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

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@Blastoise186 Thank you, that’s very interesting. The fifth terminal seems to be switching correctly (00:00-07:00 ish), but it is very unclear if those ‘offpeak hours’ have a different chargeable rate. Our bill shows no indication, and the meter only generates one reading  - how would you know if it’s charging flat rate or E7?

Blastoise186
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The off-peak rate is only charged during those hours. If you’re set up with Economy 7, you’d see a Day and Night OR Peak and Off-Peak rate on the unit rates listed on bills as well as the same for meter readings.

If you’re on Flat Rate, you MIGHT still see Day/Night meter readings, but the bills would only show a single unit rate.

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@Blastoise186 So, is that a hardware configuration issue or a billing issue? I was told that my smart meter was not fully commissioned as it would likely have unintended impact on aspects of my heating (maybe the hot water/on demand heating) in its current configuration? 

Blastoise186
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There’s an easy way to check the hardware at least. Run it through https://homebrew.n3rgy.com and let me know if there’s any warnings or errors.

Please don’t reveal personal info like your address or MPAN/MPRN

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@Blastoise186 Apologies, I am just getting 

DCC response not available<Response [400]>
Blastoise186
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AACCKK!!! That’s not meant to happen!!!

Ok, backup tool. Can’t promise it’ll work though. https://smartmetercheck.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Let’s see what that one says.

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@Blastoise186 It says “We can’t find your meter”. The engineer said that it was connected to the network but not commissioned, so that might be why.

Blastoise186
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Thanks, that helps a ton.

I think the best thing to do in that case, is use this final tool (promise!) to get a case raised to OVO’s team. https://smart-meter-help.ovoenergy.com is designed to automatically detect whether a case is needed and raise one if appropriate. It’ll gather some info and then hopefully send it off.

Let me know if that fails.

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Additionally, if you are in a Load Managed Area (ask your DNO to check!), you cannot leave THTC even with Smart Meters unless you do away with ALL Storage Heaters and Immersion Heaters. Even if you left OVO, if you’re in a LMA you’d have to stay on THTC.

 

My 88 year old father has THTC - meters still working, he has new replacement Dimplex Storage and Panel Heaters, and new consumer units for all connected to THTC, storage heaters, panel heaters, towel rail, shower and we replaced the big hot water tank with immersion with a small 15l water heater as there is no longer a bath in his flat. 

I emailed the DNO on 6th Dec 23, to see if my dad’s flat is in a load managed area, this is the reply

“Thank you for contacting Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

 Unfortunately responsibility for  THTC metering and its maintenance lays with OVO Energy. At SSEN we only remain responsible for the mains cable and fuse delivering power to the property but following the business takeover of SSE Energy by OVO Energy, we no longer have involvement with managing the metering systems. 

The national database shows that a third-party Callisto Data looks after the meters in the region on behalf of OVO Energy. This link takes you to their website Contact | Callisto and as the data collector/aggregator they may be in a better position to respond to your query. “

So we cannot find out if he is in a LMA, but I have been heartened to read that OVO are working on a solution for THTC, so people do not have to rip out expensive new storage heaters and replace them with something else - should they be in an LMA. 

When I then read that he RTS signal is definitely being switched off on 31/03/25 (if it lasts that long), I emailed OVO energy 0n 02/03/24 for an update on plans for THTC meter replacement, only go an auto acknowledgement - no reply to the email. I would have expected a company like OVO to be communicating directly with their THTC customers about this issue. 

Meanwhile - thanks for all the information posted in this forum - it has been very helpful to us. 

 

Blastoise186
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You’re welcome @thelearner , I’m glad we could help.

It appears SSEN has misunderstood/misinterpreted the question. THTC Metering is not exclusively the responsibility of OVO, because OVO is only responsible for THTC Meters that belong to its own customers. If you’re with another supplier, it’s not OVO’s problem because only the active supplier is responsible.

The fact that OVO took over SSE’s retail division does not mean SSEN can just wash its hands of the entire thing. Load Managed Area definitions are still DNO responsibility - but they never managed the metering systems per se anyway.

I’ll to-do this for this week to try and have a quiet word with SSEN about these things.

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Additionally, if you are in a Load Managed Area (ask your DNO to check!), you cannot leave THTC even with Smart Meters unless you do away with ALL Storage Heaters and Immersion Heaters. Even if you left OVO, if you’re in a LMA you’d have to stay on THTC.

 

My 88 year old father has THTC - meters still working, he has new replacement Dimplex Storage and Panel Heaters, and new consumer units for all connected to THTC, storage heaters, panel heaters, towel rail, shower and we replaced the big hot water tank with immersion with a small 15l water heater as there is no longer a bath in his flat. 

I emailed the DNO on 6th Dec 23, to see if my dad’s flat is in a load managed area, this is the reply

“Thank you for contacting Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

 Unfortunately responsibility for  THTC metering and its maintenance lays with OVO Energy. At SSEN we only remain responsible for the mains cable and fuse delivering power to the property but following the business takeover of SSE Energy by OVO Energy, we no longer have involvement with managing the metering systems. 

The national database shows that a third-party Callisto Data looks after the meters in the region on behalf of OVO Energy. This link takes you to their website Contact | Callisto and as the data collector/aggregator they may be in a better position to respond to your query. “

So we cannot find out if he is in a LMA, but I have been heartened to read that OVO are working on a solution for THTC, so people do not have to rip out expensive new storage heaters and replace them with something else - should they be in an LMA. 

When I then read that he RTS signal is definitely being switched off on 31/03/25 (if it lasts that long), I emailed OVO energy 0n 02/03/24 for an update on plans for THTC meter replacement, only go an auto acknowledgement - no reply to the email. I would have expected a company like OVO to be communicating directly with their THTC customers about this issue. 

Meanwhile - thanks for all the information posted in this forum - it has been very helpful to us. 

 

We have also tried to find out if we are in a load managed area recently. The people my husband spoke to at SSEN had no idea what he was talking about. They had never heard of the term "load managed area" so they gave him an email address to contact. The email bounced back... address didn't exist.  

Blastoise186
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I’m going to PM you shortly with some info. Please check your Inbox via https://forum.ovoenergy.com/inbox/overview

Apologies to anyone else reading this, but the info I have is sensitive and can’t be shared publicly.

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BPLightlog
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There are details of Load Managed Networks available from SPNetworks - part of their information service seminars from a few years ago 

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Not surprised that those above me can’t get an answer from SSEN. I tried back when I made my post on THTC, phone calls and emails got me nowhere. All they ever seemed to think was that I wanted to increase the load and fuze size to my property.

Firedog
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There are details of Load Managed Networks available from SPNetworks - part of their information service seminars from a few years ago 

 

That’s an interesting document, that I quickly skimmed through. What I didn’t find was a map showing the area covered by each network. How is the average consumer to know whether he’s being supplied from Dunoon or Dungeness?

I started looking around for more about this load-management business. When I got to this page, I threw in the towel. 

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
BPLightlog
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There are details of Load Managed Networks available from SPNetworks - part of their information service seminars from a few years ago 

 

That’s an interesting document, that I quickly skimmed through. What I didn’t find was a map showing the area covered by each network. How is the average consumer to know whether he’s being supplied from Dunoon or Dungeness?

I started looking around for more about this load-management business. When I got to this page, I threw in the towel. 

That’s all good stuff … but did you mean something like this?

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BPLightlog
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There are plans for generation strengthening in the LMA but it looks like there remains a need for some load management in the near term 

(Extract from SSEN strategy document - see P125/6)

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I too have at THTC meter and a standard one. So yes, there must be thousands out there with this set up. I got mine through Scottish Hydro many years ago. 

I am however in the process of solving an 'erroneous transfer' and it is taking months to solve. My OVO Resolution Specialist contacts me to keep me posted on what is happening. 

There must be flats up and down the country with old meters that were 'the best contract' at the time, but I don't know if they even honour this cheap rate THTC electricity anymore. I took mine out twenty years ago. 

For the likes of OVO, they have inherited these older systems ,  I am not sure they know what to do with them. I just hope for the best. 

Blastoise186
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There are a lot of them, yes. I’m afraid I can’t give you the exact number myself (sorry!) but the national database ECOES likely has the exact number squirreled away somewhere in one of its many reports that it can spit out.

Certainly, if you have THTC right now, while you can go ahead and switch to suppliers other than OVO… I would strongly recommend that you stay with OVO - it’s one of only two suppliers known to have THTC support with the other being Scottish Power.

I know some people in OVO who have tons of experience with this stuff - but that’s not necessarily true of any other supplier.

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Thanks for the reply. I think I am committed to getting this sorted, and the OVO team are working on it. I think all these issues with utilities, has been a huge problem 'waiting to happen'!!!

Technology has moved on but my standard meter must be thirty five years old. I suppose we all need to be updated with new kit, and have meters that are compliant with their systems. Unfortunately that is a huge task, and could take years. 

Its really an ongoing issue with household utilities in older stock housing that will need to be addressed. 

What a job that is!! 

Blastoise186
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No worries. Being me has its privileges.

THTC capable Smart Meters are something OVO is hard at work on developing. I’m one of the only customers who has ever been granted access to the Smart Meter Lab at OVO’s Bristol HQ. I’m not allowed to publicly talk about most of the stuff in there but it does have a wall (or a few!) full of Smart Meters that are constantly being tested.

I’ve also seen progress being made on THTC capable Smart Meters. Unfortunately, that too is somewhat confidential right now and I’m forbidden from letting that info go beyond the walls of the lab - but they are coming.

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Firedog
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I’m one of the only customers who has ever been granted access to the Smart Meter Lab at OVO’s Bristol HQ.

 

See if you can wangle an invite to Smart Metering Test Lab | SMS (sms-plc.com) for next time you’re in Bolton. Right up your street!

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
Blastoise186
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Hehehe, I might just do that. :P

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No worries. Being me has its privileges.

THTC capable Smart Meters are something OVO is hard at work on developing. I’m one of the only customers who has ever been granted access to the Smart Meter Lab at OVO’s Bristol HQ. I’m not allowed to publicly talk about most of the stuff in there but it does have a wall (or a few!) full of Smart Meters that are constantly being tested.

I’ve also seen progress being made on THTC capable Smart Meters. Unfortunately, that too is somewhat confidential right now and I’m forbidden from letting that info go beyond the walls of the lab - but they are coming.

Much as I love the information you place on this site, you have been stating the above for more than a year now.  Just WHEN will OVO let us know what is going to happen with all customers on THTC. 

I have been wanting to install solar PV and battery for nearly 3 years but am put off by the uncertainty of which distribution board to hook up to - the heating board or the normal 24 hour supply board.  I just need this issue of 2 meters to be solved and have just one smart meter and one distribution board (I understand changing to one distribution board will be at my cost).

Blastoise186
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OVO is working as fast as possible on this. However, OVO alone is not the only stakeholder - there’s others too who must remain involved the entire way through.

Chances are you’ll be migrated to Smart Meters within the next 12 months. However, I cannot give a more accurate estimate at this time.

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