Smart meters - what is the catch?

House_Martin

Deleted_User wrote: »

What I really want to know is why I was made to have my old mechanical spinny wheel meter replaced with a small white box LCD meter. I was told in a random letter that turned up one day that it had to be replaced due age and that if I didn't allow them then they would get a court order and do it anyway.

This was a few years ago now but I still see what looks like even older mechanical meters still in use elsewhere. Why haven't these been replaced due to age then?

Yes, I have an old analogue meter, its a Sangamo Weston with a rotating ring.
No date on it.These meters are the favourites of solar panel users .They have a party trick that they run backwards throughout a sunny day taking off units used last night, as well as crediting the FIT meter, that is if the occupiers usage is low in the daytime as it is usually if they are out at work or very little electricity is used
There is a huge number of them still around. They are faulty meters and should have been changed on day one that solar panels were installed.
We are paying, in higher prices,just like the smart meter install for all the free energy these people are getting.
I see lots of Sangamo Weston meters every day as a meter reader, and many have solar panels.
Some canny occupiers will try a few tricks to delay the exchange, like simply not opening the door to the meter fitter, feigning abscence.
No supplier will take out at warrant of access, to my knowledge, simply to get access to a meter exchange, so I m very surprised a meter fitter came out with that statement about a warrant. I think he would get a reprimand if you complained because its not true.
We meter readers get hauled over the coals nowadays if we make idle threats like that
The suppliers are now in charge of fitting new digital smart meters.It used to be in the hands of the local DNO

cjmillsnun

Deleted_User wrote: »

What I really want to know is why I was made to have my old mechanical spinny wheel meter replaced with a small white box LCD meter. I was told in a random letter that turned up one day that it had to be replaced due age and that if I didn't allow them then they would get a court order and do it anyway.

This was a few years ago now but I still see what looks like even older mechanical meters still in use elsewhere. Why haven't these been replaced due to age then?

Meters have a period that their calibration is valid for. This depends on the make and model of the meter, and yes they can and do get warrants for out of cal meters as they cannot guarantee they are reading correctly. Remember this is what your bill is based on. It is in your interest that it is calibrated correctly.

If you do have solar PVs, be wary if your meter runs backwards. Again if discovered it will get changed and a correction figure applied.

AndyCF

I do wonder if some of the objections to them is partly due to the UI on them being designed with little thought to the end user. Something that is apparent on other devices sometimes.

The one I have now (which does not quite work but more about that another time, they are coming back to sort it again) there's a numerical keypad and from what I gather various buttons are needed to see its stats.

My previous 'key meter' although it had an LCD it was a joy to use really. The display was clear and it showed the credits and each press on one single button would switch the display to (in my case) : units used, the rates, the total monies, any debt (0 for me) , the charge for this per week (again 0) amongst other things.

The point here being it would stay on that display output you chose for long enough to read it and more importantly a small block of text would show too, making it " plain as day " what the figure you were looking at was for, there was no doubt.

[Deleted User]

House_Martin wrote: »

Yes, I have an old analogue meter, its a Sangamo Weston with a rotating ring.
No date on it.These meters are the favourites of solar panel users .They have a party trick that they run backwards throughout a sunny day taking off units used last night, that is if the occupiers usage is low in the daytime as it is usually if they are out at work or very little electricity is used
There is a huge number of them still around.
I see lots of every day as a meter reader.
Some canny occupiers will try a few tricks to delay the exchange, like simply not opening the door to the meter fitter, feigning abscence.
No supplier will take out at warrant of access, to my knowledge, simply to get access to a meter exchange, so I m very surprised a meter fitter came out with that statement about a warrant. I think he would get a reprimand if you complained because its not true.
We meter readers get hauled over the coals nowadays if we make idle threats like that
The suppliers are now in charge of fitting new digital smart meters.It used to be in the hands of the local DNO

The letter mentioned about the warrant on the 2nd or 3rd reminder I received before actually getting round to making an appointment for them to come round and replace the meter. The guy who turned up to do it didn't say anything, infact I have no idea where he came from as he never showed ID or left any paperwork. Not even the card with the new meter reading on which I found out at a later date that they were supposed to leave with me.

This is partially due to one of the reasons why I never let meter readers in these days, they knock at door and stand and stare and grumble something along the lines of "meter reader". Don't show ID or anything and I shouldn't have to ask, they should have it out ready.

House_Martin

Deleted_User wrote: »

The letter mentioned about the warrant on the 2nd or 3rd reminder I received before actually getting round to making an appointment for them to come round and replace the meter. The guy who turned up to do it didn't say anything, infact I have no idea where he came from as he never showed ID or left any paperwork. Not even the card with the new meter reading on which I found out at a later date that they were supposed to leave with me.

This is partially due to one of the reasons why I never let meter readers in these days, they knock at door and stand and stare and grumble something along the lines of "meter reader". Don't show ID or anything and I shouldn't have to ask, they should have it out ready.

The letters they send out are standard "threatograms " . In practice it is the last thing they want to do is to go down to the local Magistrates and queue up on a Monday to try and apply for a warrant of access for something as mundane as a meter swap. I doubt the Beak will sign it .It costs around £150, if a locksmith is needed thats approx another £100 on top, so a possible £250 total.
I work for Scottish Power, ( and ( BG, EDF ) and a colleague of mine started work for them on Revenue Protection. At the training he was told that they will not apply for more than 12 warrants a year, and that is for meter fiddling, so there is no chance suppliers will go down that route merely to get there foot in the door to exchange a meter.
Npower send out these "threatograms " for the same thing but they are unlikely to apply them.Talk is cheap.
As for a meter reader at your doorstep, he is supposed to display his I.D. at all times.
It should be hanging from his neck on full view with his photo and I.D. number.
Suppliers will deal with complaints about meter readers usually with a £25 compensation. That is what BG pay anyway