see a lot of that (not just with OVO, though). I honestly don't know who to believe. I made a bit of a fuss when the forum article I quoted from was edited a few months ago, because I didn't think it was accurate. The edit was then edited, and what's left is a slightly ambiguous text which I suppose represents a compromise between what the metering people say they can do and what the billing people say they can do. I honestly can't see what the problem is, but I don't think it's anything underhand like you're suggesting. 

I avoid OVO's support like the plague.

Pixie_Cosmo

Hello, just found this thread and read with interest. I'm in the lucky position of having two E7 slots per day - 4 hours overnight and 3 in the afternoon. It works perfectly for me as I wfh, and can do washing and batch cooking etc in the afternoon.

My supplier (SP) is nagging me to get a smart meter, and with the teleswitch going off I will have to succumb.

My main concern about this has been potentially losing my split E7 times and automatically going onto a 7 hour overnight chunk. I'd struggle to afford putting my storage heaters on tbh as I just put them on for 4 hours which is usually enough.

Anyone had similar and had their times changed, or did they stay the same please? SP won't give me a definitive answer... tia :-) 

Rosie1001

Pixie_Cosmo said:

Hello, just found this thread and read with interest. I'm in the lucky position of having two E7 slots per day - 4 hours overnight and 3 in the afternoon. It works perfectly for me as I wfh, and can do washing and batch cooking etc in the afternoon.

My supplier (SP) is nagging me to get a smart meter, and with the teleswitch going off I will have to succumb.

My main concern about this has been potentially losing my split E7 times and automatically going onto a 7 hour overnight chunk. I'd struggle to afford putting my storage heaters on tbh as I just put them on for 4 hours which is usually enough.

Anyone had similar and had their times changed, or did they stay the same please? SP won't give me a definitive answer... tia :-) 

I’m similar to you , I get 5 hours over night , 2 hours in the afternoon