THTC / Separate Radio Teleswitch and Meter- Can I get a smart meter?

The SSE solution was imperfect and might not have worked out long term.

I am one of the few customers who knows the actual solution being developed. You’ll just have to trust me on this - it’s far superior to the SSE one.

Agree its an industry problem but it was not dumped on OVO, they should have known about DTS when the took on the retail arm of SSE.  If they didn’t then they did not carry out due diligence.

As to THTC being a DNO problem - please correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that tariffs are controlled by the the retail supplier not the DNO. Or is it a DNO problem because of LMA’s? I, and others by the sounds of it on this topic, have been in discussion with SSEN and they say its not their problem, it is the retail supplier’s.

Thanks also for your response on the potential solution, thats most helpful.  Just to confirm, I attach photos of my metering and wiring arrangement at present. As I am responsible for the wiring from the switch disconnector beneath the meters to my distribution boards, I take it that the existing tails from the switch disconnector will remain “as is” with the proposed solution.

Thanks for sharing details of your situations, @metalsman @Infiltrator @thelearner. 

I feel your pain about a lack of timeframe and certainty for when a smart meter solution is available for your THTC multi meter set ups. 

As you have this set up, you will be part of a cohort of customers that have access to advisors with training in these meter types when contact our Support team. If and when you want an update on your options, your best best is to call from the number registered with your OVO account to get through to this special team: 0330 303 5063.

One ask is that you come back here to advise the group on the forum. That way others don’t have to call and the latest information is shared. 

Thanks Tim, my initial post on this forum was following a discussion with the support team on the number you've posted. The only feedback I had was that I could tie in the air source heat pump to the board fed from the day/night meter and benefit from some cheap overnight electric, downsides of course it's that the day rate is far more expensive and would outweigh any overnight savings. I was also told the only way to get a smart meter in a THTC property was to wait for the new solution rollout, despite me clearly telling them I wanted away from THTC to a single meter solution. It was at this point I felt OVO were being obstructive to my detriment and I posted on this forum and raised a complaint with Ofgem.

Since my original post I've now learnt that there is a solution for THTC properties being developed, but no rollout date and no-one can confirm if the new solution will allow me to move away from THTC to a single meter solution. At the very least I'm hoping my complaint to Ofgem will bring forward some communication from OVO to clarify some detail of the rollout plan, as well as providing information to consumers looking to move away from THTC to more standard supply arrangements. 

Like @Infiltrator I have been unsuccessful with, firstly SSE and subsequently, with OVO to get to a one meter solution.  Three years ago I was at the point of installing a PV arroy on my roof along with battery storage here in NE Scotland until I researched changing to a single meter. That stopped the process in its tracks.  I am aware of the continual delays to the switch off of the DTS which obviously affects the THTC tariff along with other tariffs from other suppliers. This is  an industry problem and not a solely OVO issue. I refuse to accept that the brain power in the electrical supply industry is so low that it cannot come up with an alternative as a replacement to the switch off of the DTS signal.  The signal was originally to be switched off by the BBC in 2020 I believe, and has been put back every year since - its now due to be switched off in June 2025.  I’ll believe that when I see it.

THTC was implemented as the electricity network in this area of Scotland (basically anything north of  Perth)did not have the necessary resilience or capacity in the network controlled by the DNO (SSEN).  In other words the customer had to bear the cost of the DNO not investing in their network.  That has now changed in recent years and SSEN and SP networks have invested huge sums to upgrade the high voltage distribution network but not yet the low voltage which supplies our homes.

What really annoys me is that THTC was one of the first TOU tarriffs (in 1988 I believe) as Hydro Electric (as it then was) guaranteed UP TO 12 hours of cheap heating but the actual hours you received was dependent on the weather and it was switched on and off by the supplier using the DTS signal when it suited them to enable load balancing in their area.  The cheap rate was basically half the cost per unit than the domestic supply e.g. in October 2011 the cheap rate was 7.02p, the normal rate was 15.95p and the standing charge was 31.31p.  Today (as of the April price reduction) the cheap rate is 21.65p, normal rate 28.31p and the standing charge 62.24p - do the maths, its nowhere near half the cost now for the cheap rate and has been like that for a number of years. And to rub salt into the wound, the OFGEM unit price rate cap only applies to standard tariffs not to exotic tariffs like THTC. There is no transparency on how the reductions or increases in unit rates are actually reached.

The failure of the industry has meant that a large number of people, as witnessed by some on this topic, have not been able to install renewable technologies as they would not receive the TOU benefits from such technologies as the tariff would remain as THTC.  I am aware that SSE and OVO have a single tariff for THTC users but that is set at the domestic THTC unit rate and therefore users are punished by paying a  higher unit rate than the OFGEM cap for single standard tariffs.

I am hoping that the advise from @Tim_OVO and @Blastoise186 will come true in the not too distant future and that those customers who want to install renewables will be able to go ahead and do so but, based on the history of this tortuous process, I am not holding my breath.

Just a heads up - SSE no longer exists as an energy supplier so we don’t generally reference them here anymore - SSE Plc also kinda asked OVO to remove all the references too where possible.

I’m still digging the data, but try calling 0330 303 5063 for now - there’s a new team on that line who specialise in THTC. You MUST call from a phone number linked to a THTC account to speak to them however.

Thanks also for your response on the potential solution, thats most helpful.  Just to confirm, I attach photos of my metering and wiring arrangement at present. As I am responsible for the wiring from the switch disconnector beneath the meters to my distribution boards, I take it that the existing tails from the switch disconnector will remain “as is” with the proposed solution.

 

That isolator at the meter tails is a very nice solution. That should make the installation of the new single meter a breeze for the installers. I think your main incoming fuse (grey box) will remain - probably rated at 100A. Some new houses are only being fitted with 80A supplies from what I have heard.

For my solar install - in my cupboard where consumer unit is, a new consumer unit was installed with the solar metering equipment etc, with a 4mm cable from MCB run out to my garage where my inverter and battery is located. This was naive on my part I feel, should have asked for a bigger cable as eventually we will have a car charger in garage as well which I don’t think 4mm cable will be big enough for. I should have had a bigger cable from house consumer unit to garage and had the solar control consumer unit in the garage as well. 

Just a quick update on the switch off of the RTS (or DTS in our area as the switching times are dynamic i.e. they change from day to day).  OFGEM have recently sent a letter to all electricity supply companies expressing concern at the delay in switching to smart meters for those customers on the RTS system.  The latest figures for the number of RTS meters in use  is - wait for it - 922521. Many of these are “dumb” in that the switching times do not change from day to day but it shows the extent of the issue that suppliers are having to deal with.  They have in the past however put this problem at the bottom of their “to do” list hence the regulators concern.

I attach a link to the OFGEM letter.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/open-letter-smart-meter-installations-prepayment-and-radio-teleswitch-customers

It seems that they are at last putting a bit of pressure on suppliers and not before time.

If memory serves, a huge portion of those are Economy 7 though - which are already fully supported with Smart Meters. It’d just be a case of getting those jobs done.