Smart meters - what is the catch?

millie

I am with GB energy and have an appointment next week to have a smart meter fitted. Do they replace the whole meter or just the screen. My gas meter is in the downstairs toilet and is a bit of an obstruction because of its size. I have agreed to have it fitted because I thought the new one would be smaller but if its not I will cancel it and wait a while.

spiro

eli_jean wrote: »

Hi all,

I have one question. Who else apart from the basic providers (BG, Eon, EDF, Ovo) can provide a certain property with a smart meter?
For ex. a small real estate agency has 50 properties and they need to install 50 gas and elec. smart meters, can they get the deal from a private company?

Are there private companies that can get you to buy the meters for a cheaper price?

You can't fit your own meter.

spiro

millie wrote: »

I am with GB energy and have an appointment next week to have a smart meter fitted. Do they replace the whole meter or just the screen. My gas meter is in the downstairs toilet and is a bit of an obstruction because of its size. I have agreed to have it fitted because I thought the new one would be smaller but if its not I will cancel it and wait a while.

Whole meter.

paulsad

I'm not bothering as I'd have to upgrade my fuse box as mine's an older type.

sarate

Hi I cant find a new post button Im new to the site soa am posting here in the hope someone will read it and either respond to my problem or explain how to add a new post as I cant find anything dealing with my situation its all abit complicated have a prepayment electric meter which has started clocking up credit in amounts of a few pence every few hours I have a key which I usually buy the credit but its suddenly started adding money without me having put any money. I put £40 on and went awy for three weeks so was surprised on my reeturn to find it showing £53 odd its now up to £80 so Im wanting to know what my position is legally if I do nothing. Normally I dont add credit until it runs out so its quite feasible I woudnt even know this is happening. Anyone else had the same situation or can help with the legal aspect if I do nothing. Is there a limit to the amount of credit one can have?

[Deleted User]

paulsad wrote: »

I'm not bothering as I'd have to upgrade my fuse box as mine's an older type.

Wouldn't have thought it would affect the fuse box. I have an old school fuse box with wireable fuses and they changed the old spinning wheel meter for a white box LCD one and didn't touch the fuse box.

badmemory

sarate wrote: »

Hi I cant find a new post button Im new to the site soa am posting here in the hope someone will read it and either respond to my problem or explain how to add a new post as I cant find anything dealing with my situation its all abit complicated have a prepayment electric meter which has started clocking up credit in amounts of a few pence every few hours I have a key which I usually buy the credit but its suddenly started adding money without me having put any money. I put £40 on and went awy for three weeks so was surprised on my reeturn to find it showing £53 odd its now up to £80 so Im wanting to know what my position is legally if I do nothing. Normally I dont add credit until it runs out so its quite feasible I woudnt even know this is happening. Anyone else had the same situation or can help with the legal aspect if I do nothing. Is there a limit to the amount of credit one can have?

If I were you I would ring your supplier & complain. Making absolutely sure that you get a complaint number. Someone elses payments are getting credited to you in error and eventually the proverbial is going to hit the fan and they will put the debt on your meter if you don't do something. At least if you have complained you stand a chance of getting a few pounds compensation to make the financial hit less. Make sure you save what you should be spending on the meter.

It isn't really a matter of legalities as such. If you have used the power then you will need to pay for it. Someone somewhere is topping up their account and will eventually realise that something has gone wrong, so the sooner you ring the more likely you are to get in first. Honesty is definitely the best policy!

MarjT

I am constantly getting phone calls from British Gas, to let them give me a date for an engineer to come and fit the smart meter on my gas and one on my electric meter.

I can't see the benefit for myself, they say you will never have an estimated bill again, I don't now and haven't done in years, I go online and send my meter readings in on the due date.
I get a Man checking my meters roughly about every 2 years.

They say I will be able to see what energy I am using, I don't want to see what I am using, we are both pensioners here, if I knew what I was using I would probably turn the heating off and both die of hypothermia.

This thread was started 2015, so wondering if anyone can offer new advice now its 2017.

System

MarjT wrote: »

I am constantly getting phone calls from British Gas, to let them give me a date for an engineer to come and fit the smart meter on my gas and one on my electric meter.

I can't see the benefit for myself, they say you will never have an estimated bill again, I don't now and haven't done in years, I go online and send my meter readings in on the due date.
I get a Man checking my meters roughly about every 2 years.

They say I will be able to see what energy I am using, I don't want to see what I am using, we are both pensioners here, if I knew what I was using I would probably turn the heating off and both die of hypothermia.

This thread was started 2015, so wondering if anyone can offer new advice now its 2017.

Wait, wait and wait. BG are still rolling out SMETS1 meters which are supplier dependent. If you are keen on getting a smart meter then, from 2018 onwards, all smart meters will be SMETS2 compliant which will allow supplier switching.

FOREVER21

Hengus wrote: »

Wait, wait and wait. BG are still rolling out SMETS1 meters which are supplier dependent. If you are keen on getting a smart meter then, from 2018 onwards, all smart meters will be SMETS2 compliant which will allow supplier switching.

I don't think from the tone of their post MarjT, is keen on getting a smart meter.

MarjT, I am in the similar position to you, keep getting asked if I want a smart meter. I don't, I too know how much electricity/gas is used by various appliances and submit regular meter readings and never get estimated bills.

Do as I do just keep refusing, it is not compulsory to have smart meters.