Tariff that guarantees a smart metre?

blizeH

Hi guys,

I know I've mentioned this before, so apologies in advance, but I've just moved into the house and taking a reading is really annoying - I have a detached house but for some reason still have to go next door to take a reading, and feel bad pestering them and getting them to move their bins etc out of the way, so I really, really really really want a smart metre!

The only places that seem to offer one is the British Gas Onlinesaver 2 and first:utlity Smart Tariff - but are there any others I should have a look at?

According to the price comparison sites all in the British Gas one is more expensive, but on the flip side first:utility can apparently be quite hit and miss with giving out smart boxes, and more importantly - British Gas Onlinesaver2 lets you check your usage and bills on an iPhone app, with little graphs and stuff! :O

Any help or suggestions on this would be fantastic. Sorry to ask what is possibly a silly question but I'm new to this and want to make sure I get a good deal, but also a SmartMetre would be such a huge benefit for me!

Thanks

Antispam

BG energy smart do smart meter is electric only

spiro

The important question here is why in a detached house is the meter next door? You neighbour is under no obligation to let you in and I suspect he may be entitled to charge you for the privilege of having it on his property. There is also the issue that if anything serious happened to their property it may leave you without electricity. In ther event they got into debt for elec they could have a ppm fitted and they point at your meter not theirs.

In terms of being able to see what you use, will the 'in home display' work given the possible distances involved?

blizeH

D'oh! Guess I've no choice but to gamble on first:utility then?

Real shame as the BG iPhone all and website looks really sweet. Not just in a shallow "oh it's nice!" way but genuinely it looks super handy with cool graphs and stuff. Gutted

blizeH

Sorry not sure I explained myself very well there - the metres are attached to my house, but it's the only wall of three that's ajoining their garden. So I have to go in via their side entrance and it's right there.

It's not a huge hassle but I still feel bad asking. More importantly they seem really nice, but if someone else moves in and are less friendly, then I'll be screwed. That's why I really want a smart metre for both gas and elec, so I don't have to worry about it any more.

Plushchris

I dont think BG actually fit smart meters for that tariff do they? You may want to check that, I thought you had to provide them with a reading every month. (which is the opposite of what you want really)

blizeH

Oh rubbish! Thanks. Definitely one to avoid then.

Bit annoying, I know what I want but am so clueless when it comes to these things unfortunately, sorry

Plushchris

Could be worth your while enquiring with some of the other companies before going for First Utility to see if they are trialling Smart meters, I know some of the companies are but only in certain areas, get onto saynoto0870 and take ten minutes to have a ring around.

blizeH

Thanks chris, Ill phone around and see where I get

BargainGalore

There are two types of smart meter one is the meter itself the other is the cheap meters that have a magnetic clip on the cable coming from meter

Plushchris

BargainGalore wrote: »

There are two types of smart meter one is the meter itself the other is the cheap meters that have a magnetic clip on the cable coming from meter

You are thinking of an energy monitor not a smart meter, Smart meters take meter readings themselves and send these back to the supplier via text message.
Energy monitors just plug in to show you how much you are using and can convert that into (approx) cost etc.