The Tone Frequency signal is ending
Do you have an electric boiler? Or do you use electricity at normal and off-peak rates and do you not yet have a smart meter? If so, you are making use of the 'Toon Frequent' signal (Ripple Control signal). This signal tells your meter and/or boiler when the electricity consumption at the day or night tariff starts and stops. The TF signal is being phased out by the grid operators between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2022. This page provides more information about what that means for you.


I have an electric boiler
Do you have an electric boiler without a timer or SlimmeBoiler Module? And is it not a kitchen boiler? Then your boiler makes use of the TF signal to switch itself on and off. This means that the boiler gets a signal in the evening to switch itself on and a signal in the morning to switch itself off again. The TF signal used by the boiler to switch itself on and off is being phased out by the grid operators between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2022. This may have an effect on the operation of your boiler, as a result of which you will no longer have any hot water from that moment on.
If you are a member of a housing corporation, housing association or owner's association, please contact them to see if they are already working on a joint solution. If this is not the case and:
- you rent a boiler from Eneco
- or you have a maintenance contract for your boiler with Eneco
- and your post code is scheduled for the switch in the near future,
then we will contact you in time. See the Stedin website for more information about when the TF-signal will be switched off in your post code area.
For most boilers, you can easily turn on the boiler back on yourself via a button in the meter cupboard. Here you will find a step-by-step plan to check whether you can turn your boiler back on yourself and what you can do if this does not work.
Important to know: if you have succeeded in switching your boiler back on, it will also heat up during the day due to the loss of the TF signal. You will then have hot water more often, but your boiler also consumes more energy. This means an increase in your electricity costs by an average of € 115 per year with the same consumption and the same rates.
Do you have your own boiler and no Eneco maintenance contract? Check with your fitter what the solution is for your situation.
Avoid cold water and/or higher energy costs
Read more about the solution (in Dutch) that Eneco offers to prevent cold water by stopping the TF signal.
I do not have a smart meter
Please note: The following information applies only if you have a smart meter. If you do not know which type of meter you have, more information on the different types of meter is available on this page.
If you buy electricity at dual rates (and so make use of the off-peak and normal rates) and do not yet have a smart meter, then your meter still works with the TF signal. This signal tells your meter when daytime and night-time consumption starts. The grid operators will be cutting off the TF signal on 1 July 2021. As a result, you will no longer be able to receive our electricity at the dual rates and will receive it at a single rate.
It is good to know that the difference between the off-peak rate and the normal rate is very small. If you make frequent use of the off-peak rates, with average energy consumption, you will pay a few euros extra per year. If you make little use of off-peak rates, cutting off the TF signal will save you a few euros per year. The difference will be settled in your annual statement.
If you already have a smart meter, you can continue to use the off-peak and normal rates as usual. You do not need to do anything for this yourself. If you do not have a smart meter yet, you can apply for one via your grid operator. This does involve costs in some cases. Your grid operator can tell you more about this. If you do not know who your grid operator is, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- You will find more information about the TF signal and when your postcode area is due on the Stedin website.
- If you rent through a housing association or housing association or if you are a member of a VVE, it is smart to first check whether an overall solution is already being worked on.
- Grid operators throughout the Netherlands will stop using the TF signal. This creates extra work within the installation sector. We want to provide our rental boiler customers with the best and fastest possible service and therefore work together with an installation partner to guarantee the required capacity and quality.
- If you have opted for the boiler 24/7 on, our installation partner Brinck will contact you by telephone within 5 working days to schedule the installation appointment.
- A timer takes over the function of the TF signal and ensures that the boiler switches on and off automatically. Installing a timer costs an average of € 200. Eneco does not offer this option. You can contact an installer in your area for this. Eneco offers the Boiler 24/7 on as an alternative to the TF signal.