Eon want to change my electricity meter - can I refuse?

Pint_Of_Bass

Hi,


I switched to Eon a week ago via the MSE Cheap Energy Club collective deal. Yesterday I had a letter from Eon saying they need to change my electricity meter and asking me to take time off work to allow them to do it (they will only come Mon-Fri during the day).


My property is only ten years old and has a modern digital electricity meter. I suspect Eon want to install a smart meter, although the letter doesn't say so. I cannot believe there is a safety issue - it seems like a huge coincidence that a week after switching my meter has suddenly reached the end of its life.


My questions is essentially this: Can I refuse to let them change the meter? There has never been any suggestion of an issue with it before, and frankly I don't want a smart meter and I don't want to lose a day of annual leave to enable them to change something that doesn't need changing!


Any advice gratefully received!

[Deleted User]

You can t refuse it, but you can insist on a convenient time to call .Don t lose working hours or holiday days to suit Eon. You have the option to refuse a smart meter if for some reason you feel threatened by these new meters. Make an appointment for either evening or weekends. Its odd why a digital meter needs changing but many , such as the little white Ampy meters have been giving problems losing the readings. Either way the meter is the property of the local DNO and if they want to change it its up to them. Personally I m not concerned at all what type of meter is in my property, smart or otherwise .My BG fitter turned up on Saturday morning .

footyguy

Pint_Of_Bass wrote: »

Hi,


I switched to Eon a week ago via the MSE Cheap Energy Club collective deal. Yesterday I had a letter from Eon saying they need to change my electricity meter and asking me to take time off work to allow them to do it (they will only come Mon-Fri during the day).


My property is only ten years old and has a modern digital electricity meter. I suspect Eon want to install a smart meter, although the letter doesn't say so. I cannot believe there is a safety issue - it seems like a huge coincidence that a week after switching my meter has suddenly reached the end of its life.


My questions is essentially this: Can I refuse to let them change the meter? There has never been any suggestion of an issue with it before, and frankly I don't want a smart meter and I don't want to lose a day of annual leave to enable them to change something that doesn't need changing!


Any advice gratefully received!

Why is a replacement meter required?

e.g. Is it because the existing one is it is reaching it's end of life and it's accuracy may be impaired if it is not replaced?

Is it to install a PPM? If so, why?

Is it, as you possibly suggest, to install a smart meter?

With the exception of a smart meter, which I understand you can refuse, you can't usually refuse for other reasons. The supplier obviously needs to replace it to ensure it's ongoing accuracy or your safety or to protect against financial loss.

You will not get charged for these meter changes (assuming it is not because you have not damaged the existing meter, etc)

But if you object, I expect they will ultimately apply for a warrant if necessary, which they will charge you for.

Normally meters are changed Monday to Friday typically between 8am and 8pm.
But if you ask, they should be able to let you have a morning (typically 8am -1pm) afternoon (typically noon-5pm) or evening (typically 5pm -8pm) slot. They also probably do Saturday mornings too.

If you push hard, you might be able to even tie them down to a tighter slot, but that may take some sweet talking.

Call them, express your concerns, and see what you can arrange. You can't be working all those times.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Pint of Bass

Just to ease your mind, the switch to us and the meter exchange are unconnected. Thought it might help if I give you a bit of background about what I suspect is happening here. The meter is the property of the regional Meter Operator and it looks as though it's reached the end of its guaranteed life. At this point there's a legal duty to replace it.

Electricity meters are designed to last between 10 and 30 years. When they reach the end of their lifespan, the company who look after them (Meter Operators) contact customers to ask for an appointment to change the meter. These appointments are sometimes known as a recertification or statutory meter change. In your particular case, it looks as though we're both the supplier and the Meter Operator. This is quite usual and you would've received the letter regardless of whether or not we supply the property.

A recertification or statutory meter exchange replaces the existing meter with a similar but more up to date type. If you don't have a Smart Meter at the moment, one won't be fitted during this work. It'll be a like for like change only. There's no charge for this and the work usually takes about 30 minutes. The power will need to be off whilst the job's done.

Our Meter Operators are separate to other parts of the company and look after statutory changes exclusively so it's best to phone the number on the letter. They'll be able to tell you what other time slots are available apart from those outlined in the letter. I'm sure we'll be able to find one to better suit your needs.

As footyguy says, there's no need to take a Smart Meter if you don't want one. Although we're fitting them now, it's only with the customer's agreement. It may even be we're not able to fit one at your property at the moment. It depends on the region and current metering set up as to whether properties can have them. This, though, is changing all the time. If it's of interest, you can keep up to date with smart developments on our website.

Hope this explains Pint of Bass. Let me know if you need any more information as happy to help.

Malc

cing0

email mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com and make an appointment for a month after your fixed tariff ends. Change supplier when this comes around and cancel the appointment saying your no longer a customer of E.on.

When the E.on rep is saying is rubbish. If seen properties with elec meters over 30 years old which haven't been replaced.

JC_Derby

sacsquacco wrote: »

Either way the meter is the property of the local DNO .

That's not actually (always) the case.

JC_Derby

cing0 wrote: »

email [EMAIL="mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com"]mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com[/EMAIL] and make an appointment for a month after your fixed tariff ends. Change supplier when this comes around and cancel the appointment saying your no longer a customer of E.on.

When the E.on rep is saying is rubbish. If seen properties with elec meters over 30 years old which haven't been replaced.

Which doesn't make what the E.on rep is saying rubbish. It just means that the meter hasn't been changed.

FreddieFrugal

You sure it says you have to be there? Our meter was changed by Eon a year ago. Same sort of circumstances as you. But it did say on the letter that you did not need to be at home for the installation so long as your meter was accessible. Ours is on outside of house, so just left garden gate unlocked on that day. Was done by time I got home from work.

Obviously if you're mid terrace and the meter is inside the garage or whatever that's a different matter.

Skools_Out

cing0 wrote: »

email [EMAIL="mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com"]mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com[/EMAIL] and make an appointment for a month after your fixed tariff ends. Change supplier when this comes around and cancel the appointment saying your no longer a customer of E.on.

When the E.on rep is saying is rubbish. If seen properties with elec meters over 30 years old which haven't been replaced.

It doesn't work like that.

The meter is owned by a third party. (e.g. Siemens) It will be they that have identified the meter is due for exchange and they or their agent that will carry out the work.
Switching supplier will not change the requirement for the meter to be exchanged.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

cing0 wrote: »

email [EMAIL="mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com"]mysmartmeter@eonenergy.com[/EMAIL] and make an appointment for a month after your fixed tariff ends. Change supplier when this comes around and cancel the appointment saying your no longer a customer of E.on.

When the E.on rep is saying is rubbish. If seen properties with elec meters over 30 years old which haven't been replaced.

Hi cing0 and sorry if I wasn't clear before.

The letter Pint of Bass has received and our Smart Meter programme are different kettles of fish. The letter concerns a statutory exchange now the existing meter has reached the end of its guaranteed life. It will be changed on a like for like basis so Pint of Bass will have the same type as now but more up to date. As Skools_Out says, switching supplier won't affect this. The Meter Operator will still need to change the meter.

Totally understand, there may be electricity meters over 30 years old still about but, where we're the Meter Operator, we'll be looking to change these. There are also different models with different shelf lives so there's not a one size fits all.

The email address you've quoted is primarily for information about and requests for Smart Meters.

Hope this explains cing0. Let me know if you need any more information as happy to help.

Malc

Cardew

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi cing0 and sorry if I wasn't clear before.

Rest assured you were both accurate and perfectly clear in your previous post; it wasn't you talking rubbish!!