Teleswitch signal being switched off

[zebedee2001]

Hi Guys,

I have just had a message from Shell Energy stating that the teleswitch signal is being switched off permanently in March 2023 & I have to have my meter changed. I used to have storage heaters but many years ago moved to gas. We still use about 1/3 of our electricity at night so it still works out cheaper to keep it.

What I do not want is a smart meter so it looks like I need to go to a single tariff.

I assume they have got me over a barrel!

 

[securespark]

I understand you can refuse a smart meter.

 

[BS3036]

You can refuse a smart meter but you can only apply for a tariff which does not require a smart meter (i.e. probably any tariff they choose except one). Don't blame me. I didn't vote for them.

 

[JohnW2]

I understand you can refuse a smart meter.

So it seems, but I've never really understood that.

If I could but find it, I feel sure that the Supply Contract which I am deemed to have signed gives the supplier the right to install in my house 'from time to time' whatever metering (or other) equipment they deem necessary in order to be able to give me a continuing supply of electricity. They certainly have never 'consulted me' when they have done a 'meter change' and, in particular, certainly did not 'seek my permission' before they first changed my electromechanical meter to an electronic one.

If/when any of the 'Big Brother' things that some people seem to fear come into being, I assume that have a 'smart' meter will effectively become 'compulsory' (in the sense of "we can only offer supplies/tariffs to people who accept 'smart' meters").

Kind Regards, John

 

[Taylortwocities]

I assume that have a 'smart' meter will effectively become 'compulsory' (in the sense of "we can only offer supplies/tariffs to people who accept 'smart' meters").

Indeed, look ahead to the dystopian time when we all have the compulsory electric cars. The government will need to extract an equivalent exchequer revenue from our charging of the electric car that they currently earn from tax on petroleum and diesel.
Seems like the so-called smart meter could enable the energy supplier to levy a tax on the vehicle charge kilowatts.

 

[EFLImpudence]

D'oh.

You've sussed it - and they thought it was so people could see their consumption go down when they switched off something.

 

[SUNRAY]

Hi Guys,

I have just had a message from Shell Energy stating that the teleswitch signal is being switched off permanently in March 2023 & I have to have my meter changed. I used to have storage heaters but many years ago moved to gas. We still use about 1/3 of our electricity at night so it still works out cheaper to keep it.

What I do not want is a smart meter so it looks like I need to go to a single tariff.

I assume they have got me over a barrel!

Not all E7 services use a Teleswitch, On saturday I saw one with only a timeswitch.

Edit: What rates are you getting off peak and peak? One I looked at recently was 8p/19p the same provider was offering 14.5p flat, your usage would be cheaper on that flat rate.

 

[JohnW2]

Indeed, look ahead to the dystopian time when we all have the compulsory electric cars. The government will need to extract an equivalent exchequer revenue from our charging of the electric car that they currently earn from tax on petroleum and diesel. Seems like the so-called smart meter could enable the energy supplier to levy a tax on the vehicle charge kilowatts.

A 'smart' meter, as we know it, alone could not do that. They can record energy usage during umpteen different time windows but, within any time window, all they can measure is total energy usage, so they wouldn't know how much of that total was attributable to EV charging - to determine that would need some sort of 'smart chargers' (or an additional meter!) that could measure their own usage and report it to the meter - so you can probably factor in another few more decades for rollout of 'smart chargers' if they go down that route

As you imply, they are presumably going to have to find some way of recovering the equivalent of the (enormous amount of) fuel excise duty they currently receive. They may try to do it, as you suggest, by taxing the electricity used for charging but I suspect that, as 'smart cars' come along, fuel excise duty and vehicle 'tax' will probably be replaced by a single usage ("per mile") tax/charge - which may, in some senses, be fairer than the present situation.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Not all E7 services use a Teleswitch, On saturday I saw one with only a timeswitch.

At least in my experience, that "Not all" is a considerable under-statement. I have personally had two E7 systems and have seen countless others in other people's houses, and I have personally never seen one which does have a Teleswitch. In fact, although I might be forgetting, I'm not convinced that I've ever actually even seen a Teleswitch, other than in photos!

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnD]

... I suspect that, as 'smart cars' come along, fuel excise duty and vehicle 'tax' will probably be replaced by a single usage ("per mile") tax/charge....

I suspect it would be especially popular with older retired Conservative voters who have no need to drive on business or to work every day, but can afford large cars. Especially if they are given a 9% pension increase due to a statistical anomaly, by a government that said 1% was "right" for nurses and other public servants who have worked through the pandemic for the common good.

I'm sure the younger working population will be pleased to put their hands deeper in their pockets to make up the shortfall.

 

[JohnW2]

I suspect it would be especially popular with older retired Conservative voters who have no need to drive on business or to work every day, but can afford large cars.

Probably, and presumably equally popular with older retired Labour (or LibDem, or whatever voters who have no need to drive on business or to work every day, but can afford large cars. In both cases, they are currently paying the same for 'upkeep of the roads' etc. for their 2,000-3,000 miles a year as are members of the younger working population who are doing 35,000 or whatever miles per year, largely for business travel and commuting to/from work. The largeness or smallness of the vehicle is not really an issue, since that could be reflected in the charge per mile.

I'm sure the younger working population will be pleased to put their hands deeper in their pockets to make up the shortfall.

I wouldn't be any more certain of that than I am that the older retired population are currently very pleased to be subsidising the business and work travel of the younger working population

Kind Regards, John

 

[bernardgreen]

with older retired Conservative voters who have no need to drive on business or to work every day, but can afford large cars.

with older retired Labour trade union officials who have no need to drive on business or to work every day, but can afford large cars.

 

[Taylortwocities]

At least in my experience, that "Not all" is a considerable under-statement. I have personally had two E7 systems and have seen countless others in other people's houses, and I have personally never seen one which does have a Teleswitch. In fact, although I might be forgetting, I'm not convinced that I've ever actually even seen a Teleswitch, other than in photos!

Kind Regards, John

hi John, I’m surprised. There are any number of topics on here, and elsewhere, about Radio Teleswitches. For example https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/teleswitch-faulty.556012/

 

[AndyPRK]

I think smart chargers do exist.

In order to get the govement grand (ending soon), the charger has to have WiFi connectivity, and thus being capable of being turned on/off remotly.
Well that's how I understood it.

And while I am not a fan off smart meters (particularly the first version) or installation , I think by 2022 it would be time to embrace it, if it meant cheaper electricity

 

[zebedee2001]

Not all E7 services use a Teleswitch, On saturday I saw one with only a timeswitch.

Edit: What rates are you getting off peak and peak? One I looked at recently was 8p/19p the same provider was offering 14.5p flat, your usage would be cheaper on that flat rate.

I've seen both types, the advantage of the time clock one is that it can go out of sync if you have a power cut & can therefore get some daytime energy at reduced rate.
I'm not sure on my rates. i did the calculation some years ago. However, I know I am paying £65/month for gas & electricity for a 3 bedroom end terrace. I will re-do the sums later in the week.