White meter heating explained

White meter heating systems utilise off-peak electricity, typically for storage heaters, to provide warmth at a lower cost. These systems often rely on multi-rate electricity tariffs, such as Economy 7, which offer cheaper rates during specified off-peak hours. Many white meter users currently have legacy Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, which receive signals to switch between peak and off-peak rates. RTS is undergoing an industry-wide phase-out, meaning these meters must be replaced with smart meters to maintain cost-effective heating and avoid potential disruption.

White meter heating relies on smart energy management. Once your legacy RTS meter has been replaced with a smart meter by your current supplier, you can switch to Fuse Energy for clear pricing and in-app usage data to help you make the most of your multi-rate tariff. Click here to get started with Fuse Energy.

What is white meter heating?

White meter heating is a system designed to take advantage of cheaper, off-peak electricity rates, primarily for heating homes. It typically involves electric storage heaters that absorb and store heat during the night when electricity is less expensive, releasing it gradually throughout the day. This setup aims to reduce heating costs by shifting significant electricity consumption to lower-priced periods.

How white meter systems operate

A white meter system operates with a dedicated electricity meter that records consumption during different times of the day. This allows for separate billing at varying rates. The core principle is to use electricity-intensive appliances, especially heating, when demand on the National Grid is lower, and thus, electricity is cheaper.

Understanding dedicated circuits and storage heaters

White meter heating often involves dedicated circuits for storage heaters. These heaters contain thermal bricks that heat up overnight using cheaper electricity. They then slowly release this stored heat throughout the following day. This method provides consistent warmth without consuming expensive peak-rate electricity during the day.

White meter heating and multi-rate tariffs

Multi-rate tariffs are central to white meter heating, offering different prices for electricity at various times. The most common of these is Economy 7, but other dual-rate tariffs exist. Understanding how these tariffs work is crucial for optimising energy use and managing costs.

Economy 7: how it works with white meters

Economy 7 is a multi-rate electricity tariff that provides a cheaper unit rate for seven hours during the night, with a higher unit rate during the day. For homes with white meter heating, this means storage heaters can charge during the cheaper Economy 7 period, significantly reducing heating costs. The specific seven-hour window for off-peak rates can vary by supplier and region.

Is electricity cheaper at night? Benefits of off-peak rates

Yes, electricity is generally cheaper at night under multi-rate tariffs like Economy 7. This is because overall demand on the electricity grid is lower during off-peak hours, allowing suppliers to offer reduced rates. For white meter heating users, this translates into substantial savings by running storage heaters and other high-consumption appliances during these cheaper periods. The medium Typical Domestic Consumption Value (TDCV) for multi-register electricity meters (e.g., Economy 7) is 3,400 kWh per year, effective 1 July 20261.

Reading your multi-rate electric meter

Reading a multi-rate electric meter, such as an Economy 7 meter, typically involves noting down two sets of numbers: one for the off-peak (night) reading and one for the peak (day) reading. These are usually displayed on separate registers or screens on the meter. It is important to record both readings accurately to ensure correct billing and to track your usage patterns.

The radio Teleswitch service (RTS) phase-out

RTS has been a long-standing system used to control multi-rate electricity meters, allowing energy suppliers to switch between peak and off-peak tariffs remotely. However, this legacy technology is now being phased out across Great Britain.

What is an RTS meter and why is it being switched off?

An RTS meter is a type of electricity meter that relies on a longwave radio signal to switch between different electricity tariffs, such as Economy 7. This signal tells the meter when to record consumption at the cheaper off-peak rate. RTS phase-out began on 30 June 2025, marking the end of this outdated technology. The service is being switched off because it is an old, analogue system that is increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain.

Ofgem's role in the RTS meter switch-off

Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, is overseeing the industry-wide RTS phase-out. Ofgem mandates that energy suppliers replace all legacy RTS meters with smart meters to ensure continued service and accurate billing for affected customers. This regulatory push aims to modernise the energy infrastructure and ensure all consumers have access to more reliable and efficient metering technology.

What to do if you have an RTS meter: the free smart meter upgrade

If you have an RTS meter, your current energy supplier is responsible for replacing it with a smart meter, and this upgrade is free of charge. You should contact your supplier to arrange the replacement. Delaying this replacement could lead to billing inaccuracies or the loss of your off-peak benefits once the RTS signal is fully switched off.

Smart meters: the future for white meter heating

Smart meters are becoming the standard for energy measurement in the UK, offering significant advantages over traditional meters, especially for homes with white meter heating. They are essential for navigating the RTS phase-out and optimising energy usage.

Benefits of smart meters for multi-rate tariffs

Smart meters enable automated readings, eliminating the need for manual submissions and ensuring accurate billing. While not strictly required for dual-rate tariffs (eligibility depends on your meter's Standard Settlement Configuration (SSC)), smart meters significantly enhance your ability to manage these tariffs effectively. This means you can continue to benefit from cheaper off-peak electricity rates, and potentially access more dynamic tariffs that offer even greater savings.

How smart meters enable better energy management

A smart meter provides real-time data on your energy consumption, often displayed on an in-home display or via a supplier's app. This visibility allows you to understand exactly when and how you are using electricity, empowering you to adjust your habits to maximise savings. For white meter heating, this means you can precisely time the charging of storage heaters and other appliances to coincide with the cheapest off-peak periods.

Reading your smart meter for accurate billing

Unlike traditional meters, smart meters automatically send your readings to your energy supplier. This means you generally do not need to manually read your smart meter. However, you can still view your consumption data on the meter itself or through an in-home display, typically showing both your peak and off-peak usage, ensuring transparency and helping you keep track of your energy costs.

Optimising your heating with modern energy solutions

Once your RTS meter has been replaced with a smart meter, you are in a strong position to optimise your white meter heating system and take control of your energy costs. This involves choosing the right tariff and leveraging the data available to you.

Choosing the right dual-rate tariff after your smart meter upgrade

With a smart meter installed, you can explore a wider range of modern dual-rate tariffs that offer competitive off-peak rates. It is important to compare these tariffs, considering both the unit rates for peak and off-peak periods, as well as the daily standing charge. The goal is to find a tariff that best matches your energy consumption patterns, particularly your heating schedule.

Leveraging in-app data for smarter energy use

Many modern energy suppliers, including Fuse Energy, provide apps that connect directly to your smart meter data. These apps offer detailed insights into your energy usage, often broken down by hour, day, or month. By reviewing this data, you can identify opportunities to shift more of your electricity consumption to off-peak hours, making your white meter heating system even more efficient and cost-effective. Fuse's app provides transparent usage data, helping customers with white meter heating understand and manage their off-peak consumption more effectively.

Maximising savings with off-peak consumption

To maximise savings, focus on running your storage heaters and other high-energy appliances (like washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers) during your tariff's designated off-peak hours. With the detailed data from your smart meter and supplier app, you can fine-tune your usage habits to ensure you are always making a 'power play' by using energy intelligently and abundantly, particularly by leveraging cheaper off-peak rates for heating.

Managing your white meter heating effectively means making the most of off-peak electricity. Once your current supplier has upgraded your legacy RTS meter to a smart meter, Fuse Energy can help you take control. We offer clear pricing and in-app usage data, allowing you to track your consumption and optimise your heating schedule to align with cheaper rates. Our digital-first approach and 24/7 human support are designed to make energy management straightforward. Click here to switch to Fuse Energy today and start making smarter energy choices. You can also learn more about our mission to build a sustainable energy future by clicking here.

References

1. Ofgem. Review of Typical Domestic consumption values