Presumably this is just journalistic panic, in reality won't they just delay the switch-off (again) if there really is a problem?
- Andy.
Presumably this is just journalistic panic, in reality won't they just delay the switch-off (again) if there really is a problem?
- Andy.
Hi,
The concern that was raised wasn't of higher bills, but of homes been left without electricity to their heating. This is is the source report:
https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/looming-crisis-for-households-on-rts-meters/
But as I mentioned above, it's not clear how many households would actually lose heating even if there were 300,000 units unchanged - as you say it's a further percentage of that 1%. But those affected would be very greatly affected (if the roll out isn't completed in time).
Thanks,
Andy
Hi Mike, it’s 1.2%ish of the total number of dwellings. I would be surprised if it was more than the same percentage of that percentage of users who would actually be hit by higher bills, most people with teleswitches just pay a flat rate. Most of Those who rely only on teleswitches to actually control their heating and hot water would surely have been induced to smart meters simply by the cost of not switching?
they install a dual pole isolator (post meter and pre CU/DB) for the dwelling FOC.so the next CU/DB change IT complies with EAWR when the electrician works on it.
That was talked about when the smart meter rollout was about to start - even the possibility of spec'ing the new meters to have an in-built isolator (a few did already). But it seems the suppliers didn't want the extra cost, and claim it's perfectly safe for electricians - they just need to ring up and book an engineer to come out and pull the fuse for them (for which they charge...).
- Andy.
Now, how many households have a 'simple' teleswitch is of course the question...
That is a very good question Andy. Time will tell.
As a side note I hope that when the Teleswitch is swapped out for a smart meter that actually works as intended they install a dual pole isolator (post meter and pre CU/DB) for the dwelling FOC.so the next CU/DB change IT complies with EAWR when the electrician works on it.
And also that's probably exactly why "End Fuel Poverty Coalition" worked to make sure this did get in the news - they'd (possibly quite reasonably) be concerned that energy companies would also consider it not newsworthy, and so not bother making sure the roll out was complete by the end of July. From the perception (which may be incorrect) of these users they're being forgotten about, which is a perfect way to encourage people to make sure their story does become news...
It makes good business sense that if you satisfy 99% of your customers you're doing ok. But if that involves making the remaining 1% REALLY angry (and potentially depriving them of heating is a pretty good way of doing that) then you can be pretty certain that you'll find yourself at the wrong end of a news story!
Lesson for us all in any industry...
Typical poor and Miss information. BBC news is becoming more like getting the news from YouTube. Can'y always be trusted and half of the time is not verified.
From my understanding what will happen is the meter will charge the customer at the higher rate permanently. I bet an enconomy 7 heater at 7pence per kWh will not seem so economy at 40pence per kWh
No, the issues presented in this report (and which were claimed by the quoted sources, not by the BBC) are theoretically correct, see:
https://www.energynetworks.org/industry/engineering-and-technical-programmes/radio-teleswitch
A 'simple teleswitch' as defined here could indeed leave the householder without heating or with permanent heating depending on, presumably, what time the signal was turned off.
Now, how many households have a 'simple' teleswitch is of course the question...
I'm not sure that the folk affected if it has not been well mitigated will agree. I think we do suffer very badly from the 'one incident is too many' culture and often make mountains from molehills, but anything that affects this no of folk is probably big enough to be justified.
At least its being done in the summer.
Mike.
As well as switching the meter from the higher to the lower rate, the RTS also connects the off-peak equipment ie. the night storage heaters and the water heater. So it is true to say these houses would lose heating and hot water.
It's the BBC who are running the RTS transmitter that's about to be switched off!
No, it’s not as the BBC do not own or operate any transmitters.
The Wychbold station is owned and operated by Arqiva.
Hi Andy the stats as of 2022 suggest there are 25 million+ dwellings in England,
If there are currently only 300 thousand remaining dwelling reliant on the RTS it doesn’t seem be newsworthy.
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