Octopus 12M fixed - Day and Night electricity rates

dosh37

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

I gave two readings (Day & Night). As the rates were the same for each it made no diiference. I assume Octopus added the two together.

Don't make assumptions, just look at the statements.  It'll probably show the day and night kWh usage separately but charged at the same single rate.

dosh37 said:

Obviously the meter incorporates a radio teleswitch to allow it to distinguish between Day and Night. It does not have a built in realtime clock with battery backup or a user interface to set the time. There is no separate switch to automatically control appliances such as storage heaters etc.

Nope.  Some modern non-smart electronic meters DO have a built in clock preset to E7 times.  The E7 times are never user adjustable for obvious reasons.

A Radio Teleswitch is usually a bulky separate unit next to the meter and labelled as such, although there were some meters with an RTS built in.  Again, they were labelled e.g. Radio Telemeter.

Hmmm - how does that work?

How can you have a meter with a built in clock preset to E7 times with no way to set it?

What happens to the clock after a power outage? There is no battery backup.

It can only use the Radio Teleswitch signal to control it. (unless they somehow send control signals down the power line).

EssexHebridean

As long as you are using gas for heating the house and the water then that sounds like the right outcome. 

dosh37

I just went outside and checked. The meter is labelled 'Radio Teleswitch'.

Hence, when the radio signal is eventually turned off, it will (I assume) just provide a single reading.

Gerry1

dosh37 said:

I was not made aware of this when I switched.

I think Gerry1 was right - it defaulted to Economy 7 rates because I have a two-rate meter.

This tends to happen with all suppliers, the system assumes you want an E7 tariff because you hsve an E7 meter.  Ovo are unhelpful because they no longer offer the single rate option but most others will happily oblige.

Remember to keep doing the sums to make sure single rate still remains cheaper.  It may even be worthwhile to have single rate in the summer and E7 in the winter.

Gerry1

dosh37 said:

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

I gave two readings (Day & Night). As the rates were the same for each it made no diiference. I assume Octopus added the two together.

Don't make assumptions, just look at the statements.  It'll probably show the day and night kWh usage separately but charged at the same single rate.

dosh37 said:

Obviously the meter incorporates a radio teleswitch to allow it to distinguish between Day and Night. It does not have a built in realtime clock with battery backup or a user interface to set the time. There is no separate switch to automatically control appliances such as storage heaters etc.

Nope.  Some modern non-smart electronic meters DO have a built in clock preset to E7 times.  The E7 times are never user adjustable for obvious reasons.

A Radio Teleswitch is usually a bulky separate unit next to the meter and labelled as such, although there were some meters with an RTS built in.  Again, they were labelled e.g. Radio Telemeter.

Hmmm - how does that work?

How can you have a meter with a built in clock preset to E7 times with no way to set it?

What happens to the clock after a power outage? There is no battery backup.

It can only use the Radio Teleswitch signal to control it. (unless they somehow send control signals down the power line).

Wrong assumptions again !

It will be programmed with the switching times and time of day before being installed.  It will have a built in battery.  None of this is accessible by the consumer.

dosh37

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

I gave two readings (Day & Night). As the rates were the same for each it made no diiference. I assume Octopus added the two together.

Don't make assumptions, just look at the statements.  It'll probably show the day and night kWh usage separately but charged at the same single rate.

dosh37 said:

Obviously the meter incorporates a radio teleswitch to allow it to distinguish between Day and Night. It does not have a built in realtime clock with battery backup or a user interface to set the time. There is no separate switch to automatically control appliances such as storage heaters etc.

Nope.  Some modern non-smart electronic meters DO have a built in clock preset to E7 times.  The E7 times are never user adjustable for obvious reasons.

A Radio Teleswitch is usually a bulky separate unit next to the meter and labelled as such, although there were some meters with an RTS built in.  Again, they were labelled e.g. Radio Telemeter.

Hmmm - how does that work?

How can you have a meter with a built in clock preset to E7 times with no way to set it?

What happens to the clock after a power outage? There is no battery backup.

It can only use the Radio Teleswitch signal to control it. (unless they somehow send control signals down the power line).

Wrong assumptions again !

It will be programmed with the switching times and time of day before being installed.  It will have a built in battery.  None of this is accessible by the consumer.

Well all I can say is that it must use a damn good battery!

I have had the same meter for over 40 years.

During that time no one has ever opened it up to replace a battery.

If I could invent a battery that lasts that long I could make a fortune.

Gerry1

dosh37 said:

I just went outside and checked. The meter is labelled 'Radio Teleswitch'.

Hence, when the radio signal is eventually turned off, it will (I assume) just provide a single reading.

Don't assume !  It makes an a s s of u and me...😈

Without the RTS signal almost certainly everything would carry on as before, except that the clock might drift slightly and the ability to vary the precise switching times would be lost.  However, this feature is seldom used for domestic customers.

TL;DR — If Droitwitch et al had collapsed at the weekend you wouldn't even have noticed !

dosh37

Now that Octopus have adjusted the tariff, my estimated total annual cost (electricity + gas) has gone down from £1120.10 to £1016.90.

A potential saving of £103.20, so It's just as well I questioned it.

Other customers need to be aware and do the same.

Gerry1

dosh37 said:

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

Gerry1 said:

dosh37 said:

I gave two readings (Day & Night). As the rates were the same for each it made no diiference. I assume Octopus added the two together.

Don't make assumptions, just look at the statements.  It'll probably show the day and night kWh usage separately but charged at the same single rate.

dosh37 said:

Obviously the meter incorporates a radio teleswitch to allow it to distinguish between Day and Night. It does not have a built in realtime clock with battery backup or a user interface to set the time. There is no separate switch to automatically control appliances such as storage heaters etc.

Nope.  Some modern non-smart electronic meters DO have a built in clock preset to E7 times.  The E7 times are never user adjustable for obvious reasons.

A Radio Teleswitch is usually a bulky separate unit next to the meter and labelled as such, although there were some meters with an RTS built in.  Again, they were labelled e.g. Radio Telemeter.

Hmmm - how does that work?

How can you have a meter with a built in clock preset to E7 times with no way to set it?

What happens to the clock after a power outage? There is no battery backup.

It can only use the Radio Teleswitch signal to control it. (unless they somehow send control signals down the power line).

Wrong assumptions again !

It will be programmed with the switching times and time of day before being installed.  It will have a built in battery.  None of this is accessible by the consumer.

Well all I can say is that it must use a damn good battery!  I have had the same meter for over 40 years.

During that time no one has ever opened it up to replace a battery.

If I could invent a battery that lasts that long I could make a fortune.

Nope, we're talking about modern electronic meters with LCDs, not spinning discs.  Although gas smart meters have batteries that are supposed to last 15 years, even though they're used to transmit every 30 minutes.

Gerry1

https://owen-brothers.com/singlephase/iskra-three-phase-meter-mt171d-391.html

Note that the time and date can be checked by pressing the blue Scroll button.