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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
  • 8052 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

Show previous replies
Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
September 30, 2023

Hi @kmd.martin ,

This is technically an account-specific question. You need to check with the Support Team for a definitive answer.

Long story short, you’ll probably get moved to Economy 7. With that, you’ll get seven hours of Off-Peak electricity overnight, but the rest will cost more than Standard Variable outside of those times - and you’ll lose the 24/7/365 Off-Peak for anything that THTC granted it to. You may need to have an electrician do some rewiring afterwards to ensure those things keep working.

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    Noz1954
    Rank 2
    Noz1954
    Rank 2
    October 15, 2023

    Hi Been with SSE for 30 years and now migrated over to OVO last August.

    Love to know how many customers OVO / SSE have that are on Standard Electric & THTC heating (2 meters) 

    No smart meters in the house. Can’t get smart meters until OVO solves the signal problem.

    Just wanting to know how many customers are like me. 

     

     

     

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      October 15, 2023

      Based on personal knowledge… I think we’re talking a few thousand or so.

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      Noz1954
      Rank 2
      Noz1954
      Rank 2
      October 15, 2023

      I think it would be more than a few thousand. 
      I googled it and it was over 100k

       

      Emmanuelle_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      Emmanuelle_OVOSolved
      Retired Moderator
      October 16, 2023

      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:

       

       

      Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
        Jeffus
        Rank 20
        Jeffus
        Rank 20
        October 16, 2023

        The last published figure I saw which was provided by SSE was 72,000

        It has been used a few times in publications. They quote SSE as the source. 

        https://www.changeworks.org.uk/insights/supporting-consumers-on-restricted-meters-in-northern-scotland/

        Some have been replaced so be interesting to get an up to date figure. 

          Noz1954
          Rank 2
          Noz1954
          Rank 2
          October 16, 2023

          Thanks Jeffus that sounds more like it. 
           

          M
          Rank 2
          Maureen D
          Rank 2
          October 16, 2023

          That’s the set up I have and perfectly happy with my storage heaters so no intention of changing them.  Hope something gets sorted out soon to accommodate all in the same position.

          Jeffus
          Rank 20
          Jeffus
          Rank 20
          October 16, 2023

          Thanks Jeffus that sounds more like it. 
           

          It is quite an old number so be interesting to hear how low it is now. 

          Blastoise186
          Super User
          Blastoise186Super User
          Super User
          October 16, 2023

          I suspect that with the  Migration project basically 99% done and with the only major task left being cleanup and shutdown related, there probably will now be more time and resources focus on other major projects.

          I can definitely say “Smart THTC” is coming though.

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