Can i demand a new electric meter? How can i read it?

boxrick

I have just purchased a property which has an old style of electric meter which is very difficult to read and i do not trust how accurate it is. Can i request the electric company to install a newer meter?

It has multiple dials i am assuming each one is thousands tenths hundreths etc..?

Joyful

No you cannot demand a new meter. The meter operators decide when to change them due to age. The only way would be either if a fault developed and they were called out in which case they would probably change the meter or if you were to pay for it.

If I was you I would call the Supplier and see what they say. It may also be if you move supplier it may flag up an old meter and get replaced sooner.

Premier_2

boxrick wrote: »

I have just purchased a property which has an old style of electric meter which is very difficult to read and i do not trust how accurate it is. Can i request the electric company to install a newer meter?

It has multiple dials i am assuming each one is thousands tenths hundreths etc..?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+read+an+electric+meter+with+dials

davidgmmafan

General rule of thumb is if its between two numbers AT ALL you take the lower number. Sometimes it will even seem to show on the higher number but you need to apply a little common sense. EG if you last reading was 32900, your next reading can't really be 33950

BTW if its any consolation meter readers even get it wrong fairly often. You'd think they'd know better.

Swipe

Well, I can tell you that if you switch to any provider that uses OnStream they will replace the meter. British Gas pestered me with numerous letters (on behalf of OnStream) until I agreed to let them replace a 9 month old digital meter with an identical one.

mustsportsbar

I would contact your supplier who should change this meter as it is probably only a 40amp meter whereas the newer ones are 80A or 100A. There are very few of this type of meter left in our area. As said already readers can misread these so its in the suppliers interest, to stop disputes with the bills. Older meters tend to slow down though.
Also as you have just moved in they might have been trying to get access to change it anyhow. Meters stay in for 20 - 25 years generally.

Terrylw1

Hi,

They will change the meter when nit is time for recertification. This depends on the type of meter e.g. mechanicals like these pointer meters are 20-25 years but modern meters get replaced more often, expecially prepayment types.

Recertification is free. You could ask your Supplier to change it but then it's down to goodwill and if the Supplier has a policy of charging as some do, you will have to pay. It would be better to learn how to read it per the previous posts and hang on.

Per the Bgas Onstream comment, thats because Bgas fit meters that they use via their appointed Meter Operator. Then if change to another Supplier, they have to change them back. Not all Suppliers can handle the Bgas meters, especially those nasty block stepping types on prepayment which cause lots of problems for other Suppliers.

jenny2009

One of my sons is a bit of a tech whizz and his meter is in a fairly inaccessable place. He wanted to keep an eye on his gas and electricity usage but it was to awkward to read the meter every day so he set up a webcam and led light in the cupboard. Now he can read his gas and electric meter from his computer.

spiro

jenny2009 wrote: »

One of my sons is a bit of a tech whizz and his meter is in a fairly inaccessable place. He wanted to keep an eye on his gas and electricity usage but it was to awkward to read the meter every day so he set up a webcam and led light in the cupboard. Now he can read his gas and electric meter from his computer.

Not very money though is it.

jenny2009

Not very money saving though is it?

Why? £4 for a cheap web cam from a supermarket and a cheap LED light that he switches on by twisting a couple of wires together and he can read his gas meter as well.

A lot cheaper than an electric only monitor.