Any (SSE THTC) tariff/smart meter experts in (knacked meter)

Im currently on THTC as got storage heaters (rental property, not going to change them off my own bat).

One of my meters (the standard, not off peak) has stopped reading. It’s digital and now it just flashes on/off at me.

Phoned SSE to report last quarterly bill but nothing happened in the interim. Called back today to be told that they can’t send an engineer out to fix it (as I’m not a priority category coz the pandemic) but I can change to a smart meter (as these are not affected by Covid-19, okay that bit I maybe added myself) and change tariffs.

Thing is it’s my understanding that smart meters aren’t compatible with THTC but don’t know what other tariff would work. They did transfer me but I got fed up waiting in the queue after 10 minutes of muzak.

Anybody know about these things and can tell me that it’s not going to cost twice as much with everything on single tariff and how would that even work with storage heaters….?

Or just sit and do nothing as they can’t bill me for what they can’t prove I’ve used (and I’ve notified them that this is the case) so I’m getting ‘free’ electricity right? 🤪

Bumpidee bump.

I’d not heard of THTC before, just read the SSE page for it, it reads like you have two meters, the standard meter should just record all usage through it anytime of the day, I imagine it has a SSC of 0393 if you look at your bill.

I don’t see why your standard meter cant be a smart meter, if you book the job, the engineer who arrives should be able to check if its not compatible and will test once fitted, so if any issues can sometimes put your old meter back on the wall. Not too sure on the offpeak meter, but its fine so no need to worry.

Also re the blank screen, worth asking about this when booking the appointment, they might not bill for any usage only daily standing charge, or they might look at previous consumption and estimate a removal read for the meter.

Hey.
I’m was an SSE customer, also on THTC with storage heating.
At this early stage, I’d like to say I’m no expert, but may be able to help.
If SSE give the option of a single meter to replace the two THTC meters, I’d seriously consider it.
Many suppliers have a considerably cheaper unit price than the lower rate THTC tariff, and you may be able to switch supplier. My understanding is that the THTC meter isn’t strctly speaking ‘off peak’. The electricity used by your storage heaters, boiler, shower and one socket in your living room are all routed through this lower rate meter, regardless of the time of day.
Like I said, I’m no expert. This is just my own experience.

We had THTC, and blimey it cost a lot!

Agreed that the downside is that you only have one option of supplier, and that supplier has some control of that cheaper circuit.

If your landlord will let you move and then change the meters, it would be worth a comparison of costs and a move Imo. Not least as you can then have access to the wider Economy 7 market.

Only a year after I advised SSE my meter was faulty it was finally replaced today (it took a year of not giving them a reading to trigger it though).

Guess I should’ve changed tariff 6 months ago but not being able to get anywhere was a bit of a binder.

Be interesting what they try and bill me for now (seen as my meter says I used 0 on the 24 hour circuit… 🤪)

I’d expect them to be fitting an economy 7 smart meter, which is probably better as it is price capped (albeit going through the roof) and I think THTC isn’t.

That would also allow you to switch once prices have calmed down in a few years.

Some folk just don’t use their storage heaters due to the expense.

I would hope they aren’t planning to fit a single rate meter, and SSE certainly weren’t that evil/incompetent before the OVO takeover.

I properly objected to THTC when we were on it. Awful way of supplying heating.