Smart meters - which suppliers support?

Woofwoof

I am having a British Gas installation of a smart meter next week. Today I tried to change energy supplier to Sainsbury's (run by British Gas) and, guess what, they don't support smart meters!

I gather from other posts that OVO support smart meters (which may be a different type to BG's). Can anyone advise of other suppliers that do support smart meters?

The meter is being changed because we informed our energy supplier of solar panel installation.

Many thanks

Bark01

The SMART meter will still work with other suppliers, it'll just loose its SMART functionality.

GingerBob_3

Woofwoof wrote: »

I am having a British Gas installation of a smart meter next week. Today I tried to change energy supplier to Sainsbury's (run by British Gas) and, guess what, they don't support smart meters!

I gather from other posts that OVO support smart meters (which may be a different type to BG's). Can anyone advise of other suppliers that do support smart meters?

The meter is being changed because we informed our energy supplier of solar panel installation.

Many thanks

Why would anyone want a smart meter?

[Deleted User]

Sainsburys Energy definitely support smart meters. I switched to them a few months ago with my smart meters. British Gas have been installing smart meters for approx 7 years.

Woofwoof

I don't particularly want a smart meter, other than the info they display may be useful, but I don't think it will give me a great saving on my bill. I understand most households will have them by 2020, and they seem designed to benefit the utility companies rather than the consumer.

I have to have a new meter because my solar panels are making the current electric one go backwards ....! It is a free of charge installation.

I have made a few calls and in addition to Sainsburys, neither OVO or EDF will support the British Gas supplied smart meter. So, I suppose I am no worse off than I am at present if I switch utility supplier, I just won't get the smart meter additional info which may help with how I am using my electric.

Thanks for your replies.

MNM2903

GingerBob wrote: »

Why would anyone want a smart meter?

Whats wrong with having a smart meter? Not having a pop here im just curious what the downside is. I thought this was something which allowed you to see how much you were using and better manage your usage.

Is there a downside ive missed as we have just recently switched from Npower to OVO as it seemed we would save money. We currently use PAYG meters.

macman

A dumb 'meter' also allows you to see how much you are using...

Nada666

There's nothing wrong with them - other than the expense (spread across all customers' bills, not by installation.)

If you don't have the common sense to use the readings from a standard credit meter to help manage your usage then the more complex display of a smart meter will be useless to you.

MNM2903

The meters we have in are really on PAYG Meters. When i say we i mean my parents.

They switched to OVO and the smart meters were free installation havent been made aware of any additional charges or costs because of them. I will look in to that though.

GingerBob_3

mullen8627 wrote: »

Whats wrong with having a smart meter? Not having a pop here im just curious what the downside is. I thought this was something which allowed you to see how much you were using and better manage your usage.

Is there a downside ive missed as we have just recently switched from Npower to OVO as it seemed we would save money. We currently use PAYG meters.

Think "NPower", then think "NPower and Smart Meters". This is just an example of how things WILL go wrong when the likes of Npower have total control over your energy consumption. They will be able to switch you on to pre-pay without warning, or switch you off altogether. When you move to a new property with a smart meter you'll be on PAYG by default.

In an ideal world smart meters would be a benefit, but in a world of unregulated energy providers who now report you to the CRAs and generally make your life a misery, smart meters are a menace about to be visited on anyone stupid enough to accept one.

MNM2903

Why would they reference on a CRA when my parents are using PAYG. Going to have to look over the paperwork they signed up to on this. They havent installed smart meters yet, is refusing them an option?