RTS replacement issues

giant_among_ants

Hi.

I have recently had my Radio Teleswitch and analogue meters replaced by a smets2 smart meter(Aclara SGM1416-B).

My set up was the Scottish Power comfort plus circuitry, as has been described in other threads.

In brief:

Meter 1. 24hr live circuit (at standard rate) for sockets, lights, cooker etc.

Meter 2. switched live circuits (at control rate) for night storage heaters and hot water cylinder; and 24hr live circuit (also at control rate) for all other heating – panels, convectors and hot water boost.

After the upgrade I now have only the NSHs on a switched circuit (via LCS) with the HWC on a 24hr live circuit (the boost function is still active).

I am disputing this new set up with SP on the grounds that I am in a worse position than previously, having lost the timed element of the hot water supply.

Having read many of the RTS specific threads on the forum I believe that SP should have been able to replace the RTS but leave my system with the same functionality as before.

I would very much appreciate it if any of the knowledgeable contributors on here could help with the following questions regarding my case which I hope will help with my complaint.

1. If I have misunderstood and SP have provided the best approximation to my original set up, then please let let me know and I will grudgingly accept that I will have to manually switch the HWC on and off or fit a timer somewhere in the supply.

2. If it was technically possible for the smart meter to control both restricted circuits, then how would that have been achieved?

3. Assuming it is possible for the smart meter to control the time of use for both the NSHs and HWC, what remedial work would need to be done now to achieve this?

Auxiliary question:

The smart meter shows that it is switching between an off peak rate of 14p/kwh (00:00 to 08:30) and a peak rate of 30p/kwh at all other times. I have queried this with SP and have been told that I should ignore this as I will be getting charged at the same dual rate as before – approximately 24p per standard unit and 22p per heating unit. As explained at the start this is not a time of use tariff but a dual tariff as I used to have two meters – for discrete circuits at different rates. Can a smart meter apply this type of split tariff or does it only operate on a time of use basis for the whole system?

Additional info:

The RTS actually contained two switches, presumably one for the NSHs and one for the HWC.

The smart meter has five terminals, each with a live or neutral cable connected to it.

There is plenty of space in the meter cabinet for additional equipment.

Ofgem/UK Government/UK Energy:

From reading statements, press releases etc. from these agencies I have been led to believe that it was intended that no customer should be disadvantaged by having a smart meter installed to replace their RTS. While it is clear to me that this was the spirit of the directions given to energy suppliers, I cannot now locate any direct quote that categorically states this. If anyone has a link to, or a copy of, such a statement, please post it in this thread.

Thank You.

Ildhund

giant_among_ants said:

1. If I have misunderstood and SP have provided the best approximation to my original set up, then please let let me know and I will grudgingly accept that I will have to manually switch the HWC on and off or fit a timer somewhere in the supply.

As always, the answer is 'it depends'. Many hot water tanks have two immersion heaters; the main one at the bottom on the switched circuit along with night storage heaters, the other nearer the top on a 24-hour circuit to provide a more expensive boost function. If yours only has one heating element, it will have to be on a 24-hour circuit to allow for emergency boosts. To take advantage of offpeak rates, there will have to be a timer to restrict normal operation to offpeak hours.

giant_among_ants said:

1.   

2. If it was technically possible for the smart meter to control both restricted circuits, then how would that have been achieved?

'Both circuits'? Are you referring to the feeds for water heating on the one hand and storage heaters on the other, then yes, this is a common arrangement. 

giant_among_ants said:

1.   

2.   

3. Assuming it is possible for the smart meter to control the time of use for both the NSHs and HWC, what remedial work would need to be done now to achieve this?

Probably not more than shifting some wires around in the consumer unit and perhaps upgrading a circuit breaker or two. Internal house wiring might get a bit more complicated if you need to install a timer for water heating. 

giant_among_ants said:

The smart meter shows that it is switching between an off peak rate of 14p/kwh (00:00 to 08:30) and a peak rate of 30p/kwh at all other times ... 
... I used to have two meters – for discrete circuits at different rates. Can a smart meter apply this type of split tariff or does it only operate on a time of use basis for the whole system?

Again, 'it depends'. Some suppliers are experimenting with installing 'twin-element' smart meters that are quite capable of behaving as if they were two separate meters. The experiments we've heard about have not been spectacularly successful.

If you showed us a clear close-up photo of your meter and another of the backboard or cabinet where it's mounted, we may have more concrete suggestions.
  

giant_among_ants said:

... I have been led to believe that it was intended that no customer should be disadvantaged by having a smart meter installed to replace their RTS. While it is clear to me that this was the spirit of the directions given to energy suppliers, I cannot now locate any direct quote that categorically states this. If anyone has a link to, or a copy of, such a statement, please post it in this thread.

Yes, I think you're right that this hasn't made the leap from a suggestion to a formal instruction. Ofgem haven't yet published their conclusions from their consultation on changes to the Standard Licence Conditions, but the minister responsible made reference to it in her response to a parliamentary question recently. I suppose it comes down to what is meant by 'no worse off'. 

Rodders53

Probably people will need pictures of before and after meter changes, plus the Consumer Unit(s) with circuits labelling clearly shown (again before/after if any were moved between units).

In particular the HW immersion elements (lower should be cheap night rate, upper on day when boosted).  I'd expect separate fuse / mcb /rcbo for each HW element from the original install.

NB RTS was, effectively, a time of use tariff...  with switching of the heating load(s) by that radio signal.  (In theory / original design for domestic use the timing of switching on/off was dependent on the weather forecast to push more heat into the storage systems when cold was expected vs less when it was to be warmer the next day.  How well that worked is another matter.).