Switch my smart meter

imagine_1970

I have a Landis & Gyr Smart Meter installed, but since it has been in my bills have increased by about 30%, i am with First Utility.

I want to switch suppliers but equally not happy with the meter, who does not use these meters so when i swiych they have to change it?

many thanks in advance
robert

utility_csa

If you switch to any other supplier it will change back to a dumb meter, and be read manually.

Hardly anyone is going to change it, maybe you old meter was recording a 30% wrong!

imagine_1970

You may be right my old one could have been 30% out but i'll take my chances, a dumb one will do.

So to get a dumb one, which companies won't use a Landis & Gyr smart Meter?

macman

No, the meter won't be changed, it will just be used as a conventional meter.

[Deleted User]

Are you talking about an electric or gas smart meter?.you can switch supplier but the meter will lose its smart meter functionality and just be used as a normal meter.when smart meters replace economy 7 dual rate meters the truth comes out sometimes revealing the reversed billing of day and night rates,then along comes a catch up bill

imagine_1970

I was working off numbers using my old meter supplied by my both previous utility companies + 4 months with First Utility, no economy 7 just a normal meter.

I am told that to get it checked out will cost me, so i may as well change supplier as First Utility are an appalling company anyway.. BAD is too good a word for them.

cepheus

Don't smart meters simply measure and provide you with information? If so, unless you change your activity based on that information the smart meter should make no difference.

How do you conclude your 'bills have increased', have you compared readings over similar periods during the year?

Terrylw1

Smart meters are only measuring what is being used just like all other meters. So, its unlikely its an issue.

You need to understand what's actually wrong.'the first step is rule out the difference in charges per unit between your years and whether its connected to estimates. If you were underestimated in the previous year, some of this years could have been pulled into these new bills because the new meter will be allowing more accurate reading data.

It could also be that the old meter was low or the new one is fast. Thy may need to test the current one.

The same issues on the old meters will still exist with smart ones.

imagine_1970

I am only talking about Units not cost, my units have increased by 170 per month so that's a difference of around 2000 units a year.

I understand that the only way to measure your usage is talk in units because that should not change dramatically. Same house same number of rooms.

I have based these on actual readings and estimates in between
my previous 2 utility companies, so they are very accurate. I know the reading when the meter was taken out for instance and i also have readings back to 2007 ACTUAL not estimate given to me by British gas, they also gave me my readings but they are between ACTUAL readings so just fill the gaps.

So the units increased with the smart meter, like you say my old meter could have been wrong but there IS a difference between the 2 meters the numbers tell me this, a 40 month period gives someone a pretty good average usage.

Another question is, can i test myself?, is there a device that can check my actual usage (other than the meter obviously) to check its correct?

JoshBee25

Smart meters can only be supplied by certain suppliers, it's like E16/E8.5

Any company can take it over but becuase they don't support the type of meter you're on will be an industry cancellation.

Ring around the suppliers & ask them it's the best way.

Terrylw1

You've got some good data there between meter changes that would allow you to work out your daily averages.

Has your consumption changed at all? If not really which sounds like it from posts, then have you looked at the reads on the new meter to determine if it was OK but has experienced a jump at any point which may be significant.

The meter could have been set out of tolerence, it happens. It could have started speeding at a later time which a sharp increase to daily averages may show.

Not sure if any of the energy monitors would highlight this, others on this board are far more knowledgeable on them.

Your supplier can do a standard load test for the speed, they can also fit a check meter to ensure they move the same and the meter examiner is the last stage. Be very careful, if its faulty they need to change it like-for-like but make sure you are happy first because once its gone, its gone.