Crafty NIE (Keypad)

hazelc56

mrsmac1 wrote: »

The last time NIE put their prices up & I had £200+ credit on my keypad meter I don't remember them taking any money off me when i eventually input the 40 digit code

That aside.. if what the posters above say is true and NIE do take the money off the next top up - then what would happen if I use up my £200+ credit at the pre-increase rate then switch to Budget energy?? surely NIE couldn't bill me??? this makes no sense

I think i would switch now before NIE do put up their prices and get the benefit of the cheaper rate with budget energy....why wait.
(which i already have done by the way).After all budget energy is currently still 14% cheaper than nie.

hazelc56

Well guys and gals,My switchover to Budget Energy is now complete.Lets hope there are some good savings to be made over the coming winter.Good luck to all those in the proceeds of switching and to those who are intending to switch in the future.
Thanks for all your replies.

wacko911

yorkie98 wrote: »

The meters DO have 2 way comms, have you not ever noticed that when you enter a powercode it says "SENDING"?

Like I say I'm pretty new to keypads, It could mean its sending to the meter not to some central network, if there was 2 way comms then when you topup your meter would auto update, I think the reason you have to enter a code and someone has to read your meter is there is no talkback.

Found this on google:

2.2 Pre-pay electricity in Northern Ireland
NIE (the main electricity company in Northern Ireland) has been installing the Liberty
Keypad meter (manufactured by PRI) , since 2000. The Keypad meter in fact operates as a
“semi smart” meter, because it does not incorporate a two way communication module.
Communication between the meter and the supplier and vice versa (credit activation,
meter readings etc) is via the customer inserted vend code, obtained when the customer
buys credit either from agents (such as pay point) or by telephone or internet using a debit
card.

yorkie98

wacko911 wrote: »

Like I say I'm pretty new to keypads, It could mean its sending to the meter not to some central network, if there was 2 way comms then when you topup your meter would auto update, I think the reason you have to enter a code and someone has to read your meter is there is no talkback.

Found this on google:

2.2 Pre-pay electricity in Northern Ireland
NIE (the main electricity company in Northern Ireland) has been installing the Liberty
Keypad meter (manufactured by PRI) , since 2000. The Keypad meter in fact operates as a
“semi smart” meter, because it does not incorporate a two way communication module.
Communication between the meter and the supplier and vice versa (credit activation,
meter readings etc) is via the customer inserted vend code, obtained when the customer
buys credit either from agents (such as pay point) or by telephone or internet using a debit
card.

Wikipedia by any chance??

hazelc56

rolo1 wrote: »

Ditch NIE and move to Budget or Airtricity ASAP

Thanks rolo for alerting me to Budget energy.I didnt even know they existed....Have switched to them now.

hazelc56

Would any of you switchers to Budget energy like to return here in 6 months time to discuss how we all got on?..ie was it a good idea or not,did we save much etc.
Airtricity switchers welcome too of course.We can maybe compare notes.

hazelc56

hazelc56 wrote: »

Would any of you switchers to Budget energy like to return here in 6 months time to discuss how we all got on?..ie was it a good idea or not,did we save much etc.
Airtricity switchers welcome too of course.We can maybe compare notes.

Lets say the end of February 2012.That gives us 2 seasons to get through.

Silvercloud

Yeah that would be fine Hazel,provided we can still afford electricity to power our computers by then.Ever the pessimist...

hazelc56

Silvercloud wrote: »

Yeah that would be fine Hazel,provided we can still afford electricity to power our computers by then.Ever the pessimist...

Great Silvercloud hope to see you then...keep your optimism high.:D

sill

Having been banking electric for years on my keypad and thank you for giving the facts about meter. To late now for some people just goes to prove that looking at things for yourself is a good idea , just to say if price goes down(ha,ha) and you have money in meter put 40digitcode in asap to get cheaper price .