Smart meters - what is the catch?

JDC2017 wrote: »

A few weeks ago a meter reader called at the door for access to read the meter. Whilst reading the meter he told me that the area was being fitted with smart meters and he had to arrange appointments for smart meters to be fitted with those people found at home. The meter reader then said that he would need to check all the appliances in the house and he duly inspected the meters, gas cooker, warm air system and flues etc. He then phoned his head office and an appointment was duly made for a few weeks hence.

The meter fitters arrived on the agreed date (two fitters in two Eon vans). One fitter said he would have to replace a gas pipe as well as the gas meter and the other fitter said that would replace the electric meter and asked to be shown all the electrical and gas appliances in the house even going into the loft.

As it happens, there had been a small gas leak on our previous suppliers (npower) side of the gas supply a few years ago which meant that npower replaced all their gas pipework up to our gas meter. Additionally, the gas meter was replaced with a new gas meter approx four years ago so the gas meter and its pipework had previously all been thoroughly tested, checked and passed by experienced engineers.

The fitters were finished in a couple of hours and the one who had fitted the new electric meter began explaining how things worked and the handed me a card headed 'Safety Notice' which went on to state that: 'It appears that the gas installation pipework fitted at your property may not have Electrical Equipotential bonding correctly fitted . I am required under section 18(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use Regulations) 1998 to advise you that the Electrical Installation should be checked by a competent electrical contractor.' The electric meter fitter then pointed to an electrical earth connection and stated that it was up to me to find and employ an electricial contractor to certify the electrical work as safe.

I immediately realised that this certification would cost me a minimum of £150 - £200. I told the Eon employees that the installation had been previously classed as safe and at no time during their two surveys had I been informed that the installation would require to be certified as safe or indeed would involve me in any expense. I also told them that, since their work had caused the installation to be not safe, I regarded their job as not being complete and asked for the telephone number of their supervisor. The senior fitter repeatedly refused to give the telephone number of his supervisor saying he was not allowed to give the number out to people and would only refer me to EON Customer Serices.

Despite being politely requested to wait whilst Eon Customer Services were contacted, the fitters immediately collected their tools and left with no further explanation as to the work they had done, how the meters worked or why the meter display screens were blank etc. Indeed, such was their haste to leave that they even had to be called back to replace the entrance cover to the loft.

The Eon Customer Services number simply rings out and out with no reply and a link for eon-uk.com/smartmeterinstallfeedback is either broken or dead.

All in all, having experienced an Eon Smart Meter installation, I would be quite cautious of accepting Eons smart meter offer at face value. In the event of accepting their offer I would also suggest being very clear indeed as to what work is to be done, who is responsible for certification and what your costs and expenses are going to be.


Hope this helps.