Moving to a Brand New House - Smart Meters

funkyfin2000

Hi Guys,

Moving to a brand new house in Midlands and was wandering if there are any firms that will always put in Smart Meters now. According to Taylor Wimpey ours is the last estate to get old style meters and I'm about to survey the market to see what energy deal I can get...

I know the rollout will depend on area and the company but just wandering if any of the companies are likely to install them more than others.

Taa

Rich

[Deleted User]

The companies more likely to are the big 6 suppliers, all of whom have terrible customer services records. And are not necessarily the best value for money either.

And finally, currently all smart meters are only smart for the supplier who installs them. If you switch supplier, the meter becomes a dumb meter.

I would wait, you have enough on your plate with a new house move than to worry about a smart meter install even if you can find a supplier willing to do it. Wait until (if) smart meters have standard software and remain smart when switching suppliers.

funkyfin2000

Thanks that's great advice and appreciate the prompt response

Good work - looking like GB Energy are the best price wise, just got to weigh up the Customer Service element

poppellerant

If you want a smart meter and good customer service, to me the obvious choice is OVO.

JJ_Egan

But do Ovo smart meters not become dumb if you change supplier ??

[Deleted User]

All smart meters are dumb at the moment if you switch except BG to Sainsburys Energy who use Landys Gyr and Siemens meters. I personally would not select Ovo as they are using the Liberty Secure smart meters and only Utilita are using that meter. Its not supported by any other of the big 6 if you decide to switch.
Personally I would nt be worried about whether my meter was smart or dumb because it could be many years before smart switching actually comes about.

System

poppellerant wrote: »

If you want a smart meter and good customer service, to me the obvious choice is OVO.

Sadly, Ovo isn't getting all aspects of its Smart meter roll out right.

https://www.ovoenergy.com/binaries/content/assets/documents/pdfs/help/q4performance2015.pdf

Terry98

Hengus wrote: »

Sadly, Ovo isn't getting all aspects of its Smart meter roll out right.

https://www.ovoenergy.com/binaries/content/assets/documents/pdfs/help/q4performance2015.pdf

I thought it was more positive than negative. I assume the 14% means the number of complaints about SM's as a percentage of total complaints. Ovo are heavily into the Smart Meter roll out so you would expect the complaints to be that high.

'Despite a high demand for smart meter installation, Smart complaints fell by
over 20% from Q3 to Q4.

Complaints or complex queries regarding smart meters and their installation are
now dealt with by trained smart meter specialists, which ensures a higher
standard of service for these customers '

System

Terry98 wrote: »

I thought it was more positive than negative. '

Ovo now has over 500000 customers, and 20% of these have smart meters. When suppliers % complaints they do so against the total number of complaints. So if 14% of their total number of complaints relate to smart meter issues, then given the number of installed meters this is quite a high number of the 100000 customers, as 400000 customers have no reason to complain about smart meters as they haven't got one.

Ovo clearly is trying to address the problem but until SMETS2- standard meters are rolled out, the meter will go dumb at some point in the future unless it is modified to communicate with DCC protocols.

dogshome

The OP seems reasonably up to speed, but just in case

On moving into this house you will be tied to the supplier that Taylor Wimpeyhave signed up with.
You must notify this supplier immediately of your occupation and give them the meter readings, they will send you a 'Welcome pack' and when you have this you are free to move to any supplier you wish.

This check may save your sanity
When the cabling and meters were installed on the estate, the houses were only identified by plot numbers and not full post code addresses.
It is the duty of Taylor Wimpey to advise the Utility suppliers of the proper addresses and meter Nos, but sadly there are many instances of error in this process, (Low grade employee wandering around the estate recording meter numbers ?)

Give it a month and then google 'Who supplies my Gas & Electricity' - This will give you phone numbers of the Regional Elec meter data base for your area, and the National data base for gas - Phone them and check your address and meter No's are recorded correctly