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lyeuhm
Rank 1
lyeuhm
Rank 1
February 27, 2023
Solved

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

  • February 27, 2023
  • 291 replies
  • 8053 views

Hoping someone here can help because this has been an on-going battle since before OVO took over SSE and it’s gotten progressively worse recently. 

I live in a house that’s meters haven’t been checked, inspected, whatever since at least 1993.  I have two meters - one for my storage heaters and water tank, and one for standard electricity.  I’ve been trying to get this changed to either a smart meter if available OR just a standard single meter with a day or night rate. 

I have email chain(s) going on with SSE/OVO (One email chain is using @sseenergyservices.com and the other is @ovo.com hence posting here) that I seem to just be going around in circles.  I finally got through to the Electric Heating Team (EHT) about two weeks ago who changed me onto a single rate THTC tarrif, so both my standard and heating meters are at the same rate - but based on the readings that I’ve been providing, it’s still nearly 500 a month just for two storage heaters and a water tank.

Has anyone else had problems being switched to a single meter?  It’s driving me insane and I can’t change providers even if I wanted to because I’m currently bent over a barrel with an old meter system that they won’t change that no one else supports.

 

Edit: Just to add, it’s Radio Teleswitch Total Heat Total Control (THTC) to be specific.

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 16/05/25 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

 

Update on RTS shutdown:

 

As part of the RTS Project development, we are really happy to share with you our progress:

 

As you may be aware, the RTS signal that instructs some of our meters when to move to the “Off Peak Period”  will be closing down soon and we need to arrange for all of our RTS customers to have a meter exchange so they don’t lose any of their meter functionality.

 

The RTS signal will end for our customers on 30 June 2025. The period between 1 July - 30 September 2025 will then be used to close-down the RTS signal and allow us to manage any unexpected customers impacted.

 

After a very successful pilot, from the 17th June 2024 we will begin writing to our Economy 10 RTS customers to invite them to call us to arrange for their meter exchange. 

 

We are continuing to work at pace to enable the same solution for the majority of our other RTS customers and our aim is to begin writing to these customers in Aug 2024. 

 

We will continue to update you on our progress.

Hey @Noz1954,

 

I don’t know the exact figures, I’ll see if I can find out. I’d imagine a few thousand as Blastoise advised.

 

We’ve had a couple of customers on the Forum who’ve advised they have THTC set ups, would be interesting to get a conversation going. 

 

 

We’ve got an FAQ on exotic types which might have some useful information:

 

 

291 replies

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Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
June 12, 2024

You’re enjoying all this teasing, I suspect...

To be brutally honest… I actually don’t enjoy having to keep stuff secret - I genuinely want to just get it out there into the world now. Alas, NDA’s and embargos are a thing and I have to respect them.

As soon as I’m able to make it public, I plan to do so and you’ll know once it’s live when you see it. Ultimately, given that I’ve not even had a chance to sit down and write the private draft yet, there isn’t anything I can get reviewed right now. It’s probably going to take me a while to write this beast out anyway - researching this stuff is complicated.

The other way to get faster access to some of this stuff is by becoming one of the Forum Volunteers, which would allow you to learn certain things more or less at the same time I do.

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!
    C
    Newcomer
    Caro1987
    Newcomer
    June 17, 2024

    I had an email about this earlier today.

    It stated that due to the RTS signal being switched off in 2025 we needed to have a new smart meter installed.

    It also confirmed it would be set to economy 10 hours, and confirmed the hours in the email.

    I've booked in to have one installed and then went on the online chat to get it confirmed that it was 100% economy 10 hours and they confirmed it all again in the chat.

      S
      Rank 2
      SittingWhilePosting
      Rank 2
      June 17, 2024

      And you are definitely on a THTC meter?  Are you based in Northern Scotland or elsewhere?

      C
      Newcomer
      Caro1987
      Newcomer
      June 17, 2024

      And you are definitely on a THTC meter?  Are you based in Northern Scotland or elsewhere?

      Sorry I was replying about the RTS part! We just have one meter Economy 10!

      We've just had the update today to say we can finally have a smart meter with economy 10 hours. 

      Before today they said we couldn't switch due to our meter using the RTS as our boiler charges in off peak hours and for our heating etc. 

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        June 17, 2024

        Just wanna jump in here a sec! The latest info from my records that I’m allowed to post publicly is this, in case it helps:

        Flat Rate → Smart Flat Rate: Available now!

        RTS Economy 7 → Smart Economy 7: Available now!

        Local (Non-RTS) Economy 7 → Smart Economy 7 Available now!

        RTS Economy 10 → Smart Economy 10: Will be Available from July 2024

        Local (Non-RTS) Economy 10 → Smart Economy 10: Will be Available from July 2024

        THTC → Smart Meters: Not ready yet.

        Please wait for my update post for the full details of all known tariff setups - I’ll be starting to write it up this week and once it goes public, you’ll know for definite what the status of everything is at that point

        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!
          I
          Rank 6
          Infiltrator
          Rank 6
          July 1, 2024

          Just wanna jump in here a sec! The latest info from my records that I’m allowed to post publicly is this, in case it helps:

          Flat Rate → Smart Flat Rate: Available now!

          RTS Economy 7 → Smart Economy 7: Available now!

          Local (Non-RTS) Economy 7 → Smart Economy 7 Available now!

          RTS Economy 10 → Smart Economy 10: Will be Available from July 2024

          Local (Non-RTS) Economy 10 → Smart Economy 10: Will be Available from July 2024

          THTC → Smart Meters: Not ready yet.

          Please wait for my update post for the full details of all known tariff setups - I’ll be starting to write it up this week and once it goes public, you’ll know for definite what the status of everything is at that point

          Any update? I'm now being offered a slot in mid july (ZE1 postcode) to install a smart meter, currently have a 3 meter, 2 mpan storage heater setup, so looks like there's been some progress. Although I'm removing the storage heaters and moving to a single meter setup for an A2A, OVO have said I can do this when they install the smart meter, but I'm going to contact them first to make sure the engineer is aware of this plan. I have a letter from OVO saying they'll do this after my complaint to the ombudsman was upheld so let's see how it goes.

          Blastoise186
          Super User
          Blastoise186Super User
          Super User
          July 1, 2024

          Howdy!

          If you’ve been offered the upgrade, we strongly recommend you accept it.

          That’s a sign OVO has identified your account as being eligible for upgrade. :)

          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!
            C
            Rank 4
            Cassie511
            Rank 4
            July 1, 2024

            Can't quite believe this, but when I logged in to our account today there was a message offering us a smart meter... it's booked for 15th July!!  We're expecting a sharp intake of breath when the engineer looks in our hall cupboard and sees the THTC meter but fingers crossed for a positive result...... I'll update on progress on 15th.

              O
              Rank 2
              Officer_Crabtree
              Rank 2
              July 1, 2024

              Hmm… Seems like I’ll have to switch over to OVO from octopus seeing as the new meters are FINALLY happening now. Good luck Cassie!

               

              @Blastoise186 Is there any ETA on when your writeup on the news Re; THTC smart meters will be approved for publication?

              Blastoise186
              Super User
              Blastoise186Super User
              Super User
              July 1, 2024

              It’s currently under review by one or more internal teams. A powerful contact of mine is leading that review. I’ll know more soon.

              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!
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