Can I just keep my ole RTS electricity meter long term?

rdh66

Just had an email from Ovo Energy saying the RTS signal is ending (not true - it's still going into 2025) and I might lose my heating and hot water (don't think so - it's an oil boiler controlled by a smart thermostat - Tado)

It seems to be a lot of scaremongering

They say I HAVE TO have a smart meter as 'no-one is making traditional meters'. Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? We are on a dual-price tariff right now, but I'd almost be OK with losing that for the negligible benefit it gives us.

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

Do we have any other options? I'm quite happy to lose the dual tariff and send meter readings in quarterly as we do now......

Thanks

GingerTim

Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

No, except in a vanishingly small number of instances. The energy suppliers are under major pressure to step up the smart meter rollout - when your meter comes to the end of its life, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? 

What horror stories do  you mean? Smart meters support multi rate tariffs (though British Gas seem to have problems with Economy 7).

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

This can be done, but all that means is the smart functionality is not used for billing. A 'dumb smart meter' is not a thing: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

rdh66

GingerTim said:

Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

No, except in a vanishingly small number of instances. The energy suppliers are under major pressure to step up the smart meter rollout - when your meter comes to the end of its life, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? 

What horror stories do  you mean? Smart meters support multi rate tariffs (though British Gas seem to have problems with Economy 7).

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

This can be done, but all that means is the smart functionality is not used for billing. A 'dumb smart meter' is not a thing: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

Thanks GingerTim - Do appreciate your reply - very useful. 

The 'horror stories' were things like mis-billing, being put on prepayment and really just giving the electricity company way too much access / control. Have also read stuff about not working properly, monitor not connecting to meter. Also concerned about connectivity as we live in a pretty rural area and mobile signals are poor - I understand these things use the DCC network - but that comes from mobile masts(?)

EssexHebridean

So you are currently on an E7 electricity tariff in spite of using oil for heating, is that correct? Have you done the ums to see whether in fact that is the most cost effective set-up for you?

Netexporter

Not everything you read on the internet is true.

I live in a very rural area. My smart meter works perfectly and saves me a great deal of money.

rdh66

EssexHebridean said:

So you are currently on an E7 electricity tariff in spite of using oil for heating, is that correct? Have you done the ums to see whether in fact that is the most cost effective set-up for you?

It seemed to be at the time we went on it. We're pretty OK with the level of bills we have..... Thanks

Netexporter

If you aren't using 2/3rds of your total consumption on off-peak then you'd be better off on the SVT, with it's lower standing charge.

EssexHebridean

rdh66 said:

GingerTim said:

Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

No, except in a vanishingly small number of instances. The energy suppliers are under major pressure to step up the smart meter rollout - when your meter comes to the end of its life, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? 

What horror stories do  you mean? Smart meters support multi rate tariffs (though British Gas seem to have problems with Economy 7).

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

This can be done, but all that means is the smart functionality is not used for billing. A 'dumb smart meter' is not a thing: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

Thanks GingerTim - Do appreciate your reply - very useful. 

The 'horror stories' were things like mis-billing, being put on prepayment and really just giving the electricity company way too much access / control. Have also read stuff about not working properly, monitor not connecting to meter. Also concerned about connectivity as we live in a pretty rural area and mobile signals are poor - I understand these things use the DCC network - but that comes from mobile masts(?)

If you are currently giving meter readings quarterly then a smart  meter would almost certainly  give you more accurate billing that you are getting currently.

If you pay your bills in a timely manner- which if you pay by DD you will - then there is no concern about being switched to prepayment remotely. 

The monitor not connecting to the meter is largely irrelevant, even if it came to that. It won't affect the way the meter works in the slightest.

The electricity company would have no access or control over your meter.

From a money saving option, your  best bet would be to have a smart meter installed and then make use of a smart tariff to save you money on your bills. Until that time, your next best option would be to give monthly readings and pay by DD, having checked whether your current tariff and set-up is the most economical for you - as said above, the day/night split does need to be at a certain level to avoid overpaying, and that is most commonly achieved by those using electricity for heating.

inspectorperez

Some will almost certainly say it's not best advice, but I am hanging on in there until the very last minute. In doing so, will by default probably be shooting myself in the foot, but as the property is not my main residence, I intend to source a reliable solution maybe involving smart meter after the signal has finally been switched off, or indeed before if the technology has a catastrophic failure.

MeteredOut

rdh66 said:

GingerTim said:

Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

No, except in a vanishingly small number of instances. The energy suppliers are under major pressure to step up the smart meter rollout - when your meter comes to the end of its life, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? 

What horror stories do  you mean? Smart meters support multi rate tariffs (though British Gas seem to have problems with Economy 7).

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

This can be done, but all that means is the smart functionality is not used for billing. A 'dumb smart meter' is not a thing: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

Thanks GingerTim - Do appreciate your reply - very useful. 

The 'horror stories' were things like mis-billing, being put on prepayment and really just giving the electricity company way too much access / control. Have also read stuff about not working properly, monitor not connecting to meter. Also concerned about connectivity as we live in a pretty rural area and mobile signals are poor - I understand these things use the DCC network - but that comes from mobile masts(?)

A smart meter not connecting to the in home display (IHD) or your supplier works no differently to a dumb meter - you read the meter and send the reading to your supplier.

If you don't want a smart meter, living in a rural area where it might not connect might be what you're after.

Most of the "horror stories" are due to the old SMETS1 type meters, or people getting confused over what is the smart meter and what is the IHD. There have been issues with Economy 7 tariffs, where the 2 registers get mixed up (so, eg, people are charged day rates for night time use) but once things are up and running, it should stay that way.

rdh66

MeteredOut said:

rdh66 said:

GingerTim said:

Can I insist that they fit a non-smart 'traditional' meter?

No, except in a vanishingly small number of instances. The energy suppliers are under major pressure to step up the smart meter rollout - when your meter comes to the end of its life, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

Given all the horror stories in the news about smart meters, what are my options? 

What horror stories do  you mean? Smart meters support multi rate tariffs (though British Gas seem to have problems with Economy 7).

Can I insist that any smart meter is installed in 'dumb' mode so they cannot mess with it remotely? If I ask for this, can I insist it is never set to smart mode?

This can be done, but all that means is the smart functionality is not used for billing. A 'dumb smart meter' is not a thing: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

Thanks GingerTim - Do appreciate your reply - very useful. 

The 'horror stories' were things like mis-billing, being put on prepayment and really just giving the electricity company way too much access / control. Have also read stuff about not working properly, monitor not connecting to meter. Also concerned about connectivity as we live in a pretty rural area and mobile signals are poor - I understand these things use the DCC network - but that comes from mobile masts(?)

A smart meter not connecting to the in home display (IHD) or your supplier works no differently to a dumb meter - you read the meter and send the reading to your supplier.

If you don't want a smart meter, living in a rural area where it might not connect might be what you're after.

Most of the "horror stories" are due to the old SMETS1 type meters, or people getting confused over what is the smart meter and what is the IHD. There have been issues with Economy 7 tariffs, where the 2 registers get mixed up (so, eg, people are charged day rates for night time use) but once things are up and running, it should stay that way.

So, basically the smart meter is hardwired in to the electricity supply (or via a current clamp) and that has a display which should be accurate(?)

The IHD connects to the smart meter wirelessly (via whatever protocol). If the connection does not work I will get gibberish on the IHD but that doesn't matter as I can go and look at the meter

If the smart meter doesn't connect via DCC to the supplier, I will probably get an estimated bill, but I can address this by sending them a reading (as I do now) and they will send me a correct bill to pay

Have I understood correctly?

Thanks!