RTS switch off enquiry

cmotd

I have an RTS meter with day/night readings, I was on a dual tariff initially but switched to a single tariff many years ago although the meter was never changed. It hasn't caused a billing problem as my supplier just adds the two readings together.

I am obviously aware that the RTS Signal will be switched off soon and my supplier is pushing to fit a smart meter that I don't want. Could anybody help with the following questions please?

1) can they force me to have a smart meter or can I insist on a standard replacement?

2) What happens if I do nothing and don't allow them to change it?  I presume one reading will cease to function but will that mean I get cut off and/or how would it affect my bill?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Qyburn

Sounds like you'd be unaffected by RTS switch off. But why don't you want a smart meter and prefer to carry on paying more than you need?

debitcardmayhem

Qyburn said:

Sounds like you'd be unaffected by RTS switch off. But why don't you want a smart meter and prefer to carry on paying more than you need?

I don’t think anyone has ever answered that question with really valid reasons, A smart meter will allow you to benefit from current and future tariffs which could save you money in costs per kWh, they don’t save the amount of power you use, only you can do that.

Rodders53

The two registers will still accumulate.  Likely the switch from peak to day register will drift in time as it'll revert to an internal clock and not be controlled by the Teleswitch Radio signal clock time...

Supplier is required to press you to change.  They can force a change if your meter is out of calibration date.

Only smart meters are made and available in most domestic cases.

Smart meters:
Tin foil hats are easily made to protect against them.

My supplier bribed me to have a smart meter fitted; having missed the chance to fit one <12 months earlier when ny original meter went faulty. 
If they offered you £50 would you take one?

EssexHebridean

I'd also vote for lessening the stress around the "what might happen" and just get the meter changed - it'll simplify matters too as obviously it will then just mean you have a single reading to check against your bills. As mentioned, at some stage (and possibly before all that long now) your existing meter will reach end of life anyway and so will have to be replaced - so that will force the point in any event. A smart meter will also give you a far wider choice of tariffs, and the possibility that you could well save money. 

If you want to let us know what your concerns are about smart meters we can almost certainly respond to most of them - there is an awful lot of guff spoken around them, and lots of unpleasant people who get a kick out of fearmongering around them too whose main aim is to make people like you worried and cause you unnecessary stress! 

Spoonie_Turtle

Rodders53 said:

Smart meters:
Tin foil hats are easily made to protect against them.

Which may count as meter tampering.

cmotd

Thanks for your comments so far. I am afraid I don't understand why you think I will suffer higher tariffs without one. I am currently on a very good fixed tariff with Octopus and it would be exactly the same price if I had a smart meter. Previously I have been on fixed tariffs with EDF and EON both of which required a smart meter but I just ignored the reminders to fit one and they never penalised me.

For what it is worth the main reason I am resisting one is that this sort of stuff is never for the benefit of the consumer, just the firm's profits. I will lay you a pound to a pinch of snuff that surge pricing is on the way the minute enough mugs have smart meters. Wait till it costs you a fiver to boil a kettle at teatime!

BeerSavesMoney

cmotd said:

Thanks for your comments so far. I am afraid I don't understand why you think I will suffer higher tariffs without one. I am currently on a very good fixed tariff with Octopus and it would be exactly the same price if I had a smart meter. Previously I have been on fixed tariffs with EDF and EON both of which required a smart meter but I just ignored the reminders to fit one and they never penalised me.

For what it is worth the main reason I am resisting one is that this sort of stuff is never for the benefit of the consumer, just the firm's profits. I will lay you a pound to a pinch of snuff that surge pricing is on the way the minute enough mugs have smart meters. Wait till it costs you a fiver to boil a kettle at teatime!

If that’s the case and a tariff like Agile becomes standard then what makes you think that those who haven’t changed to a smart meters would become exempt? They could apply a higher unit cost for those without.

matt_drummer

cmotd said:

For what it is worth the main reason I am resisting one is that this sort of stuff is never for the benefit of the consumer, just the firm's profits. I will lay you a pound to a pinch of snuff that surge pricing is on the way the minute enough mugs have smart meters. Wait till it costs you a fiver to boil a kettle at teatime!

There are 32 million domestic smart meters in the UK and almost two thirds of homes have smart meters.

What is the threshold in `mugs' required to make `surge pricing' viable?

I guess we are pretty close or do we still need a few more `mugs' before it starts?

cmotd

4 million of the 32 million aren't working so a few more to go yet, apart from which the government is already considering surge pricing. LINK

If you trust the government and the energy companies not to introduce it you are braver than me.

QrizB

cmotd said:

I am afraid I don't understand why you think I will suffer higher tariffs without one. I am currently on a very good fixed tariff with Octopus and it would be exactly the same price if I had a smart meter.

Which tariff and how good is "vey good"?

Most of Octopus's better tariffs are smart tariffs and need a working smart meter before you can join.

My average price on my last bill was ~13p/kWh (althoguh this particular tariff needs an EV too). There's someone else on this forum paying around 7p/kWh, on average.

Tomato Energy are cheaper still (while they last), and they also need you to have a working smart meter.