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awills61
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August 22, 2023
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RTS Switch off and Smart Meters

  • August 22, 2023
  • 17 replies
  • 2735 views

I’ve read all the post on here that relate to this topic but have yet to see a definitive answer as to when there will be a solution for those of us transferred from SSE. The OVE web page https://www.ovoenergy.com/can-i-get-a-smart-meter still says they are not available. Given that the switch of is next year it doesn’t leave a lot of time t0 implement a solution.

Best answer by Blastoise186

Updated on 28/03/25 by Ben_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 of June 2024 we began 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.

 

We will continue to update you on our progress.

 

 

Gotcha, thanks!

I can confirm that I’ve got good news for you. OVO plans to continue THTC support for your setup and there is progress being made on making it compatible with Smart Meters - I’ve actually seen that stuff for myself last year in the Smart Meter Lab at OVO’s HQ.

If it’s not ready in time before the final valves at Droitwich Transmission Station go bang (or the BBC pulls the plug), your meter will go to a static time switch where it’ll run off of whatever the last known switching times were and just stay on those timings until it gets swapped out.

17 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
August 22, 2023

Hi @awills61 ,

Please post photos of your meters and tell us what meter/tariff type you’re currently on. Forum volunteers like myself can either answer this directly, or reach for our resources that may provide the answer.

But the short answer is that OVO is working extremely hard on getting a solution up - and some support for upgrading RTS is already available, especially for those on Economy 7 (which is very well supported!).

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    A
    Rank 7
    awills61Author
    Rank 7
    August 22, 2023

    I’ve just been migrated and my energy plan shows as ‘Simpler Energy - THTC’ my set up is attached.

     

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super UserSolved
    Super User
    August 22, 2023

    Updated on 28/03/25 by Ben_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 of June 2024 we began 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.

     

    We will continue to update you on our progress.

     

     

    Gotcha, thanks!

    I can confirm that I’ve got good news for you. OVO plans to continue THTC support for your setup and there is progress being made on making it compatible with Smart Meters - I’ve actually seen that stuff for myself last year in the Smart Meter Lab at OVO’s HQ.

    If it’s not ready in time before the final valves at Droitwich Transmission Station go bang (or the BBC pulls the plug), your meter will go to a static time switch where it’ll run off of whatever the last known switching times were and just stay on those timings until it gets swapped out.

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    awills61Author
    Rank 7
    August 22, 2023

    Thank you. Not sure if static on or off is better. I’ve changed my storage heaters for panel heaters so they run of the 24 hr circuit and should be ok whatever the last known switching is.  For water we have a booster on the 24hr circuit which we could use if the last switch was off. 

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    August 22, 2023

    The behaviour you see now will stay the same - it just won’t be random anymore :)

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    awills61Author
    Rank 7
    August 22, 2023

    Ahh Ok. I misunderstood thought you meant it would be permanently on or permanently off. 

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    Newcomer
    ColinRG
    Newcomer
    November 22, 2023

    Hi, I’ve got THC with both storage heaters (controlled by RTS) and panel heaters (manually controlled and on a low rate 24/7) I’m thinking of replacing the storage heaters with conventional radiators like you have done. Did you need to get a meter engineer to wire in the radiators to the 24/7 low rate circuit or can an electrician do this?

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    November 22, 2023

    Hi @ColinRG ,

    If you’re doing that then I’m afraid THTC would technically no longer be suitable and you’d probably lose your eligibility for it. Either way, it’d probably cost you more than you’d save.

    Might wanna consider coming off of THTC completely if you’re getting rid of all storage heaters.

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      Emmanuelle_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      Emmanuelle_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      November 23, 2023

      Let us know what you decide @ColinRG. Your advice could be helpful to other members in a similar position. 

       

      We have a guide that you might find useful:

       

       

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      andykelp
      Rank 3
      February 26, 2024

      When I emailed OVO about the THTC situation I was more or less told I could request a smart meter right now.  Like a lot of emails form OVO the tone was such that you knew ‘John’ wasn’t really their name.  I emailed again, pointing out this page of their website:

      https://www.ovoenergy.com/can-i-get-a-smart-meter
      which says "If you have a meter in your home that relies on the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) service we can’t offer you a smart meter just yet, but we're working very hard to enable this for our customers."

      The reply seems to come from someone who knows of what they speak:

      “The information you found on our website about OVO not being able to offer a smart meter to customers with THTC meters is indeed correct. At the moment we're unable to offer smart meters that are compatible with customers who have complex meter type or a multi rate meter but we're working very hard to be able to offer this upgrade and the moment we can offer it, all customers would be contacted to inform them.

      With regards to your concern about the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), this service/signal has been confirmed by OVO to end by mid 2025 for our customers and no customer whose meter relies on RTS will be shutdown before then.

      I sincerely apologise that we're unable to offer you a smart meter at the moment for your THTC meter but we're working hard towards it and we might be able to offer this service from June this year.

      Be rest assured that the RTS wouldn't be shutdown before mid 2025 and also, the moment we can offer you a smart meter, we'll contact you.

      I'm sorry for any misunderstanding or confusion this matter might have caused and I hope I've been able to explain it better to you.”

      Show more replies
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