Smart Meter Installations

System · 24 May 2016 at 2:13PM

http://www.energylivenews.com/2016/02/01/barriers-to-smart-meters-installation-still-exist/

molerat · 24 May 2016 at 4:51PM

fierystormcloud wrote: »

I wondered, is having smart meters going to be mandatory? I don't want them. Can I refuse? (I'm with BG.)

Why do you not want one ? Did you also not want to change the gas meter so you did not have to put 2/- pieces into it ?

GingerBob_3 · 24 May 2016 at 8:38PM

molerat wrote: »

Why do you not want one ? Did you also not want to change the gas meter so you did not have to put 2/- pieces into it ?

Not all developments are beneficial. Replacement of coin meters was. Replacement of what we have now, with so-called smart meters, may not be - for the consumer.

chaoszone · 26 May 2016 at 1:27PM

Be aware that the original supplier of the smart meter won't necessarily reinitialise it even though they fitted it. It remains a dumb terminal even when you switch back.
I made this error with EON who fitted it. I knew that if I changed supplier that it would become a dumb terminal. What I didn't know was that it would not be reactivated when I went back to EON.
I'm really mad with them and said so. :mad:
With their negative customer support I am now looking for a new supplier. Customer service means a lot to me and I've got my dander up and am changing because I thought EON were misleading in not informing me that once it becomes a dumb terminal it remains a dumb terminal and they won't switch it back on if you return.
If I knew this beforehand I wouldn't have had one fitted nor would I have returned.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc · 26 May 2016 at 4:17PM

sacsquacco wrote: »

The current smart meters, gas and electric, both have the ability to switch seemlessly from credit to prepay mode.Eon actually advertise that and they use the same smarts as BG.

That's interesting sacsquacco. We definitely don't remotely disconnect Smart Meters or switch them from credit to prepayment or vice versa. May I ask where you saw this advertised? A link, if possible, would be great. If there's wrong information going around, I need to make the gaffers aware as it does no one any good.

Any details would be greatly appreciated and sorry if I've misunderstood.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc · 26 May 2016 at 5:25PM

gsmlnx wrote: »

Yes it will be the mark 1, only smart for the original supplier.

Eon are trying it on with me currently. Sending letters saying your meter is being phased out. Not ,you note, end of life and must under statutory powers be replaced. No mention that I do not legally have to have a smart meter. Worded that it sounds like I must call them and let them install the smart meter. Getting desperate to fill their quota of installs.

10 months ago Eon sent a letter like this but did mention that a meter replacement was not needed and I could just ignore the letter if I wished.

And no, the current meter still doesn't need replacing for any reason.

Hello gsmlnx and I'm sorry the letter you've received isn't worded too well. We're offering Smart Meters to certain customers where circumstances allow. You're right, this is optional and there are no legal obligations on customers to have one.

Smart Meters aren't available to everyone yet. It depends on things like the region, type of property, current metering set up and strength of the mobile phone signal used to send messages between us and the meter. As the programme unfolds and the technology advances, more and more properties become eligible for this type of meter. I suspect you've now dropped into this category. Guessing though.

We are phasing out some meters. These are generally multi-rate meters with off peak times where electricity is cheaper. These include Heatwise, older 3 rate Economy 10 meters and certain Economy 7 meters. Where circumstances allow, these customers are being offered Smart Meters. Again, there are no obligations involved and customers can go for a conventional replacement instead.

Sorry again for the poorly worded letter gsmlnx.

Malc

[Deleted User] · 26 May 2016 at 6:02PM

@Malc E.on Rep

Thanks for the reply.

My meter isn't any of the special types, just a bog standard one rate type; and well within its lifespan too.

Once the mess created by the suppliers and Government has been ironed out (that is SMART meters that are always smart regardless of supplier) then it is a different matter.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc · 27 May 2016 at 3:30PM

K.S. wrote: »

got mine installed a couple of weeks ago... the engineer had a bit of a problem switching them from credit to prepayment but it was sorted and i got a LCD display set up in the house to see what i'm using and how much credit i have left on both meters

pleased overall!

p.s. this is with E-on

Glad it was sorted in the end K.S. Hope you're finding the Energy Display useful. There's quite a bit of stuff about these on our website. This includes a short video and a manual you can download if you wish.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc · 27 May 2016 at 5:04PM

chaoszone wrote: »

Be aware that the original supplier of the smart meter won't necessarily reinitialise it even though they fitted it. It remains a dumb terminal even when you switch back.
I made this error with EON who fitted it. I knew that if I changed supplier that it would become a dumb terminal. What I didn't know was that it would not be reactivated when I went back to EON.
I'm really mad with them and said so. :mad:
With their negative customer support I am now looking for a new supplier. Customer service means a lot to me and I've got my dander up and am changing because I thought EON were misleading in not informing me that once it becomes a dumb terminal it remains a dumb terminal and they won't switch it back on if you return.
If I knew this beforehand I wouldn't have had one fitted nor would I have returned.

Hello chaoszone and I'm really sorry you weren't made aware that the Smart Meter would stay dumb once you had re-joined us. I suspect you've an earlier version possibly fitted during the Foundation stage. Generally, these lose some smart functions following a change of supplier which can't be restored even though you switched back to us.

Going forward, we're looking to change this. The aim is for customers to be able to switch supplier without losing smart capability. We're expecting to do this during the main Smart Meter rollout. The intention is for all suppliers to use a centralised data communications company (DCC) who will pass the relevant details to the current supplier. I don't have a timeframe for this yet but it's something that will definitely help once available. Meters are also being developed and the ones we're fitting now are an improvement on those fitted during the Foundation stage.

Totally understand, what I've said above isn't much use to you now but have you spoken to our specialist Smart team about the possibility of changing your current meter to a later version? Not saying this is possible but might be worth checking. There's no charge and it could help when switching supplier in the future.

Sorry again we didn't explain sufficiently when you switched back.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc · 27 May 2016 at 5:15PM

gsmlnx wrote: »

@Malc E.on Rep

Thanks for the reply.

My meter isn't any of the special types, just a bog standard one rate type; and well within its lifespan too.

Once the mess created by the suppliers and Government has been ironed out (that is SMART meters that are always smart regardless of supplier) then it is a different matter.

Completely understand gsmlnx. The central database I mentioned above will help. As I mentioned in post 37, Smart Meters are optional and there are no obligations to have one.

Malc

Smart Meter Installations

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