Radio Teleswitch Service ending.

RainbowMan

Hi, I have been told by my energy provider (Octopus Energy) that due to the Radio Teleswitch Service ending in March 2024 that my Economy 7 meters timings may not work properly. They have advised me to have a smart meter fitted. I am aware once installed they can be problematic and  make it difficult to switch providers.
As far as I am aware this will affect all energy providers whose customers meters use the Radio Teleswitch Service.
A friend of mine has economy 7 but does not have the RTC receiver next to his electricity meter. Is it possible to just update my electric meter and not have a smart meter?

CSI_Yorkshire

RainbowMan said:

I am aware once installed they can be problematic and  make it difficult to switch providers.

Then you have been misinformed.

RainbowMan said:

Is it possible to just update my electric meter and not have a smart meter?

Very unlikely.

43722

They told me this was going to happen in March 2023. It didn't. Now they say March 2024. 

[Deleted User]

Suppliers have been directed by Ofgem to replace meters that will be impacted by the close down of the RTS. As your meters will be deemed to be end-of-life then suppliers now have the right to fit smart meters without the consumer’s approval. The meters need to be connected to the network for time updates and to allow suppliers to set times etc,

CSI_Yorkshire

43722 said:

They told me this was going to happen in March 2023. It didn't. Now they say March 2024. 

They delayed turning off the old system, at least in part because they hadn't managed to change everyone's meter yet.

[Deleted User]

CSI_Yorkshire said:

43722 said:

They told me this was going to happen in March 2023. It didn't. Now they say March 2024. 

They delayed turning off the old system, at least in part because they hadn't managed to change everyone's meter yet.

Indeed, March 2024 is 21 months away and I suspect that there are 10s of thousands of these types of meters in situ along with end-of-life standard meter replacements, and people just wanting to get smart meters. It is going to be a big challenge to get all RTS meters replaced in the time available - particularly, if people don't engage with the process.

Keep_pedalling

Just get it changed. If anything switching will be easier with a SMETS 2 meter fitted.

Bigphil1474

Err March 2024 is just 8 months away.

OP, we had a smart meter fitted earlier this year after putting it off for years. Ours works fine, and we've had no issues. I was told it is a SMETS 2 meter so shouldn't cause issues when switching although we haven't tested that yet.

[Deleted User]

Err March 2024 is just 8 months away.

Correct - it is an age thing!

Jonboy_1984

43722 said:

They told me this was going to happen in March 2023. It didn't. Now they say March 2024. 

The context to this is that the RTS signal piggybacks off a radio service that is still reliant on analogue valves that haven’t been manufactured for over 30 years. They are apparently down to the last few spares…

As smart meters are an acceptable replacement and remove an element in the energy supply chain, no one wants to repay to replace with modern transmitter technology.

jrh22542254

Bigphil1474 said:

Err March 2024 is just 8 months away.

OP, we had a smart meter fitted earlier this year after putting it off for years. Ours works fine, and we've had no issues. I was told it is a SMETS 2 meter so shouldn't cause issues when switching although we haven't tested that yet.

Have your E7 hours changed before and after installation and are you happy?