RTS SHUTDOWN AND THTC

MWT

From the full decision:

However, we acknowledge that not all smart meters can replicate RTS arrangements
such as Weathercall or certain Total Heat Total Control systems. That is why we have
launched a further investigatory exercise to gather real-world information about
consumers’ energy usage before and after an RTS meter is replaced with a smart meter.

So the take-away there is that these points are not currently a requirement:

I’m not accepting a non‑equivalent tariff.
I’m not accepting a forced migration.
And I’m not agreeing to irreversible changes until proper protections exist.

What Ofgem have said is this:

The data collected enables us to:

• Assess the financial impact of tariff changes on RTS consumers who have
transitioned to smart meters.
• Identify any patterns of consumer detriment across different suppliers or tariff
types.
• Evaluate supplier compliance with SLC 0 (the overarching requirement to treat
customers fairly), SLC22B and SLC 22D where a tariff has been withdrawn.
This information will help us better understand what the financial impacts of
exchanging an RTS meter are across different tariff types and usage profiles. By
undertaking live analysis of real-world consumption data during the Winter 2025/2026
period before and after an RTS meter replacement, we aim to build a comprehensive
picture of how tariff changes affect domestic consumers, particularly for those
consumers who previously benefitted from legacy RTS tariffs with favourable off-peak
rates.
If our analysis identifies that certain suppliers consistently leave consumers notably
worse off following an RTS meter replacement, whether through inferior tariff offerings
or a lack of transparency, we will engage directly with those suppliers on what remedial
activity can be undertaken to ensure the effective protection of these consumers. This
may include asking those suppliers to reassess their tariff structures and improve
communications. Where such practices breach existing licence conditions, we will
consider formal regulatory action in line with our compliance and enforcement powers

So Ofgem will review outcomes and see if they think any further action is required if they find consumers are 'notably worse off', there is certainly nothing there about being 'equivalent' and also no support for resisting the change from RTS meters in the first place, quite the opposite they are heavily pressurising the suppliers to get the meters replaced.

Scot_39

I read that Ofgem document - and I am not so sure

The section on page 11 regarding the monitoring and potential sanctions sounds exactly like what the OP wants - not to be financially disadvantaged.

"If our analysis identifies that certain suppliers consistently leave consumers notably
worse off following an RTS meter replacement,"

And the not changing the SLCs at bottom of page

"The approach outlined instead will allow us to undertake targeted supplier-specific
regulatory intervention where necessary and allow us to swiftly identify and rectify and
potential instances of consumers detriment."

I sympathise with the OP - as went through the same financial detriment - when went through EOn Meter simplificaton c10 years ago - when lost my old EMEB RTS Heatwise system - driving 2 restricted feeds for hot water and NSH seperately.

As did most of my little close - as all built all electric with EMEB Heatwise and NSH - by small local builder.

Who like me had a day meter for normal circuits - and a RTS meter with 2 restricted outputs - but cannot remember how many elements that had - but no smart available first time round.

My bill forecast went up - pre crisis - c£700 to over £900 - my neighbour - far higher heat use, and in all day most days and het to higher temps - cost went up nearer £400.

My cheap heating rate became an off peak rate on E10 metering - much higher - ny day rate became an e10 peak rate - again higher - the only sacing grace - I saved a bit as that rate cheaper than old standard meter day rate during the 10 hours - applied to whole house.

The off peak times exactly matched my old - seemingly fixed RTS times.

One neighbour went beyond complaints to Eon - MP, press letters etc at time - even in end getting his solicitor involved to threaten to sue for the forecaast cost increase - no positive outcome

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033977#Comment_82033977

I read that Ofgem document - and I am not so sure

The section
on page 11 regarding the monitoring and potential sanctions sounds
exactly like what the OP wants - not to be financially disadvantaged.

There is a yawning chasm of a difference between "not being financially disadvantaged" and "notably worse off"…

… and that analysis is all post conversion away from the current metering arrangement.

The OP wants everything sorted out before he moves one step towards getting off his current meters.

Clearly Ofgem know full well, and accept, that any new tariff will not be as favourable as one that gives a separate rate 24/7/365 for heating, they merely want to check that it is not "notably worse".

There is also the hint that if none of the suppliers manage to come up with a viable solution that isn't notably worse then they may have to accept it as they want to target specific suppliers that fall outside what they are expecting to see.

We don't know what that translates to in monetary terms, but based on your neighbours experience I suspect it is a pretty wide gap that Ofgem are expecting to find acceptable.

Unfortunately there is no guarantee that a legacy tariff will last for ever, and more so when it requires special metering arrangements.

I'd love to have my Tesla Energy Plan back from 5 years ago, but that isn't happening either.

Yarrows

At least on my version of THTC, the separate rate for heating was much higher than E7's off-peak rate (and a bit higher than the E10 off-peak rate available from the same supplier) and, as with those tariffs, it was counteracted by a higher peak rate. Well over 90% of our usage was on the heating rate and it was still expensive so it wasn't that our usage pattern didn't fit the tariff, it was just that the tariff wasn't good value. Coupled with being trapped with the one supplier with no competition on a variable price-capped tariff and unable for years to get a smart meter, it certainly didn't feel very favourable to me.

When we first went to (price-capped) Smart E10 it was December and we paid somewhat less over that first winter than we had on THTC, but the downside was that we really missed the up to 12 hours heating when the weather called (hah!) for it, and the E10 timings weren't great for our heating needs especially with our older storage heaters so we were cold in the peak periods. If we'd boosted the heaters during peak periods on the coldest days it would probably have cost about the same as THTC would have.

We now have a heat pump so we're saving a lot more, but if we'd kept the storage heaters we wouldn't have been in a significantly different position than we were on THTC. In fact on E10 we had access to fixed tariffs which is an improvement.

Ildhund

@Yarrows wrote:

… the E10 timings weren't great for our heating needs especially with our older storage heaters so we were cold in the peak periods. If we'd boosted the heaters during peak periods on the coldest days it would probably have cost about the same as THTC would have.

The E10 offpeak timings skip the weekday peak period (16:00-19:00), but they do allow for supplementary direct heating at the cheaper rate for some hours before and after the peak, plus cooking, ironing and showering which would be at THTC's peak rate. That's why, I think, it is widely regarded as a good substitute for 24-hour heating.

I just checked OVO's rates for the Scottish Hydro region. THTC is currently 26.72p peak, 20.38p offpeak and heating. E10 is 25.69p peak, 18.87 offpeak. The difference may not be notable.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034089#Comment_82034089

A real world example is good to see, and the point about access to a wider range of tariffs is a good one, trying to hang onto a dupe of the THTC tariff that is not going to be available from more than one or two suppliers isn't great, opening up to tariffs from all suppliers will bring other opportunities and is one of the key benefits in getting away from the complex metering setup.

Yarrows

"I just checked OVO's rates for the Scottish Hydro region. THTC is currently 26.72p peak, 20.38p offpeak and heating. E10 is 25.69p peak, 18.87 offpeak. The difference may not be notable."

We were using 15000kWh a year on heating alone so it did mount up! :)

@MWT - agreed. The tariff made sense when it was brought in and it moved a lot of rural households away from burning fuels that were harming their health and onto electricity that could be generated by hydro at times when it was needed for heating. The market structure is completely different now.

QrizB

You're still misunderstanding, no matter how many times you repeat it and how much bold text you add.

TroubledTarts

Sometimes you just have to give up and in two years time ask how it went (silence)

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034089#Comment_82034089

Who was offering fixed tariffs on E10 - and when - and were they open to new customers or just legacy ?

The only firm - and its recent - like last Nov - who will quote me E10 as a new customer is Ovo - and their going to be merged with my current supplier (EOn Next) I guess soon enough if sale goes ahead.