Skip to main content
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

Show previous replies
A
Rank 3
andykelp
Rank 3
October 7, 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

Just in case I’ve missed an update to the above post, can I take it that, for THTC, “Not ready yet” can now be taken as “Available” given the number of posters saying they have appointments?  If so, are the new meters able to charge our heaters overnight without any input from us?  My storage heaters don’t have a timer control so I’m wondering what/who does the job previously done by the old RTS signal...

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
October 7, 2024

Yup! THTC → Smart is now possible, provided you’re NOT in a Load Managed Area.

If your current heaters/hot water are being controlled by your existing THTC Meter(s), then the Smart Meter that’ll replace it/them will also be able to control the same stuff too in basically the same way - it just won’t rely on a remote signal in order to do so.

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!
    T
    Newcomer
    ToSH67
    Newcomer
    October 7, 2024

    … we switched to Octopus without any issue in June - they knew all about THTC and didn’t miss a beat.

     

    That’s really interesting, so thanks for coming back to tell us. Although your advanced set-up (e.g. with solar panels) won’t apply to most of the RTS refugees, it would be very helpful if you could keep us posted on how things progress. Meanwhile, would you be so good as to tell us which region you’re in? The first two digits of your 13-digit MPAN will do. And it would also be good to know what sort of smart meter you now have - make and model. It will also be good to learn what tariff you’re eventually able to settle on.

    There are many frustrated RTS customers who will be very interested in your experience, if you’re willing to share it.  

    Hi Firedog

    We are in Peterhead where I believe THTC is quite common. You are correct that our setup is quite modern. We have Wi-Fi controlled storage heaters that can be programmed to charge during daylight hours ie when the solar is working - all via an ECO grant btw. My big frustration with OVO was that they seemed to believe that everyone wanted a smart meter based version of THTC that they don’t seem to have go sorted even yet. We never wanted that.

    We are currently getting 15p/kwh for solar export and our net consumption is very low. Still monitoring and we report further if it looks worthwhile.

    A
    Rank 3
    andykelp
    Rank 3
    October 7, 2024

    Yup! THTC → Smart is now possible, provided you’re NOT in a Load Managed Area.

     

    Thanks for that. In the link you provided, a Load Managed Area is described as “this small group in Northern Scotland”.  Does this include Caithness or is it just the Orkney and Shetland islands?

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    October 7, 2024

    All three IIRC

    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!
    A
    Rank 3
    andykelp
    Rank 3
    October 8, 2024

    All three IIRC

    Ahh.  Drat…  Thing is, I was able to get my mother an appointment but as soon as I did I remembered this DNO/Load Managed Area issue.  I’d hate for an engineer to turn up and then say ‘Sorry, we’re not ready for you yet’.

    As hard as I google, I can’t find a definite answer as to where these LMA’s are.  I wonder: could you approach one of your many contacts and find out if Caithness THTC customers are indeed in a LMA?  If so, I’ll cancel that appointment.  Thanks, Blastoise.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    October 8, 2024

    On the contrary, if you have the appointment booked, that suggests OVO thinks they can do the upgrade.

    As for LMA Maps? Sorry, data not available for national security reasons. Even I can’t access it!

    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!
      Emmanuelle_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      Emmanuelle_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      October 9, 2024

      I’d advise following this advice @andykelp 

       

      On the contrary, if you have the appointment booked, that suggests OVO thinks they can do the upgrade.

       

       

      Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
      Firedog
      Super User
      FiredogSuper User
      Super User
      October 9, 2024

      I can’t find a definite answer as to where these LMA’s are. 

       

      LMAs are a moveable feast. DNOs can decide that an area’s supply has to be managed in response to a specific situation (a high-voltage power line going down, for example). Some of them will have been more or less permanent, but it still might not be helpful to publish details of which properties are currently in an LMA when that could change tomorrow.

      I’d agree, though, that if an appointment for a meter exchange has been fixed, the checks on suitability will already have been done (although mistakes can and will happen in this endeavour as in any other).

       

      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. |
        M
        Newcomer
        Mdon2024
        Newcomer
        October 14, 2024

        We received an email form Ovo about having our electricity meter replaced (I assume this is to do with the RTS shutdown) and have booked it to be done next week. At the moment, we have 2 meters as we are on the Total Heating with Total Control (THTC) tariff. One meter is for regular electricity and the other is for heating electricity. We don’t have off-peak or on-peak electricity rates with these meters; rather we have a lower rate for the heating meter and a higher rate for the regular meter.

        I am a bit confused about what will need to be done by the engineer. Is it the case that both of the meters will have to be removed and replaced with a single meter? If so, what will happen to our tariff? I have had no notification from Ovo about the tariff changing  and we would prefer to stay on the THTC tariff anyway.

        Also, will it have to be a smart meter as I have seen so much much bad press about them lately that I would prefer to avoid them if possible.

        Show more replies
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

        OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd