Any problems in switching if you have a smart meter?

jase_31

Considering switching to First Utility (best buy on comparison). They install a smart meter free, and do no have a minimum contract period. Question is what happens if I want to change again to another supplier - do I have to have there meters removed (and at what cost?) or do other supplier just use them as basic meters?

kjsmith7

Hello - the meters won't be removed, they just won't have the 'smart' functionality of reading themselves, and will need to be read by you and your meter readers.

Andy_WSM

jase_31 wrote: »

Question is what happens if I want to change again to another supplier - do I have to have there meters removed (and at what cost?) or do other supplier just use them as basic meters?

The later as no other company has the infrastructure in place for smart meters yet.

noelphobic

Andy_WSM wrote: »

The later as no other company has the infrastructure in place for smart meters yet.

British Gas have been in touch with me and said they want to install Smart Meters. I haven't had them yet as the date they suggested wasn't suitable.

SwanJon

All suppliers have to begin installing smart meters in 2012 (and have the whole country swapped by 2020). As such I'm fairly sure all are trialling various systems.
Unfortunately, there are no defined standards, so one suppliers trial system may not be compatible with another suppliers trial.
I'm sure they'll define a standard (probably one that no-one has been using), but not until late 2011 knowing the industry.

kjsmith7

Each supplier at the moment is using different smart meters, so they aren't compatible with each other.

sweetstudent

kjsmith7 wrote: »

Hello - the meters won't be removed, they just won't have the 'smart' functionality of reading themselves, and will need to be read by you and your meter readers.

Andy_WSM wrote: »

The later as no other company has the infrastructure in place for smart meters yet.

I beg to differ, as the company i work asked us if we would volunteer to trial them!

kjsmith7

sweetstudent wrote: »

I beg to differ, as the company i work asked us if we would volunteer to trial them!

My point was, that Company X's smart meter won't be "smart" if customer moves to Company Y as yet. Most of the Big 6 are piloting smart meters. You will be trialling your own companies meter.

Andy_WSM

sweetstudent wrote: »

I beg to differ, as the company i work asked us if we would volunteer to trial them!

"trial" - it's just that. The infrastructure isn't in place to put smart meters wherever they want for whoever they want - yet!

sweetstudent

kjsmith7 wrote: »

My point was, that Company X's smart meter won't be "smart" if customer moves to Company Y as yet. Most of the Big 6 are piloting smart meters. You will be trialling your own companies meter.

In my case i didnt, i didnt want to change my supplier! lol

jase_31

And the official reply from Utility First

There are no administration fee's for leaving First Utility on either
tariff and the Smart meters can be used as normal digital meters so they
will not have to be removed.

Kindest Regards

Customer Service Department
first:utility
Athena House : Athena Drive
Tachbrook Park : Warwick : CV34 6RL
Tel: +44 (0)845 215 5000
Fax: +44 (0)845 215 3857