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
  • 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

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
February 27, 2023

Hiya!

Could you show us the meters too? It may help us with our advice. :)

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!
    lyeuhm
    Rank 1
    lyeuhmAuthor
    Rank 1
    February 27, 2023

    Hiya!

    Could you show us the meters too? It may help us with our advice. :)

    Hopefully these are good enough, it’s in a bit of an awkward area for photos!

     

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    February 27, 2023

    Perfecto!

    Give me about an hour. I’m checking my resources for this and I’ll post here again when I’m ready.

    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!
      lyeuhm
      Rank 1
      lyeuhmAuthor
      Rank 1
      February 27, 2023

      Perfecto!

      Give me about an hour. I’m checking my resources for this and I’ll post here again when I’m ready.

      Thanks buddy.  Just to say as well, the black meter rolled over to 00000 at the start of Feb, so the fact it’s already at 1069 is very worrying…😅

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      February 27, 2023

      Ok, I’m back. Sorry for the wait!

      There is good news. I met up with one of OVO’s internal smart meter experts a few months ago and we had a long discussion about this topic. I just needed to check some public resources to see if anything new was out there in the internet.

      OVO is developing a solution that’ll enable you to migrate a THTC setup to Smart Meters. That is something I can 100% confirm because I’ve seen the evidence of it myself. You’ll lose the complicated mess of wiring between several meters and go onto a single Smart Meter once the upgrade is done.

      The only snag is that it’s not ready to deploy yet as things are still being worked out. But it is officially Coming Soon! Once you’ve been upgraded, you’ll be free to stick with SSE/OVO or move away if you wish, it’d be totally up to you. I wouldn’t recommend switching supplier at this time though, just to make the migration off of your current setup easier.

      Once a solution is available, we’ll no doubt see something posted to the OVO Forum announcing it. Watch this space!

      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!
        lyeuhm
        Rank 1
        lyeuhmAuthor
        Rank 1
        February 27, 2023

        Ok, I’m back. Sorry for the wait!

        There is good news. I met up with one of OVO’s internal smart meter experts a few months ago and we had a long discussion about this topic. I just needed to check some public resources to see if anything new was out there in the internet.

        OVO is developing a solution that’ll enable you to migrate a THTC setup to Smart Meters. That is something I can 100% confirm because I’ve seen the evidence of it myself. You’ll lose the complicated mess of wiring between several meters and go onto a single Smart Meter once the upgrade is done.

        The only snag is that it’s not ready to deploy yet as things are still being worked out. But it is officially Coming Soon! Once you’ve been upgraded, you’ll be free to stick with SSE/OVO or move away if you wish, it’d be totally up to you. I wouldn’t recommend switching supplier at this time though, just to make the migration off of your current setup easier.

        Once a solution is available, we’ll no doubt see something posted to the OVO Forum announcing it. Watch this space!

         

        It is good to know that they are looking into something, but I have just realized I have failed to include something in my original post - I live on an island and unfortunately, Smart Meters aren’t supported here under any supplier. 

        Apparently it’s an issue with the signal or something along those lines, but even when I contacted SSE about being changed to a Smart Meter they told me they couldn’t do it because of the signal/it not being supported on the Island (which is how I’ve ended up still trying to get a standard non-smart meter, otherwise I’d have happily taken one :()

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        February 27, 2023

        Ahh ok. That’s an edge case I didn’t think of. Hmm…

        Leave this with me, I think I can get some expert advice to help with your scenario.

        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!
        lyeuhm
        Rank 1
        lyeuhmAuthor
        Rank 1
        February 27, 2023

        Ahh ok. That’s an edge case I didn’t think of. Hmm…

        Leave this with me, I think I can get some expert advice to help with your scenario.


        In your defense I forgot to include it!  But thank you for your help so far. 

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        February 27, 2023

        No worries. It might take some time, but I’m hopeful that a certain someone may be able to offer advice in a way that I can’t.

        In the meantime, I’ll do some background research juuuuuuuuust in case I can dig something up.

        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!
        K
        Newcomer
        kmd.martin
        Newcomer
        September 29, 2023

        I have THTC and have been changing some of my old storage heaters to Rointe electric radiators. I’ve changed 3 so far. I’m getting a smart meter fitted next week…how will this affect my electricity. Will i still have two rates? I’m totally confused with all this!! Can someone please advise in layman’s terms? 

        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