Switching suppliers with a Smart meter

mrsdawson2010

I've just done a comparison with USwitch and gone for EDFs Fixed 2012 tariff. We have a smart meter (currently with BG) and have done since November last year. How will this affect reading the meters? Will we have to update with an actual reading before each bill is issued like we used to? Or will the company be able to read it using the technology that BG do?

Very confused!

spiro

The meter you have is a trial meter, DECC have not finalised the specification for smart meters.

Yes if you change supplier from the one who installed the trial meter then it is highly likely that you will have to go back to submitting meter readings.

uSwitch_company_representative

Hi,

As far as we know, these smart meters revert to being a 'dumb' meter when you switch to a new supplier.

This means the meter will still work and you don't need to have a new one fitted or anything, but you will have to go back to sending meter readings yourself.

It's not ideal, I know, especially if you'd enjoyed the convenieince of your smart meter. It's because there are no universal standards for smart meters at the moment, so the meter from one supplier won't carry on working in the same way if you switch to another.

Lauren

macman

If the big 6 are organised enough to get together and agree their pricing (allegedly), surely they can get together and agree a common standard for smart meters?

mrsdawson2010

Thanks everyone. That's a big help. I've emailed the EDF rep from this forum so hope to get a more definitive answer.

It's the first time we've ever switched (ever! and I've been living with hubby for 4 years, married for 1!) I've finally managed to persuade him that we need to start sorting out bills as my maternity leave finishes soon and I'm not going back to my previous job as it was an hour's commute and I'm the only one who drives so need to be here for our baby. We need to start money saving! He had a bad experience with npower a few years back where everything got ballsed up and he had a right hassle trying to sort it all out so that's kinda put him off switching again.

uSwitch_company_representative

macman wrote: »

If the big 6 are organised enough to get together and agree their pricing (allegedly), surely they can get together and agree a common standard for smart meters?

I think the industry standard is being set by the government/Ofgem ahead of 2020, when they'll be rolled out across the whole country.