RTS turn off

[Harry Bloomfield]

In my case, in which the lion's share of off-peak usage is water heating (and most of the rest tumble drying), I have always managed to achieve around 50% during both Summer and Winter.

Tumble drying here is zero, most of it is line dried, especially in the summer, either on the long line, or on some lines I added in the open to the wind part of the summerhouse. If outdoor drying is impossible, we resort to hanging it on a series of lines, in the utility, which is set up with a dehumidifier, and a fan to move the air.

 

[JohnW2]

Tumble drying here is zero, most of it is line dried, especially in the summer, either on the long line, or on some lines I added in the open to the wind part of the summerhouse. If outdoor drying is impossible, we resort to hanging it on a series of lines, in the utility, which is set up with a dehumidifier, and a fan to move the air.

Yes, you've reported that before, and it's sensible.

We don't use our dryer a lot, even in Winter, but when we do it is nearly always at off-peak times. The electric water heating (which once makes sense in comparison with the alternative {LPG}, but probably doesn't any more) represents the great majority of out off-peak usage - but that alone is more than enough to make E7 financially worthwhile.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We don't use our dryer a lot, even in Winter, but when we do it is nearly always at off-peak times.

We have a combined washer/drier, which I have repaired up several times now. The drier was used, when it was first purchased, but I noticed the build-up of fluff in the heater section, with bare elements, and it seemed a bit of a fire risk, so I banned the use of it. Last time I checked, the drier wasn't working anyway, and as we no longer use it - I didn't bother investigating why.

Using a drier off-peak, is probably the riskiest time anyway, to use such an appliance.

 

[AndyPRK]

Just because RTS is being shutdown, it doesn't mean E7 is stopping. Just needs a smart meter or timer

 

[JohnW2]

Just because RTS is being shutdown, it doesn't mean E7 is stopping. Just needs a smart meter or timer

Exactly. As I've said, I have E7, and have had it for about 40 years, but have never had a radio teleswitch.

 

[JohnW2]

Using a drier off-peak, is probably the riskiest time anyway, to use such an appliance.

That depends upon 'lifestyle'. For the reasons you mention (and not the least because we have experienced a 'dryer fluff fire' in the past!), we would never run the dryer whilst we were not 'up and around', but we nevertheless nearly always run it during off-peak hours.

Fortunately, during the Winter (when dryer is most likely to be used), the off-peak period starts an hour earlier, since it is based on GMT/UTC throughout the year. Ironically, that 'advantage' probably doesn't exist with some/most of the new-fangled tariffs involving 'smart' meters

 

[DiyNutJob]

Well, we are after the switch off deadline, and my lights, fridge, and computer are still working. That will do me for now. I will get the meter changed in a couple of months when I am less entangled with things. I assume I am now on peak rate 24/7. Low rate should be handy since I have to keep the fan on all night to get some breeze.

 

[SUNRAY]

Well, we are after the switch off deadline, and my lights, fridge, and computer are still working. That will do me for now. I will get the meter changed in a couple of months when I am less entangled with things. I assume I am now on peak rate 24/7. Low rate should be handy since I have to keep the fan on all night to get some breeze.

I doubt it will make any difference yet, you could take meter readings to see which 'rate' is counting. Personally I'd assume you are still on E7 until you take out a new contract.

 

[DiyNutJob]

I thought my comment was useful for this poster as it wouldn’t surprise many on this forum if he said he was going to replace it himself with a 'China' meter from Temu!

It wasn't useful to anyone. I don't use temu. Aliexpress is my go to.

 

[ericmark]

Ironically, that 'advantage' probably doesn't exist with some/most of the new-fangled tariffs involving 'smart' meters

I found this a problem when with British Gas, I did not know if using UTC or BST as the smart meter and in home display showed different times, so I just started all at 01:00 instead of 00:00 to be sure.

Since I have found E7 is the odd one out, all the other tariffs seem to work on the time set by Government.

Well, we are after the switch off deadline, and my lights, fridge, and computer are still working. That will do me for now. I will get the meter changed in a couple of months when I am less entangled with things. I assume I am now on peak rate 24/7. Low rate should be handy since I have to keep the fan on all night to get some breeze.

It has already been said, the switch off has been canalled/delayed, we don't know now when it will happen, likely coldest day of the year, giving no time for anyone to do anything to avoid getting cold.

The problem is, there is no standard way for the teleswitch to work, with some it just changes the meter reading, with other it turns a supply on/off as well. Leaving the occupants with no heating, until some rewiring is done.

The old Wylex fuseboxes were only rated at 60 amp, which is enough for either general home use, or storage radiators, but to combine them both, could cause problems, and it is likely those with the old fuse boxes who are the most vulnerable, and also less likely to see TV adverts, or other information stuff, and will be left without heating.

I think of my mother, and she would not have had a clue what is going on, it would have been down to me or the careers to arrange any changes, I remember trying to get the house on PME, and arranging for DNO to call, I had to travel 8 miles to let them in, and they wanted someone to be there all day, to do ½ hours work.

We all consider our own situation, and tend to forget those who can't simply drop everything and come home for the electric man. If I had not been available to let him in, then it would have been down to social services, so who would set the appointment time? Would social services tell the DNO we will be there at x to x make sure you visit between those times?

I have had a frantic phone call from my son, the DNO have phones householder to say coming early they want an electrician on site, I can't make it, can you?

 

[Rodders53]

Well, we are after the switch off deadline, .

<best panto voice> Oh no we're not. </best panto voice>

Been extended, yet again, and will be a phased (controlled) switch off, anyway from now... watch that space...

RTS meter switch-off is pushed back

Thousands of households will now not face disruption to hot water and heating, the government says

www.bbc.co.uk

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/radio-teleswitch-service-rts-shutdown-campaign-toolkit may be worth a read (I haven't, yet).

https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/custom...tch-service-switch-off-what-you-need-to-know/ as well.

 

[aveatry]

<best panto voice> Oh no we're not. </best panto voice>

Been extended, yet again, and will be a phased (controlled) switch off, anyway from now... watch that space...

RTS meter switch-off is pushed back

Thousands of households will now not face disruption to hot water and heating, the government says

www.bbc.co.uk

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/radio-teleswitch-service-rts-shutdown-campaign-toolkit may be worth a read (I haven't, yet).

https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/custom...tch-service-switch-off-what-you-need-to-know/ as well.

Dammit -there was I was thinking that when I gave my supplier a roasting down the phone to stop harassing me to fit a smart meter (i keep telling them I do not have teleswitches ) and my E7 meter is billed as a single rate for the last 15 years. I thought they got the message but - not it seems

 

[DiyNutJob]

It has already been said, the switch off has been canalled/delayed

Alright then, they must have found some new valves from china. In that case, I will hold fire on requesting a meter change.

 

[ericmark]

Smart meters are the only technical replacement for RTS meters because they can be programmed to deliver a similar service.

So what happens with people like next door, who have requested a smart meter and been refused?

 

[bernardgreen]

Alright then, they must have found some new valves from china.

New valves could be manufactured but cost and time to make the valves would be prohitives

is an reliable source of information about the Radio 4 transmitters that carry the RTS signals.