Told have to switch from radio signal to smart meter?

Scot_39

Gerry1 said:

If you lose a two-hour gap in E7 in the middle of the night, you also lose the ability to 'double dip' by having cheap rate last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

Another good reason to wait until push comes to shove.

Haven't seen a current estimate - but last was still in the several 100,000s - rts meters still in use.

Not all will be allowed to wait until nearer the time.

As suppliers are under pressure to get them swapped out.

And whilst some like Ovo and SP are when last checked still telling customers on more complex setups (3 rare, 3 wiring zones etc)  - chances are those with simpler setups with them may be being pushed to front of their queues. 

Even BG had some strange legacy tariffs and metering - according to a post recently - implied even a 4 rate dual meter tariff.  But then my EOn bills had 4 readings and rates - even though my meters only had 3 readings between them.

matelodave

Looking at the OPs piccie, the switching time is from 23:30 to 06:30 so no 2 hour gap or any real complications except that, as others have said, the OP will probably require a 5-terminal meter or one with an auxiliary contactor to enable switching for the off-peak stuff

These things never go as smoothly as you hope and the closer you get to the wire the more chance there is to end up with problems.

TBH its probably better to get it sorted out comfortably in advance of the switch off date, just in case there are problems and the possibility of ending up on a single rate tariff if the meters can't be obtained or it goes wrong at the last minute and the signal gets shut down and the meters cant be switched.

Gerry1

That meter shows that was it was certified in 1999, so it's been life expired for 10 years ! 😱

Scot_39

Any chance you can confirm if the rts meter has 4 or 5 tails at the bottom.

The 2a in web photos has 5 - but cannot quickly find a model 2 or a manual az its old kit.

Not clear from photo.

molliekati

There is a FB page Complex Electricity Meters UK that is quite informative.  I don't have RTS anymore but would like my non signal sending Smart Meter to work and off Peak Tariff.  Initially signed up to Octopus GO.  They came up with 2mths of reading and then say they cannot get signal.  I'm in a village where nobody gets a signal so I am not sure where they pulled these readings from.  Anyway, the one thing to ask is will the Smart Meter do an off peak rate.  Otherwise, you will be like me ASHP, EVP and all other electric on Standard tariff.

Anniegran

Gerry1 said:

It doesn't need to be a smart meter to be two-rate, although many suppliers will arm twist you to agree to a smart meter.

The 'drop dead' date for the RTS signal is now December 2025.  However, it's slipped many times before and may do so again if the replacement programme misses its target.

I've also been told (by Octopus) that my Economy 7 meter needs to be changed to a smart meter because of the time signal going off next year and they will send an engineer to do it.  Eco7 suits me very well and I want to stay on it.  Problem is, I really, really don't want a smart meter in my house.  OK, I know I'm a dinosaur but is there any alternative they aren't letting on about?

QrizB

Anniegran said:

Gerry1 said:

It doesn't need to be a smart meter to be two-rate, although many suppliers will arm twist you to agree to a smart meter.

The 'drop dead' date for the RTS signal is now December 2025.  However, it's slipped many times before and may do so again if the replacement programme misses its target.

I've also been told (by Octopus) that my Economy 7 meter needs to be changed to a smart meter because of the time signal going off next year and they will send an engineer to do it.  Eco7 suits me very well and I want to stay on it.

You will be able to stay on Economy 7 with a smart meter.

Do you know what your current E7 times are? Are they a single solid block, eg. midnight to 7am?

Anniegran said:

Problem is, I really, really don't want a smart meter in my house.  OK, I know I'm a dinosaur but is there any alternative they aren't letting on about?

Not really, no.

Keep_pedalling

Anniegran said:

Gerry1 said:

It doesn't need to be a smart meter to be two-rate, although many suppliers will arm twist you to agree to a smart meter.

The 'drop dead' date for the RTS signal is now December 2025.  However, it's slipped many times before and may do so again if the replacement programme misses its target.

I've also been told (by Octopus) that my Economy 7 meter needs to be changed to a smart meter because of the time signal going off next year and they will send an engineer to do it.  Eco7 suits me very well and I want to stay on it.  Problem is, I really, really don't want a smart meter in my house.  OK, I know I'm a dinosaur but is there any alternative they aren't letting on about?

There is no alternative to a smart meter. You will still be able to stick to your current tariff but a smart meter will offer you other options including the new Snug Octopus. This is a tarrif designed for those people on traditional storage heaters and will offer you significant savings over Eco 7. 

https://octopus.energy/press/feeling-snug-octopus-energy-launches-uks-first-smart-tariff-for-traditional-storage-heaters/

Your meter is going to have to be changed in the very near future so you might as well do it now and save a bit of money.

FreeBear

Anniegran said:  Problem is, I really, really don't want a smart meter in my house.  OK, I know I'm a dinosaur but is there any alternative they aren't letting on about?

Well.... You could have the meter moved outside, but it will cost at least £1500 to do so. Still won't get away from the fact that the meter would be a SMETS2.

Rosie1001

matelodave said:

Looking at the OPs piccie, the switching time is from 23:30 to 06:30 so no 2 hour gap or any real complications except that, as others have said, the OP will probably require a 5-terminal meter or one with an auxiliary contactor to enable switching for the off-peak stuff

These things never go as smoothly as you hope and the closer you get to the wire the more chance there is to end up with problems.

TBH its probably better to get it sorted out comfortably in advance of the switch off date, just in case there are problems and the possibility of ending up on a single rate tariff if the meters can't be obtained or it goes wrong at the last minute and the signal gets shut down and the meters cant be switched.

I have the same meter , and I get 5 hours through the night and 2 hours on an afternoon … all my electric switches to off peak tariff for these times , not just storage heaters