RTS Switch off - E.ON Next doesn't have a solution to replace my 'multi 9' RTS meter

Scot_39

No.  Others have had problems with non standard installs.  (Edit to clarify.  Thanks Reed)

Even 10 yrs ago it took 3 meter visits to replace my old RTS meters - but there were genuine complications - my RTS was a 2 rate meter and 2 switched outputs - had a remote wired boost facility etc etc -  compared to more standard rts set-ups - and I suspect yours might be less complex than I was worried about.

So have you got a seperate RTS switch / time box - something like in pic linked above.

But others look a little different

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/replace-your-old-rts-meter-as-soon-as-possible/

One with a similar meter to yours

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80532178/#Comment_80532178

Should be connected to your meter and driving a seperate meter tail to your flat for the fuse box / consumer unit driving the HW and NSH ?

Scot_39

sweetape said:

The first engineer claimed the landlord would need to change the wiring before they could install smart meters. The next one, said it would involve switching off the electricity for the whole building and there were health and safety issues with all the wiring there.  We have wiring for the broadband in the same place. 

Ok thats getting beyond simple metering - have you raised the subject with your personal landlord or building management company if your the leaseholder yourself and not renting ?

The meter fitters are only responsible for the meter - and some - space permitted will hook up to older wiring - but that can cause conflicts with wiring if current ratings / protections need work.

It also sounds like your meter doesn't have it's own isolation fuse - given the comment about switching off whole supply.

The switch right next to the meter struck me as a bit curious too.

(Photo looks like it's been deleted by the way - not sure what the post or time limit threshold is )

The normal situation is you have own incoming fuse - meter / switch in your case - feeding own consumer unit that normally in own flat not communal.

As again here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80532178/#Comment_80532178

Note that is a communal and cramped width wise looking install - but can just see that their is a more modern digital meter - to the RHS of the old dual rate analogue.  

But in that one photo - theirs 3 responsible groupings - in simple terms 

so incoming fuse at bottom of three units - normally DNO

fuse and meter backboard - landlord / owner cost - but needs DNO to do work due to fuse presence

But some larger flat blocks have own interim local distribution systems as well - again you would have to talk to landlord / freeholder - which might also be part of the issue with the comment regarding have to switch off block ?

meter - RTS switch above - your supplier.

consumer unit (not shown), consumer unit tails and potentially isolation / protection if long run - now a requirement in modern installs - the owner / leaseholder / landlord

How many units in your building / meters in the same cabinet etc etc 

sweetape

We are tenants with a Housing Association landlord.  The question to me is why have E.ON sat on this for so long.  Engineers haven't just come out to my flat, they've also wasted time visiting other flats in my building and the neighbouring building.

Scot_39

I suspect EOn fitters have advised you and maybe even other tennants - so then they expect you to at least pass comments onto responsible persons to organise other work they have deemed necessary.

As a tennant that work not your direct responsibility and not your cost.  But the HAs.

Have you spoken to any other tennants in similar situation.  Have they reported issue to HA ?

As I said above EOn only have limited scope inside the actual meter cabinet.

Owners - and sometimes DNO needed, if a non direct local lv supply distribution, again possibly their distribution provider, sometime own appointed electricians responsible for other work supply side of metering or meter and isolators if eon fit them between meter connections and say cu tails. 

Re the safety comment - what used to be acceptable and what would be needed in a brand new installation can be different,  and meter fitters might take older standards as being less safe - but that again an issue for them and HA. 
If seriously unsafe I'd expect them to tag it.  I've also known meter fitters report incoming issues direct to DNO etc in past.  THE dno turned up same day on one occassion.

The HA might then need to speak to the EOn meter teams to get technical feedback if EOn havent been in contact - but it may be obvious why meter work not completed on inspection.

It's not your job to understand the technicalities. 

Their is now talk of 30th June being a from date - rather than a final cut off for all.  Of a phased switch off - but I've only looked for and seen S Power customers confirming some appointments made after June are still within that extended window schedule so far.  As had relatives still with RTS until recently.

So Id talk to your HA urgently about the issue in case you are still on the 30th timing if not already done so.  Ring maybe asking for a progress update.  Reporting two failed metres visits and your memory of reasons given as above if EOn havent already done so.

Give them EOns number or their meter contractor number if have one. 

sweetape

E.ON need to officially tell us what the problem is and how they want to proceed.  If they need the landlords involvement, then they need to say that.  But at the moment I am in limbo and not for the first time with them.  They said in the email, 'Having reviewed your account, your current meter setup is identified as a 'multi 9' meter type. Unfortunately, we do not currently have a direct solution for these specific meter types, and investigations are ongoing.'

QrizB

Are/were there photos in this thread? I'm not seeing any. Wondering if it's my config or if they've been removed?

Ildhund

I don't pretend to understand the ins and outs of electrical installations, but I get the impression that there are many RTS-controlled systems where the metering bits (e.g. a backboard and the equipment mounted on it) are not in the same place as the RTS unit and other domestic stuff, like fuse boxes, CUs and sometimes contactors. I recently heard of one where the meter is in an external box on the west wall while the RTS unit is high up on the inside of the east wall. If the RTS is supposed both to turn offpeak loads on and off and to switch between peak/offpeak registers on the meter, then replacing the system with a single smart meter is in cases like this going to involve rerouting in-house wiring. Meter engineers are trained to remove and replace meters; they aren't all trained electricians, and it's not their job to work on wiring beyond the meter tails. I suppose an engineer faced with this sort of situation could disconnect and remove the old meter and RTS unit, but terminate their cables in Henley blocks ready for the house electrician to sort out later on the same day. Good luck to the householder faced with having to orchestrate that.

In any case, though, it's not the supplier's fault that situations like this arise. There is really no-one to blame, just like you can't blame Bush or the Beeb because you can no longer watch the Test cricket for free on your old TV. 

sweetape

QrizB said:

Are/were there photos in this thread? I'm not seeing any. Wondering if it's my config or if they've been removed?

I removed them

mmmmikey

sweetape said:

E.ON need to officially tell us what the problem is and how they want to proceed.  If they need the landlords involvement, then they need to say that.  But at the moment I am in limbo and not for the first time with them.  They said in the email, 'Having reviewed your account, your current meter setup is identified as a 'multi 9' meter type. Unfortunately, we do not currently have a direct solution for these specific meter types, and investigations are ongoing.'

Although it would be helpful if E.ON did what you're asking, this is almost certainly something that you are going to need to refer to your HA/landlord at some stage and you don't need anything more from E.ON to do that. This is something that your HA needs to be actively involved in sorting out, and if they haven't been advised you cannot blame them for any increased bills or other issues this might cause you when the RTS signal is switched off.  So @Scot_39 advice above is good and it's in your best interests to follow it and get on to your HA straight away. Once you've done that, you need to chase them, rather than E.ON, for a resolution to this.

As @Scot_39 says you shouldn't need to understand how all this fits together and who's responsible for what, but you seem to be in the unfortunate position of thinking this is all down to E.ON to sort out and that really isn't the case.

sweetape

this is what the area looks like, apparently the white meters are digital meters that don't rely on RTS?  Mine's the black one at the top? There are another two like mine out of shot, one is the communal RTS meter, the other is another flat.  So they can be replaced just not to smart meters.  An E.ON engineer did take photos in February.