SMART Meters - I don't think so

BassBunny

When I decided to use the MSE collective switch to British Gas, the first question I asked BG was, "can you handle SMART meters?". Having been with OVO for a few years and having SMART meters it was a prerequisite that any supplier used SMART technology.
BG told me they are geared up for SMART meters so I went ahead. Due to a glitch in the transfer I had to ring both OVO and they informed me that although BG have SMART technology the meters they use are different to the ones I have installed and thus won't work on their system.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing and asked them to repeat what they were saying. So I then had to contact BG to sort out what was happening with the switch and they confirmed my meters won't work with their system but when the switch is finally completed they could look at changing the meters.......
At this stage I was stunned at the thought of every time you switch an energy supplier, you might have to change meters. So the Government of the day that decided we are all having SMART technology did not think to standardise it across the energy sector. Unbelievable.

System

BassBunny wrote: »

When I decided to use the MSE collective switch to British Gas, the first question I asked BG was, "can you handle SMART meters?". Having been with OVO for a few years and having SMART meters it was a prerequisite that any supplier used SMART technology.
BG told me they are geared up for SMART meters so I went ahead. Due to a glitch in the transfer I had to ring both OVO and they informed me that although BG have SMART technology the meters they use are different to the ones I have installed and thus won't work on their system.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing and asked them to repeat what they were saying. So I then had to contact BG to sort out what was happening with the switch and they confirmed my meters won't work with their system but when the switch is finally completed they could look at changing the meters.......
At this stage I was stunned at the thought of every time you switch an energy supplier, you might have to change meters. So the Government of the day that decided we are all having SMART technology did not think to standardise it across the energy sector. Unbelievable.

SMETS2 meters, and existing meters upgraded to SMETS2, will be switchable between suppliers. The system should go live later this year and all the Big 6 have to deploy 1500 smart meters in the first year. That said, it is estimated that over 1M of the existing smart meters already deployed will have to be replaced.

In fairness to all the suppliers, the problem of switching suppliers is explained in their FAQs.

[Deleted User]

Lets get this straight OP, BG have been at the forefront in fitting smart meters for over 8 years and have fitted well over a million, over 50% of the total of two million in the UK. BG are the smart meter leaders.
Ovo ( and Utilita ) jump in with the Liberty Secure smart meters which no one elses uses and they deliberately make it difficult to leave them because you have a meter no other suppliers can work with. You need to be shouting at Ovo not BG. They use the Landys and Gyrs which the other suppliers are using and when smart switching comes into force they will be able to switch seamlessly.with the Liberty Secure you re stuck unless you live in Northern Ireland where they are very popular.
The Liberty Secure meter should be able to be used as a dumb meter with all the other suppliers but I m not even sure that is possible. Ovo have got you, and they intend to keep you. You have said it yourself with your " I dont think so "comment and you re doing what Ovo want you to do.
Lets just say BG do actually come round and fit the far less complex Landys Gyr meter where you would be able to smart switch to Eon, EDF, Sainsburys Energy, First Utility ( eventually ), who is going to transport the quite pricey Liberty meter back to Ovo ? maybe they ll just leave it to you to return it.

BassBunny

Thank You for the detailed reply S.
My gripe is the fact that no one warned me when I decided to switch.
BG knew I was moving from OVO but did not, at that stage, tell me about the fact that they could not "SMART"me.
I still stand by my comment about standard meters. Why oh why wasn't a standard meter rolled out?

zolablue25

We had a smart meter fitted by First Utility a few years back but since then, no other supplier has been able to use it. It doesn't matter to me as I didn't find it useful anyway but it was a complete and utter waste of money fitting it. Why couldn't they have come up with a standard when the Government starting insisting that companies fitted them?

No wonder bills are so high.

System

zolablue25 wrote: »

We had a smart meter fitted by First Utility a few years back but since then, no other supplier has been able to use it. It doesn't matter to me as I didn't find it useful anyway but it was a complete and utter waste of money fitting it. Why couldn't they have come up with a standard when the Government starting insisting that companies fitted them?

No wonder bills are so high.[/QUOTE

The type of smart meter that suppliers are providing isn't the issue. The problem is that SmartEnergy GB has had issues developing a communications protocol/system that will work in all circumstances. For example, there have been issues with smart metering in high rise flats and in situations where the domestic gas and electricity meters are not collocated. A revised protocol (SMETS2) has been developed and the central communications company is due to go live on 1 April. (Watch this space as it was due to live on 1 October llast year. )

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477258/Smart_Meters_Implementation_Programme_Annual_Report_2015.pdf

brewerdave

Hengus wrote: »

A revised protocol (SMETS2) has been developed and the central communications company is due to go live on 1 April. (Watch this space as it was due to live on 1 October llast year. )

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477258/Smart_Meters_Implementation_Programme_Annual_Report_2015.pdf

What an appropriate date for a "relaunch" :rotfl::rotfl:

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Mind me again, a Smart Meter or tax on users!