Potential Consumer detriment for Smart Economy 7
Summary
There is a potential for Consumer detriment under the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement arrangements where a customer unknowingly selects a tariff (i.e. single rate) where they have an Economy 7 type configuration on a Smart meter for water/storage heating.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
09/04/2026 Following a review of responses to the joint information request on REC Issues I0273 - Sharing of SSC and TPR Information for MHHS Smart and Advanced Meters and I0303 - Potential Consumer detriment for Smart Economy 7, the Code Manager has determined that the scope of REC Issue I0303 can be considered as part of the solution development for REC Issue I0273. I0303 has now been classed as resolved and will not be progressed further as a separate Issue. For further engagement with this issue, please refer to I0273 directly.
Impacts Overview
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Energy Supplier
Meter Operator Agent
Third Party Intermediary
Impacted REC Documents
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
Priority and rationale
Priority last updated on 17 Sep 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
There is a potential for Consumer detriment under the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement arrangements where a customer unknowingly selects a tariff (i.e. single rate) where they have an Economy 7 type configuration on a Smart meter for water/storage heating. A solution is required that enables a Supplier to identify a Smart E7 Consumer during the Switch process to ensure they can offer the correct tariff and prevent consumer detriment.
No documents available.
There is currently no Change Plan.
Original submission
Change details
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12 Jan 2026
Change details
Potential Consumer detriment for Smart Economy 7
There is a potential for Consumer detriment under the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement arrangements where a customer unknowingly selects a tariff (i.e. single rate) where they have an Economy 7 type configuration on a Smart meter for water/storage heating.
It is not uncommon for customers to not fully understand their home metering / electrical heating set-up and therefore for Smart E7 customers there is a risk that some may not select the most favourable tariff for them. This is particularly problematic for customers who rely on the E7 tariff for their heating circuits to work at night, and as a result of selecting the wrong tariff their heating does not function. There is no way to mitigate incorrect sales under the current MHHS design.
Under the non-MHHS market arrangements identifying Smart E7 set ups is managed using Profile Class (PC) 2 and knowing that the meter is Smart.
In MHHS arrangements, the PC is not necessarily maintained and there is no visibility of the active registers from the Losing Supplier. The PC is not mandatory for Smart meters.
It is not uncommon for customers to not fully understand their home metering / electrical heating set-up and therefore for Smart E7 customers there is a risk that some may not select the most favourable tariff for them. This is particularly problematic for customers who rely on the E7 tariff for their heating circuits to work at night, and as a result of selecting the wrong tariff their heating does not function. There is no way to mitigate incorrect sales under the current MHHS design.
Under the non-MHHS market arrangements identifying Smart E7 set ups is managed using Profile Class (PC) 2 and knowing that the meter is Smart.
In MHHS arrangements, the PC is not necessarily maintained and there is no visibility of the active registers from the Losing Supplier. The PC is not mandatory for Smart meters.
There is no opportunity for a Gaining Supplier to make a customer aware of the potential detriment that signing up to a specific tariff may have and suggest a more relevant tariff.
A solution is required that enables a Supplier to identify a Smart E7 Consumer during the Switch process to ensure they can offer the correct tariff and prevent consumer detriment.
This issue was taken to the REC Issues Group on 14 November 2025 and was supported as requiring a solution to be explored.
Impacts
No details provided
Ability to pay, Switching experience, Trust and confidence
Ensuring appropriate tariffs are sold could have an indirect impact to achieving net zero through general support of the success of the MHHS arrangements.
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
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No details provided
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No details provided
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Data Item Catalogue, Market Message Catalogue
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No details provided
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No details provided
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Energy Suppliers, Meter Operator Agent, Third-Party Intermediary
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No details provided
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No details provided
Priority & timing
Yes
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No details provided
Ability to pay, Switching experience, Trust and confidence