THTC and RTS shutdown

Hi @ColinC ,

I’ve seen the solution that’s being developed and from my understanding, it’ll be a pretty much drop-in replacement for your current setup once it’s ready, albeit with one meter rather than two. It needs a bit more work yet though.

If the RTS Service shuts down before it’s ready, your THTC Meter will run with a static timeswitch to prevent loss of supply. The difference being that it’ll run using the last known schedule and will no longer be dynamic in when the relays get switched on and off.

Thanks Blastoise186.

The fact that the RTS might be switched off before a fix is in place still worries me more than a little. Presumably you mean that running as a static time-switch would  mean that the storeage/water  heaters would come on at set Off Peak times rather than variable as with THTC? This would obviously be on a different tariff. My added complication is that the house is a holiday home and not occupied all the time over the winter period to constantly monitor the supply.

Hopefully a solution will be found, but in the meantime a little clarity and up to date information directly from SSE/OVO would not go amiss. Anecdotally, some of my neighbours on THTC are blissfully unaware of any of this.

I have RTS meter for heating and hot water on a Total Heating Total Control tariff. My house is in the IV27 postcode area of Sutherland. I have been following the OVO Forum discussions on the RTS shutdown for a considerable time and I think I understand fully that there are technical and geographic issues involved in installing suitable replacement meters. Somewhat belatedly Ofgem now have an advertising campaign urging those affected to take urgent action with their suppliers.

All along there have been assurances from OVO that a suitable “fix” will be in place for all customers prior to the shutdown deadline on 30 June 2025. This line continues in the most recent FAQs published online, and in responses in the Forum, which state you need do nothing until contacted by OVO. At the same time you are encouraged, when contacted, to make an appointment without delay as there may be a backlog as cut off approaches. I also received an e mail on 29 November 2024 from OVO giving the same advice. It is, however, now less than 19 weeks until the shutdown and I’ve heard nothing further. I’m sure I won’t be alone. OVO themselves, in their FAQs,  say 100,000 customers are likely to be affected.  

Despite the somewhat longwinded preamble, my question is simply this - despite their reassurances, can we have confidence that OVO have sufficient resources in place ie trained technicians, to deliver on their promise to have a solution in place for all customers by the 30 June deadline and what will happen if they don’t?

Hi ​@ColinC ,

I will need to ask the Forum Moderators for help with part of the response to your question as I don’t think some of it has been totally ironed out yet. ​@Ben_OVO if you’re around could you swing by?

In the meantime, you should now be able to book if you call 0330 303 5063 and ask for Squad 70. That team is specially trained to deal with RTS Meter setups and should be able to see if slots are available.

I also know that OVO has been working like mad to get their Smart Meter Engineers trained up for RTS and IIRC pretty much all of them now have the required skills. Our very own Forum Engineer, Luke, for example is trained in doing tons of different setups. One of the local ones near me (howdy Ben!) also told me he’s had it too.

Thanks Blastoise186

I’ll give the number a try and see what they have to say. 

No worries. Sorry I couldn’t help answer the entire question - it just sounds like something that has to be absolutely nailed or it causes nightmares… And I can’t answer a question if I don’t feel confident about my answer.

Sorry about that. I’m always learning though, so I might have it for you in the future!

Hi ​@ColinC, and thanks for your post. 

Thanks ​@Blastoise186 for giving me a nudge. Just to confirm, I was recently speaking with one of the managers in ‘Squad 70’ who ​@Blastoise186 mentioned you should get in touch with. They have advised that their teams are working hard every day on researching potential problems with the RTS shutdown, and how they can be alleviated before the shut off date. I’m sorry to give a generic reply here, but all I’ve been made aware of is the fact that the relevant teams know exactly what issues are being/will be encountered and are working tirelessly on ensuring everything can be resolved before the end of June. I’m not sure if you’ve spoken to Squad 70 as per Blastoise’s advice yet - they may be better placed to give you some more concrete answers. 

Just to reassure you - a large amount of people within OVO have been working on the RTS shutdown for a long time now, we’ve got good people on this and we’ll do everything we can to ensure this all goes as smoothly as possible. When we hear of any updates or news we’ll make sure the Forum content is updated for you all. This is a huge change in the Industry and we’re doing everything we can to be prepared for it, and to give the best possible service to our RTS customers.

Hi Ben_OVO

Thanks for both responses.

I have now spoken with Squad 70. As you indicated, it very much seems as if each RTS meter replacement gives rise to unique issues for which there is no single solution, although lack of a signal appears to be at the core of it. Two years ago I wanted to upgrade to more efficient storage heaters and fit a SMART meter  but was told it wouldn’t work for this reason. The person I spoke to at Squad 70 said they couldn’t allocate any slots at present but indicated they were working through various possible solutions and I would be contacted ahead of shutdown to implement something (?) to maintain my heating supply.

I can’t help thinking that there is an analog solution to this - off peak storage heaters worked perfectly well for years before digital “improvements” came along.

So, all in all, I’m no further forward and with the clock ticking I will have to rely on OVO’s assurances that a solution will be forthcoming before the deadline. I suspect I am not alone in not holding my breath!

Unfortunately, whether analogue or digital… This stuff has a finite lifespan. And analogue stuff isn’t really used much anymore.

Regardless of the tech or what transmitters/receivers are used, it’s ultimately the same kind of radio signal - if the signal doesn’t reach you, it won’t work anyway.

The ultimate reason that RTS is being killed is because the equipment at Droitwich Transmission Station has reached End of Service Life. The glass valves that are used only last a couple of years at a time and when they blow, they blow hard by exploding. Replacements cannot be sourced anymore - they’ve not been made in over 20 years.