The Great Hunt: How smart is your smart meter?

Mikeyboy01

I got a smart meter installed in May the 3rd both Gas and electric but what a nightmare since installed I have never to date got a gas bill seemingly I need a boaster cable so the gas can read the meter and send it to the electric meter so not had a bill and was worried as yet still not had a bill have now went to the ombudsman. The electric meter has worked but was not given any info as it is very basic. I wanted PAYG+ and came from a dry meter. I honestly feel the companies don't know enough about it. I am with OVO energy.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

dewdrop87 wrote: »

Had one installed by OVO voluntarily. Changed to EON and they can't read it. Totally useless!!

Hi dewdrop87

As above in my reply to bonjan (post 18), you're right, the meter won't operate as smart as it was fitted by another supplier. It'll revert to a conventional meter where readings need to be taken manually.

All suppliers are working to fix this but, in the meantime, you could also be eligible for one of our Smart Meters. If you're interested, pop through the form on our website. This will register your interest and we'll be in touch to let you know the options available. There's more information about what you can expect from our Smart Meters in the same section too.

Hope this is of interest dewdrop87.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

LouiseJessejump wrote: »

Yes, I have a Smart meter for my electricity.

I received a letter informing me that my old meter was faulty and needed replacing. (It wasn't faulty, I have reduced our electricity use massively about 2 years before meter was fitted) On speaking to the fitters, Eon thought I was tapping into the streetlights outside or had bypassed the meter, lol. Not once did they think I could just be being more economical. Anyway, had it fitted about 2 years ago.


Works brilliantly, proves to Eon that my old meter was correct, I can see what is using electricity, how much and we have a tickover of 1p/hr when everything is off which surprised the fitter when we first activated it. I also use the Eon App to look at usage graphs etc.


You need a good Network Signal for it to send data, I think it uses O2 in my area. Not had any problems at all with it.


My Husband hates the fact that I can check usage while I am away and he is home alone, usage goes up as he leave all the lights on, TV on etc when he is not even in the room, what a rebel.


I say to everyone, GET ONE FITTED AND LEARN HOW NOT TO WASTE MONEY.


Our electricity bill works out at about £18 a month. Eon used to ask for £28 a month for my Direct Debit, now things are more reliable.


We have gas cooker, boil a kettle on there using only right amount of water. I have installed a log burner too.


I want one for Gas, will get on fitted as soon as I can.


I could teach anyone how to save money on electricity use, if they are willing to learn.


My only 'gripe' with it, is that the display unit needs to be constantly plugged in and switched on and that it works out at a cost of 14p a year to my electricity bill, �� I did mention that to the fitter ��

Hi LouiseJessejump and welcome to the Forums.

It's great you've achieved the energy savings you have and that you're using the Energy Display to help with this. Glad the usage information through the App is useful too.

Have you had chance to look at some of the other energy saving pages on our website? Some great tips to help you save a bit more. If not, when you've a minute, check these out particularly the 'Saving Energy Toolkit.' Although, from what you say, I suspect I'm trying to teach you how to suck eggs. Might help with your husband though.

You're right, a good network signal is needed. Sounds like you've one of the later types of display as these cost about 18p a year to run.

We're not currently fitting gas only Smart Meters as they work through the electricity meter. As your electricity meter is already smart, though, might be an idea to talk to one of our dedicated Smart Teams. See what the implications are or, if indeed, it's possible.

Before I go, thought I'd just mention the 'Direct Debit Manager.' This gives you more control of the payment arrangement including being able to change the amount. Comes in handy should circumstances change. Provided the account is billed up to the latest meter readings, payments can be changed by up to 20 per cent up or down. By up to 5 per cent up or down without readings. Before confirming the new amount, we'll let you know by how much we anticipate the account will be in credit/debit by the time of the annual review it payments are changed but usage doesn't alter as expected.

Hope this is of interest LouiseJessejump and well done again on the savings.

Malc

zorro56

Had an OVO smart meter fitted Aug 28th, no signal, after 3 emails they rang me and an engineer fitted an aerial 3rd Nov still doesn't work. I now have to go back to a prepayment meter. Seemingly the tech is not there to use my fibre broadband router to connect. Back to square one, trips to my local pay point to top up boring and paying more per unit.

[Deleted User]

marilou66 wrote: »

I had one installed by OVO a couple weeks ago. It's probably very good, but it doesn't suit me(*) and obviously after changing the meters, OVO doesn't want to change them back again, which I totally understand.
The reasons why it doesn't suit me are: due to a past mistake in a provider reading (or rather estimating but showing as reading), I got in the habit of checking my meters at the end of every week (very useful when I forgot to switch off). But the new meters are impossible to read: the electricity meter is way too high and although I could read the large white digits on the black background in the past, it is impossible to read the new, tiny, faint ones on the LCD. The gas meter has the same problem, but in addition when you press 9 to read the meter, it only shows for a flicker - no good with those numbers on the LCD.
I have contacted Ovo who said that it wasn't possible to do a weekly reading, though it was possible to check the readings monthly online. When I compared these at the end of October, there was a big discrepancy between that reading and the ones I took last year for that period. Something to do, possibly, according to them: there is a chance that previous the meters used to clock in cubic feet not cubic metres which would cause this confusion.'
On the positive side, Ovo are marvellous at getting back to you, which compared to NPower and Scottish Power added to the fact that they are a green energy provider, is a big plus.

I have the same problem all day. I use a torch shone above the meter. There are some absolutely horrible meters around, some where I have to use a mirror and see the readings back to front.

Stangi

Eight years ago Powergen (now E on) changed me to what they said was a smart meter, when I had a pre-pay one removed. I later changed supplier and have to email my meter readings. Trouble is, the meter is above my head level, am an OAP who has to climb to see it and it does not light up when I press the display, so I also need to use a torch. Pretty useless really. The gas one is similar in that I have to stand on the loo lid to read it, but at least that one does light up!!

Graham03

Yeah SSE installed two for me (electricity and gas at the same time). It cost me nothing, and didn't affect my subsequent bills. But I almost immediately discovered that the monitor kept comparing my usage to 'targets' I'd never agreed upon - which was irritating. And after a very short time its batteries went flat and I couldn't be bothered to replace them. So now it's just taking up space in a cupboard. I'm no worse off for having it, but no better either.

happyinflorida

maroon_jelly wrote: »

I had smart meters for gas and electric fitted by British Gas on Friday.

Big mistake.

I received a call saying they were updating pay as you go meters so I went along with it. First engineers appointment was cancelled by BG, 4 hours after they were due to turn up. Second appointment was arranged for 4 weeks later.

So, the engineer arrives, tells me it's going to take around 2 hours.

2 hours later the job was done. He checked the gas hob and was happy the supply was backed on. Showed me how to use the monitor and left.

20 mins after he left I noticed the boiler wasn't working, no hot water or heating. I called BG and they flat out denied it was anything to do with them. I have a 10 week old baby, my main concern was getting the boiler back on. BG agreed to send out an engineer. He arrived within 30 mins and said if he takes the cover off the boiler I will be charged £79! It's a rented house so I can't agree to anything without informing the agent. It's now 6pm on a Friday.

The best the engineer could say without removing the cover is the fan is broke. Back on the phone to BG, they said if I can get a report off an independent engineer to prove BG were at fault they would send another engineer and cover the costs.

When the estate agent sent an independent engineer he said the PCB had gone and he would replace it so I didn't have to wait any longer or get in a debate with BG. The boiler had been off 4 days!

To top it all off, 12 hours after receiving the monitor the power lead stopped working. I phoned to see if they could send a new one and they said they'd have to send an engineer. So another day sat in waiting for them!

Give me back the old meters!

You should have got permission first for doing this - did you? If I was your landlord I would be really annoyed with you as a tennant for getting a smart meter fitted, especially as it's all gone so wrong and is going to cost me money. You'd probably be getting notice to leave.

spowers

We had a smart meter fitted by First Utility a couple of months ago. When the letter arrived we phoned Siemens helpline to ask whether the data was transmitted over broadband or mobile signal. We never got a straight answer but were assured it wouldn't be a problem, despite us having less than 0.5mb broadband and a pretty pathetic mobile signal, as the engineer would bring a "booster". The engineer duly arrived, complete with "booster", but confirmed that we couldn't have a smart meter - I would love one! - all he could do was replace the old meter with a digital one. I have no information about usage and still have to read the meter and submit my readings monthly. What was the point and how much has that added to my (and everyone else's) bill?

[Deleted User]

trace365166 wrote: »

yes i have switched to dual fuel smart meter with british gas voluntarily. Though it makes you mindful of consumption my usage hasnt changed. Main problem is website says that your tariff will be unchanged this is incorrect as i was on economy 7 with 2 rates now am on one flat rate why would i want to change and pay more? Ive contacted British gas and awaiting explanation. Not happy

So far I havent seen a smart meter set up to record actual economy 7, and I work for BG. That is , 7 hours low and 17 normal.If you were a night storage user you would be at a big loss if BG suddenly started billing you flat rate for 24 hrs. Probably in the past your meter was set up by BG to add the two rates together and bill single rate as you now have gas central heating and it would be cheaper to bill single rate.Smart meter is now showing single rate because that is all that is needed.Its working correctly for you.Check with BG because if you need that cheap 7 hours then you are losing money