Electricity meter radio frequency being switched off
Discussion
My electricity supplier has been regularly trying to get me to change to a smart meter, but I don't want one. I don't believe they have a clue what meter I have and have just sent a blanket email round to anyone not already on a smart meter to try to comply with the Governments Smart Metering Implementation Programme https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7...
This is the latest email:
"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter as soon as possible to make sure it continues to work. Your current meter switches rates using a radio signal, helping your meter change between day and night rates. This is often used by people who have electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – as some of these typically charge up overnight".
Apparently it is to do with if your meter has a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter, there are a couple of examples in this link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/...
Is there any way to tell if mine needs changing as it looks nothing like the examples, if I ask my supplier they will just say yes regardless.
This is the latest email:
"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter as soon as possible to make sure it continues to work. Your current meter switches rates using a radio signal, helping your meter change between day and night rates. This is often used by people who have electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – as some of these typically charge up overnight".
Apparently it is to do with if your meter has a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter, there are a couple of examples in this link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/...
Is there any way to tell if mine needs changing as it looks nothing like the examples, if I ask my supplier they will just say yes regardless.
Rough101 said:
Having one usually means you have two meters.
Or a multi-rate meter, which is what the one in the photo is.To the OP: your photo cuts out the most useful telltale and that being what cables you've got coming out of the bottom! If there are only four cables (two in, two out) then you won't have separate circuits for night-only use (e.g. for storage heaters) and so taking advantage of the cheap(er) overnight rates would be down to user behaviour. If you don't have anything of note that requires large overnight power usage then you can safely just let the radio network die off and leave you on a constant day rate. You might want to switch tariffs though as chances are your day rate at present will be slightly higher than what's available on a single tariff.
tux850 said:
To the OP: your photo cuts out the most useful telltale and that being what cables you've got coming out of the bottom! If there are only four cables (two in, two out) then you won't have separate circuits for night-only use (e.g. for storage heaters) and so taking advantage of the cheap(er) overnight rates would be down to user behaviour. If you don't have anything of note that requires large overnight power usage then you can safely just let the radio network die off and leave you on a constant day rate. You might want to switch tariffs though as chances are your day rate at present will be slightly higher than what's available on a single tariff.
Thanks what's what I suspected, I don't need to change the meter but they want to fit a smart meter.. Two red and two black
Edited by Cotty on Monday 14th October 12:04
I looked it up and it uses an internal clock.
Your energy provider probably does t know what you have fitted, if you haven’t got storage heating you shouldn’t really be on a day and night E7 tariff.
I’d just get the upgrade, saves you reading it and you are already on a time dependent tariff.
Your energy provider probably does t know what you have fitted, if you haven’t got storage heating you shouldn’t really be on a day and night E7 tariff.
I’d just get the upgrade, saves you reading it and you are already on a time dependent tariff.
I too get frequent letters and texts about changing my RTS meter to a smart meter and" dire warnings " that if I don't my CH and Water won't work !
I have pointed out a couple of times on their live chat until I got bored that I don't in fact have such a meter and have lived in our house for about 20 years.
I do have both a day and night tariff ( which are identical ) and have always been.
I give them both readings monthly and pay when they send the bill -they seem more than happy with this arrangement.
I have pointed out a couple of times on their live chat until I got bored that I don't in fact have such a meter and have lived in our house for about 20 years.
I do have both a day and night tariff ( which are identical ) and have always been.
I give them both readings monthly and pay when they send the bill -they seem more than happy with this arrangement.
It's an Ampy 5224e, which pre-dates the introduction of smart meters. So I think it's a plain old dual-meter meter.
I've moved ours to smart meters, so much easier, and gives some interesting options for different tariffs, even living in the sticks. No complaints here, should have done it sooner.
I've moved ours to smart meters, so much easier, and gives some interesting options for different tariffs, even living in the sticks. No complaints here, should have done it sooner.
Cotty said:
pacenotes said:
Why would't you like to get a new meter?
I don't wish to go into the reasons on this thread.Looks like there is no good reason for you to be on a night rate tariff at the moment.
Personally,I'd quite like a smart meter so I could get better tairffs, but I'm pretty sure if they install one here, it won't work.
I don't want the grief many people seem to be getting with smart meter failures, so I'll just bimble along on a single rate tariff for now.
If you're in a strong reception area for the smart meter signals, there are really not many good reasons for not having a smart meter.
OutInTheShed said:
Basically if you don't want a smart meter, then you shortly won't be able to have a multi-rate tariff.
Looks like there is no good reason for you to be on a night rate tariff at the moment.
Personally,I'd quite like a smart meter so I could get better tairffs, but I'm pretty sure if they install one here, it won't work.
I don't want the grief many people seem to be getting with smart meter failures, so I'll just bimble along on a single rate tariff for now.
If you're in a strong reception area for the smart meter signals, there are really not many good reasons for not having a smart meter.
Indeed. Looks like there is no good reason for you to be on a night rate tariff at the moment.
Personally,I'd quite like a smart meter so I could get better tairffs, but I'm pretty sure if they install one here, it won't work.
I don't want the grief many people seem to be getting with smart meter failures, so I'll just bimble along on a single rate tariff for now.
If you're in a strong reception area for the smart meter signals, there are really not many good reasons for not having a smart meter.
My reason for getting them at my old house was really simple and lazy: I no longer have to read my meters and submit readings. The system did what I expected, and never again did I have to go outside and peer into a gas and electric meter box.
Even if they fail, or there is an issue with the signal strength, they just revert back to being 'a normal meter' that you read and submit your readings from.
Plus, worth bearing in mind the stuff above about multi-rate tariffs.
That meter has a 20 year certification period, when this period ends the meter is no longer considered to provide accurate meter readings, energy suppliers are required by law to change the meter as they are required by law to ensure meters are accurate.
The unknown question is when was the meter installed? If the 20 year life has been exceeded I doubt you can stop a new meter being fitted.
I have a smart meter, I didn't want one for various reasons but the old dumb one had exceeded it service life so ended up with a smart one.
When installed I was given the choice of having it configured not to automatically send readings but apart from worries about how the energy companies behave with remote switching to PAYG and wondering what's using so much energy it hasn't been a problem.
They will change it eventually irrespective of what you want so not a fight that can be won.
The unknown question is when was the meter installed? If the 20 year life has been exceeded I doubt you can stop a new meter being fitted.
I have a smart meter, I didn't want one for various reasons but the old dumb one had exceeded it service life so ended up with a smart one.
When installed I was given the choice of having it configured not to automatically send readings but apart from worries about how the energy companies behave with remote switching to PAYG and wondering what's using so much energy it hasn't been a problem.
They will change it eventually irrespective of what you want so not a fight that can be won.
Cotty said:
My electricity supplier has been regularly trying to get me to change to a smart meter, but I don't want one. I don't believe they have a clue what meter I have and have just sent a blanket email round to anyone not already on a smart meter to try to comply with the Governments Smart Metering Implementation Programme https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7...
This is the latest email:
"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter as soon as possible to make sure it continues to work. Your current meter switches rates using a radio signal, helping your meter change between day and night rates. This is often used by people who have electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – as some of these typically charge up overnight".
Apparently it is to do with if your meter has a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter, there are a couple of examples in this link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/...
Is there any way to tell if mine needs changing as it looks nothing like the examples, if I ask my supplier they will just say yes regardless.
Can you show a full picture of everything in your meter box please?This is the latest email:
"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter as soon as possible to make sure it continues to work. Your current meter switches rates using a radio signal, helping your meter change between day and night rates. This is often used by people who have electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – as some of these typically charge up overnight".
Apparently it is to do with if your meter has a radio teleswitch or dynamically teleswitched energy meter, there are a couple of examples in this link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/...
Is there any way to tell if mine needs changing as it looks nothing like the examples, if I ask my supplier they will just say yes regardless.
I had an E7 Meter (until last week) it had another black box that picked up the radio signal to change from day to night rate or vici verki
It's been read for last 3 years as a single meter - ie same unit cost regardless of day or night usage - just had to supply two readings every time
It saves me £70 a year (at current rate/cost per unit) because I cannot load shift enough usage to overnight to make the E7 Element return a saving)
It's been read for last 3 years as a single meter - ie same unit cost regardless of day or night usage - just had to supply two readings every time
It saves me £70 a year (at current rate/cost per unit) because I cannot load shift enough usage to overnight to make the E7 Element return a saving)
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