New Meters

escortman

I have just received a letter from the National Grid saying I neeed a new meter, and they are coming to fit one next week. My meter is less than 10yrs old how long does one suppose to last? There is nothing wrong with the meter it was checked a few week's ago by N power. It is regular checked every 12 months.

msmicawber

Hi escortman,

I don't know how long electricity meters are supposed to last, but mine's about 9 years old and was replaced a few months ago in the same way that yours is about to be. There was nothing the matter with mine either. It doesn't cost you anything, and beats the hassle that you'd likely have if it were to become faulty.

My water meter was the same age, became faulty and I had to take time off work twice for the water company to come and check it then replace it; meantime, I had to pay vastly inflated bills, then claim the money back from them. The whole performance (including various phone calls to chase them when they didn't send forms or contact me when they said they would, etc.) was tiresome, so I was grateful when the electricity meter was replaced before it developed a fault.

ic

NPower aren't checking the meter, they're reading it. National Grid will replace the meter with another - and this one will be taken away, calibrated, serviced, cleaned, etc. After all you want to know the meter you has is reading correctly and isn't going to blow!

tripled

Some electricity meters are more than twenty year old, but if they want to replace it, why not let them get on with it?

Nilrem

IIRC they are meant to be replaced every XX years to ensure that the readings are accurate, and the meter is safe (and up to the latest safety standards).
I suspect the fact the new meters have barcodes etc on them to help speed up (and improve the accuracy*) of their readings has nothing to do with the change

I was talking to the guy who replaced our (about 15 year old) gas meter and he was doing about 6 in the street on the day he did ours, all about the same age.

I believe it should take about 30 minutes or so to do as the meters are designed to be replaced easily by the suppliers.



*It means the meter reader only has to enter the usage manually on a pda (so less chance of them putting number 12 arcadia avenue when it's really number 13, next to the reading).

maple41

Had our gas meter replaced 3 months ago and have just received an "annual review" of our monthly payments from edf and they wan't to double our monthly payment. When I called them, they advised that because the computer only bases the calculation on the meter that is currently fitted not the previous meter they only have a 3 month history and based on our summer useage we would be in debit in the winter.
Told them tough, and to stick with the current monthly payment as I know this works out ok over the 12 months (it did last year). CS rep said ok but if you go more than £150 in arrears at the next review they can ask for it all to be paid off. That's ok, I'm not giving edf an interest free loan over the summer!

Terrylw1

Hi,

All electricity meters have an expected life based on their type. Prepayment meters are about 12 years, mechanicals are around 25-30 years (the old types of meters) and the rest tend to fall in between.

The process is called Recertification and is required legally. They own the meter and have to adhere to these industry standards or they are liable in court if your meter becomes faulty and damages you or your property.

It's free, just a piece of advice, take the readings before it's changed and after just in case they mess your bill up or lose the readings in transit...