Skip to main content
Answer

I'm getting my RTS meter exchanged for a smart meter- economy 10 or economy 7, what should I choose?

  • May 1, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 409 views
R
Carbon Cutter*

I am getting a new smart meter installed in a couple of weeks to replace my old RTS meter. On the phone call I hurriedly picked economy 10 as the tariff I wanted to go on. But I have old style storage heaters which heat overnight so I think economy 7 would be better. I'm panicking my bills will shoot up on economy 10. Should I contact ovo to change to economy 7? Help please. 

Best answer by Firedog

  

So the heaters timings will change to the off peak hours automatically? 
 

This is the normal arrangement. The meter starts recording offpeak usage at the appropriate times, and simultaneously turns on power to the storage heaters (and usually to the water heater also). 

Offpeak rates are understandably a bit higher on an Economy 10 (E10) plan than on Economy 7 (E7). Older storage heaters were mostly designed to take 7 hours to charge up fully, so the extra three hours - often in the late evening - can provide extra comfort by using direct heating in living- and bedrooms. The afternoon slot can save money if it is used for power-hungry activities like cooking, hoovering, washing, drying and ironing that would otherwise be done at peak rate.

It’s going to be a compromise between cost, comfort and control. You may find that the overnight slot on E10 is enough to heat up your water tank, so there’s no need for the immersion heater to run during the day. That might involve manual intervention if there’s no separate timer for the water heaters.

Your bills will not be the same as before, but it’s not likely that they’ll ‘shoot up’. The difference between heating the house on E7 and E10 isn’t more than a couple of pounds a month for the typical customer, and there are savings of that order to be made in other consumption.    

6 replies

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Blastoise186Plan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • May 1, 2025

Hi ​@Robsean ,

Economy 10 may be better because you can then have your heaters charge up during the day as a top-up, which may be beneficial if you’re in a particularly cold area. That would mitigate a situation where the heaters don’t charge as much overnight.

I’d probably say stick with E10 for now - OVO would have advised you during the call anyway.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
R
Carbon Cutter*
  • Robsean
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • May 1, 2025

Thanks for your reply. So the heaters timings will change to the off peak hours automatically? They are old style so I can't change timings myself. On the call we never discussed age of storage heaters.

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Blastoise186Plan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • May 1, 2025

Gotcha.

In that case, there’s a 99% chance they’re being controlled by the meter, especially since you’re on RTS anyway.

In that situation, swapping the meter will cause the timings of the heaters to re-sync with the new tariff times without you doing anything.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img
  • FiredogPlan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • Answer
  • May 2, 2025

  

So the heaters timings will change to the off peak hours automatically? 
 

This is the normal arrangement. The meter starts recording offpeak usage at the appropriate times, and simultaneously turns on power to the storage heaters (and usually to the water heater also). 

Offpeak rates are understandably a bit higher on an Economy 10 (E10) plan than on Economy 7 (E7). Older storage heaters were mostly designed to take 7 hours to charge up fully, so the extra three hours - often in the late evening - can provide extra comfort by using direct heating in living- and bedrooms. The afternoon slot can save money if it is used for power-hungry activities like cooking, hoovering, washing, drying and ironing that would otherwise be done at peak rate.

It’s going to be a compromise between cost, comfort and control. You may find that the overnight slot on E10 is enough to heat up your water tank, so there’s no need for the immersion heater to run during the day. That might involve manual intervention if there’s no separate timer for the water heaters.

Your bills will not be the same as before, but it’s not likely that they’ll ‘shoot up’. The difference between heating the house on E7 and E10 isn’t more than a couple of pounds a month for the typical customer, and there are savings of that order to be made in other consumption.    

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Abby_OVO
Chris_OVO
R
Carbon Cutter*
  • Robsean
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • May 2, 2025

Thank you very much for your informative reply. That's put my mind at rest . Thank you 

Chris_OVO
Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Forum|alt.badge.img
  • Chris_OVO
  • Community Manager
  • May 2, 2025

Hey ​@Robsean, 

 

Welcome to the community! 

 

Thanks to ​@Blastoise186 & ​@Firedog for stopping by the thread and offering some advice. I’ve left a couple of threads below with more information that may be helpful to you:

 

 

 

 

Please let us know if you have further questions, and we will do our best to assist you!

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement