Question about storage heaters

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Snug Octopus (Economy 7) Problems.

UncleK

I apologise if this is the wrong place to ask this. My Dad has just switched to Octopus and he has storage heaters fitted in the 1980s and controlled by an RTS which as I'm sure you know, gets switched off in June this year.

My understanding is that his storage heaters are wired such that they only get power from the low rate metered supply and the right sort of smart meter will need to be fitted before June to cope with the storage heaters.

Assuming I've got that about right, can I ask a question? Will the new system work in a similar way - i.e. the storage heaters can ONLY be supplied with low rate power?

(My Dad would have to start on Eco 7 - I guess only later would he be able to move onto Snug Octopus.)

I ask as the thread here is raising concerns (as far as I can gather) about being charged at full rate some of the time, and I am not sure if that would apply to my Dad given how his house is wired.

Any insights would be appreciated!
(And again apologies if this is in the wrong place - just that you folks seem to know the subject.)

Cheers

Scot_39

UncleK said:

I apologise if this is the wrong place to ask this. My Dad has just switched to Octopus and he has storage heaters fitted in the 1980s and controlled by an RTS which as I'm sure you know, gets switched off in June this year.

My understanding is that his storage heaters are wired such that they only get power from the low rate metered supply and the right sort of smart meter will need to be fitted before June to cope with the storage heaters.

Assuming I've got that about right, can I ask a question? Will the new system work in a similar way - i.e. the storage heaters can ONLY be supplied with low rate power?

(My Dad would have to start on Eco 7 - I guess only later would he be able to move onto Snug Octopus.)

I ask as the thread here is raising concerns (as far as I can gather) about being charged at full rate some of the time, and I am not sure if that would apply to my Dad given how his house is wired.

Any insights would be appreciated!
(And again apologies if this is in the wrong place - just that you folks seem to know the subject.)

Cheers

RTS homes sadly come in a variety of forms for metering / switching (1 meter/1 switch, 2 meters, integrated meter/switch etc).

But many will have essentially a standard live 24/7 circuit - and a restricted circuit - time switched by the RTS - to feed likes of NSH and HW immersion tanks.  So in terms of bills thats two rates and two readings.

Most of these can be fairly easily replaced by a single modern smart meter - tpyically E7 these days (but other firms are installing E10 for some RTS legacy customers like those on THTC in NE Scotland) -  with restricted circuit control for that type of heating - and again as far as bills - two rates and two readings.

The meter restricted circuit switching for NSH - its often known by letters ALCS in the jargon - Auxiliary Load Control Switch functionality - and again even those come in two modern flavours - depending on supplier's choice - ones with on board and external contactor for the restricted feed) but as long as Octopus are aware he has the storage heaters and needs that seperate feed - they should fit the correct physical meter.

See a couple of photos posted be another forum member recently here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81357476/#Comment_81357476

The little white box in the 4 port example - does the same as a relay switch inside the 5 port meter below - both give a timed feed (the RHS brown wire from little Proteus contactor drives NSH CU / fuse box etc - just as in this example the front in this case brown wire towards RHS - would drive the NSH CU).

And once on the smart meter - and Octopus have a reliable connection to it - they can switch tariff onto Snug - if you think thats the best option.

[There are a few more complex set-ups - I had three circuits and three rates for instance - my aunt had 2 seperate heating circuits - and normal - that was a SP regional specific thing - so unless you tell us the tariff name and it's one of the them we will ignore the complication (but the energy companies cannot - they must leave a fucntioning install of some description )

In some cases like my old install - the old RTS - with sperate metering - only applied off peak charge tariff rates to the restricted circuit - with a modern E7 style config - the peak and off peak will apply to the whole house - and the retricted feed will only be active at off peak - so NSH (and HW immsersion for tank ?) for instance - will get power only off peak times and so rates in your case.]

Hopefully if it was an easy move to Octopus - he has one of the simpler set-ups .

].

If thats not clear or reassuring enough  - if you are worried - a photo of the meters / wiring (redact serial numbers) - or even his tariff name - might add clues.

PS It might be best to split this if you want more replies - I can request an OP to do so if you cannot see how to do it - the Report button should work for you as well - and they will split any answers to your point.

UncleK

Very helpful - thank you

MSE_ForumTeam5

@unclek we've split this to be a thread of its own