Which companies will change meter for free?

malc_b

I want to switch from E7 to single rate. I know some companies will just sum the reading but some won't and there are other reasons to change the meter. Hence I want to swap to a company that will change the meter for free and also temporarily isolate the supply for free too (while work is done).

Which companies will change meter and pull the fuse temporarily for free?

I'm sure someone will ask why so let me explain. House is having work done under part P building regs which will require new consumer unit, hence the need to have the supply isolated temporarily (no electrician and so this needs elec company to do it). Also, as this work will happen post Jan 1st 2016 the new consumer unit will be metal and the supply is TT (i.e. local earth connection). Metal CU has dangers with TT for which the solution is a time delay RCD right next to meter, in the meter box. With the current meter and time clock there is not the room for this. FYI supply has had PME check and failed that so has to be TT.

macman

None will guarantee to do it for free. But many will in return for your business, so it's up to you to negotiate a deal.
But they won't wait while you change the CU, they'll be in and out in about 30 mins in my experience. Or you could request a smart meter, which would be at no charge anyway and will work on either tariff.

dogshome

EDF will change the meter for free, and 'Totalise' the Day/Night readings whilst you wait for the meter change
THOUGH if your meter swap is complex thay may refuse to do it, but they will still continue to totalise your billing

malc_b

macman wrote: »

None will guarantee to do it for free. But many will in return for your business, so it's up to you to negotiate a deal.
But they won't wait while you change the CU, they'll be in and out in about 30 mins in my experience. Or you could request a smart meter, which would be at no charge anyway and will work on either tariff.

The way I believe it works is they come and pull the fuse in the morning then come back later that day to restore it.

I would have thought that large companies like elec companies had fixed charges for jobs like this, or they were free. I suppose individuals might have the ability to vary prices but for rare jobs like this?

Smart meter is an interesting idea.

Euphoria1z

E.on did mines for free (meter exchange) but you have to be a customer of their's first.

malc_b

I've changed to EDF which will do meter change for free and they have told me install isolator for free too. But the fees might change (Jan if at all I guess) so it's a risk. SSE I believe will also do it for free but EDF power is cheaper so I could stick with them after the work is done.

FYI Scottish Power would change meter for free but charged for an isolator.

Laurensalive

I have asked my energy SSE provider and this is what they have said. They are testing the new version of smart meter. Tests look good. Then they will install them in all customers homes before end of 2017. Nothing said regarding charge.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Euphoria1z wrote: »

E.on did mines for free (meter exchange) but you have to be a customer of their's first.

Glad we were able to change your meter for free Euphoria. This isn't always the case though. It depends on the individual circumstances. Prepayment, a lot of multi-rate complex meters and meters in the current Smart programme are usually fitted without charge. Faulty meters and those that've reached the end of their guaranteed life (statutory/recertification changes) are fitted for free too. As are those at properties where there's vulnerability and it's thought a different meter will help.

Where a residential customer wants a good meter changing for non-essential reasons, there's usually a charge for this. At the moment, this is £64.76. As I say, it depends on the individual circumstances.

Malc