OnStream - Want to replace my Gas meter

Hillbilly_2

I have received a letter from OnStream saying they want to replace my gas meter, the house is only 10 years old. Is this genuine?

penrhyn

Some providers change meters ever ten years, mine was done recently.

Hillbilly_2

Thanks Pehnryn
I called my provider and they assure me it is genuine.

Yellowcard

It's probably a smart meter

Swipe

Yellowcard wrote: »

It's probably a smart meter

It's unlikely it'll be a smart meter. OnStream insisted that they wanted to change my meter even though it had been in just 10 months and only had 2000 units on the clock. After ignoring the letters for a while they kept pestering and pestering so in the end I gave in and they turned up and replaced my digital meter with an identical model. Even the OnStream contractor who turned up to install it agreed it was a waste of both my time and his.

Premier_2

Is it an electronic meter you have?

The battery only lasts 10 years and they replace the meter rather than the battery.

A mechanical meter, which they'll probably replace it with, should last about 20 years.
(except they keep threatening to replace all meters with smart meters by then)

utility_csa

Swipe wrote: »

It's unlikely it'll be a smart meter. OnStream insisted that they wanted to change my meter even though it had been in just 10 months and only had 2000 units on the clock. After ignoring the letters for a while they kept pestering and pestering so in the end I gave in and they turned up and replaced my digital meter with an identical model. Even the OnStream contractor who turned up to install it agreed it was a waste of both my time and his.

Its more than likely a smart meter if your a british gas customer and you live in north east england, scotland or the midlands.

Quick way to check if its a smart meter installation the reference on the letter will start S1504

if your not a british gas customer, it will be a standard policy exchange.

Swipe

utility_csa wrote: »

Its more than likely a smart meter if your a british gas customer and you live in north east england, scotland or the midlands.

Quick way to check if its a smart meter installation the reference on the letter will start S1504

if your not a british gas customer, it will be a standard policy exchange.

I was a British gas customer in the Midlands and mine was not a smart meter as I specifically asked the OnStream guy why not and he said they were only available on trial. This was in July. He said they were having a blitz in the Midlands and had to change other suppliers' meters to OnStream ones regardless of age.

GillM

Apologies for hijacking this thread but what exactly is a Smart meter? I keep hearing about them on this forum but haven't a clue what they are?

jd87

GillM wrote: »

Apologies for hijacking this thread but what exactly is a Smart meter? I keep hearing about them on this forum but haven't a clue what they are?

It means the meter sends your readings automatically to the company - with a smart meter you don't need to phone them up with your readings or worry about estimated bills.

ollski

jd87 wrote: »

It means the meter sends your readings automatically to the company - with a smart meter you don't need to phone them up with your readings or worry about estimated bills.

Unless you're with first utility of course!