RTS Switch-off

HarryIb

EDF keep nagging me to replace my electricity meter with a 'smart' meter. I have an Economy 7 tariff and they tell me that the RTS switch-off will cause the meter to stop working. Looking at the meter - see photo - it appears to be of a type that doesn't use the RTS signal. One of the digital displays is a clock, so I'm thinking it's a timer-based switch between day and night tariffs. Can anyone discern from the photo whether the meter uses the RTS signal? Thanks. 

Mark_d

There is nothing on the photo to suggest it is an RTS Meter.  But why not just take upgrade to the smart meter they're offering?

Rosie1001

I spy an old northern electric sticker …. The good old days ..they were a fab company 

What do you have economy 7 for ??. Storage heaters ?? Immersion water heater ??

Scot_39

Not RTS - as has been answered for that model in past threads.

One user after months of being told otherwise actually finally got his supplier to agree.

Photo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81271489/#Comment_81271489

Report of response from Ocotopus in that case

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81298518#Comment_81298518

And looks also like manufactured 2010 - so another c 5 years certified life min.

Are you still actually on E7 - it looks from meter tails - like you arent using the 5th port for say restricted feed E7 - like old timerless NSH heating.  But many modern E7 homes only have 24/7 live from emeter and device timers.

Piccy clearly showing 5th (restricted timed supply) tail from another user - who started that thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6577928/is-my-meter-an-rts-meter

Newbie_John

I've swapped ours to a smart meter 2 years ago.
Since then I've moved to TOU tarrifs, saved £££ of pounds and learnt a lot how my house actually runs..

If your mobile provider offered you free phone upgrade, would you upgrade?

What's the hesitation here?

Scot_39

I have a smart meter - an early adopter - as switched in smets1 era.  

As my own installation was far from painless. And I know exactly how my home is wired.  And how that works my heating.  More so than the failed meter fitter visits - 2 of the 3 visits in fact.

And my meter saves me nothing in terms of supplier tariffs, my tariff bars me from these new peak demand shift to save schemes etc.

I see both the advantages and the pitfalls - but I can well understand the hesitation of others.

And the frustration of some of the 10% when it all goes wrong.

HarryIb

Thanks everyone, for the comments and advice. I'm still not convinced by the supposed benefits of smart meters. In particular, I can see in the future how time-of-day tariffs will be foisted upon us. Also, I don't like the idea that the energy provider calls the shots with a smart meter. Sooner or later it's likely that it will be compulsory for hourly data to be transmitted. One reads of many problems with the devices, so that's another reason why I'm holding off at the moment. Anyway, given that it's not an RTS meter it seems like I can continue to ignore the EDF hectoring.

I inherited the Econ-7 meter. I don't have storage heaters, but use the night rate for the dish washer, immersion heater and the like. It might be more cost effective to have a single rate tariff - I'll be looking into it shortly.

Scot-39 - spot on! The meter was installed in November 2010. Thanks for letting me know that it's got another five years.

Scot_39

Just be careful if not heating using E7 - you nead around 35-40% night rate energy use as a fraction of total on many e7 tariffs for it to be cheaper than single rate.

Hot water immersion can get you there just by itself if not a heavy user elsewhere - especially if tank does your shower.

Some folk only really looked at their split - many not using for hw or space heating - crunched the numbers and went single rate as prices climbed.

Whereas with my immersion and NSH - but not always showering off peak - I average maybe 75-80% annually and more like 90% in a cold snap.

FYI The 5246C is tabled with a 20 year certification period.  But suppliers can override. And it's technically their meter.  See current list here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66aa06d549b9c0597fdb0846/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240730.pdf

EDF will likely be under pressure on RTS - so they might even be glad of being told your meter isn't due by June.

HarryIb

Scot_39 said:

Just be careful if not heating using E7 - you nead around 35-40% night rate energy use as a fraction of total on many e7 tariffs for it to be cheaper than single rate.

Just checked and I'm actually a bit under that. I think a single rate tariff beckons, with gas instead of the immersion heater being used for hot water. Thanks.

Scot_39

Could be much better.

And use of gas dragging even more out of off peak by using gas would push % split potentially dramatically - and see your average get closer to e7 peak rate if stayed on it.

My HW/shower for 1 maybe averages 3kWh plus per day.  Its non trivial share of my annual total - maybe a third including heating in milder years -  but I run a cold house cf many in winter to avoid very  high electric bills..

Only old  non condensing boilers with high daily permanent pilot light losses would in general make me question the rational of prioritising gas.  Like my parents back boiler think fitted late 70s early 80s.  Replaced a coal fire flue / immersion for hot water tank.

But it's been years since they went combi - well before I took over their bills.

I sadly am all electric and old lossy nsh - so on e10 - more expensive than e7.


So maybe another forumite with indirect gas to cylinder hot water could comment on likely efficiency / likely true cost savings.

Qyburn

HarryIb said:

... I can see in the future how time-of-day tariffs will be foisted upon us. ..

At which point anyone without a smart meter will be on the highest rate 24/7.