First Utility/Siemens Smart Meter. How does it work?

Nortech

Hengus wrote: »

Information on any IHD (which I assume is what you are talking about) is only advisory. Billing is based on the actual smart meter readings - passed to the supplier by the smart meter. Check bills by reading your meter if you are concerned.

I checked with FU technical, the readings sent by the meters to the display are the same as the ones sent to FU. The elec readings will be the same, but the gas reading is subjected to a 1.02641 multiple to allow for gas expansion.
I did a quick sum, and the display after doing the calc was exactly the same as the online ones.
So that answers my question.

bruckshaw1

My assumptions proved wrong.

Here is what actually happened. On the day I changed supplier from BG to FU the BG in-house display became totally redundant,

I had found the BG display very useful so I asked FU to install their smart meters. That has been done but the installer gave me no instruction on the use of the display or how to read the meters.
When the BG meters were installed the display worked immediately. Not so with the FU meters. It took days for the electricity tariff to be sent and after over a week I still have no gas tariff installed on the display. I have to go outside to read the meters to work out my gas cost figures.
The FU display has several design faults and is rubbish. The two critical faults are that you cannot access the meter readings on it and that the usage level warning lights are not visible 100% of the time. If you do access them they disappear after a few seconds when the display reverts to standby mode (account). That is ridiculous ..... no way to see that the cooker has been left on? I am very disappointed with the display. The BG one was great.

molerat

Nortech wrote: »

I checked with FU technical, the readings sent by the meters to the display are the same as the ones sent to FU. The elec readings will be the same, but the gas reading is subjected to a 1.02641 multiple to allow for gas expansion.
I did a quick sum, and the display after doing the calc was exactly the same as the online ones.
So that answers my question.

Unless the supplier is uploading CV data to the meter daily, data they do not receive until next day, the IHD kWh use can only be an estimate. Adding daily figures also can never be accurate because billing is based on an average CV value over a billing period and not against individual daily readings.

Nortech

molerat wrote: »

Unless the supplier is uploading CV data to the meter daily, data they do not receive until next day, the IHD kWh use can only be an estimate. Adding daily figures also can never be accurate because billing is based on an average CV value over a billing period and not against individual daily readings.

I agree, but at least I now know we are only talking about a few pence a month on the Gas, I hope .
Changing the subject slightly, Thursday I got a message on the IHD from FU "Please wake up the meter by pressing button B on the gas meter".
So I did as requested and now it's not sending the daily record of Gas usage to FU, only Elec, but both to my IHD. I guess this is the start of many more problems getting the correct bill.

Mechanic57

I was also concerned as to how FU’s Siemens meter worked. My concern was if it required access to my Internet account. I called FU direct and requested a direct answer to the questions and, surprisingly, FU were very open and straight forward. Apparently the units feed back their data via standard GSM mobile data transfer. They are equipped with their own SIM card and are preprogrammed to “phone Home”. Now this will require the unit to consume power so I’m assuming it will either be too small to measure or will be accounted for in a discount to billing.

NormCloud

I was supplied by First Utility until end May following a 12 month fix, when I changed to Together Energy to obtain a lower cost Fixed deal. In April First energy contractor Siemens installed Smart meters for both commodities. The Electricity meter fitting is fine, the Gas meter fitting has made it impossible to read without adopting a fairy or a camera. Together don't use Smart meter tech yet, since Phase 1 are rubbish - the IHD does not indicate consumption of either in kWh or Cubic feet, just how cost - & this is preset to FU tariff any way. Complaints about installation have fallen on jobsworth deaf ears in FU & Siemens. This has become a useless exercise in my case, and time consuming since I supply monthly readings to TE & do my own calculations on usage, who, although helpful when contacted, are unable to resolve until the rollout of Stage 2 on their part. Total waste of space and probably a nice fat bonus for whoever thought up this crazy idea!

trickytree1963

NormCloud wrote: »

I was supplied by First Utility until end May following a 12 month fix, when I changed to Together Energy to obtain a lower cost Fixed deal. In April First energy contractor Siemens installed Smart meters for both commodities. The Electricity meter fitting is fine, the Gas meter fitting has made it impossible to read without adopting a fairy or a camera. Together don't use Smart meter tech yet, since Phase 1 are rubbish - the IHD does not indicate consumption of either in kWh or Cubic feet, just how cost - & this is preset to FU tariff any way. Complaints about installation have fallen on jobsworth deaf ears in FU & Siemens. This has become a useless exercise in my case, and time consuming since I supply monthly readings to TE & do my own calculations on usage, who, although helpful when contacted, are unable to resolve until the rollout of Stage 2 on their part. Total waste of space and probably a nice fat bonus for whoever thought up this crazy idea!

Getting Smart meters installed in April then switching suppliers in May probably wasn't the best idea though.