Meter reading request emails when we have a smart meter

donnajunkie

footyguy wrote: »

You could try
... and then you will find out the answer.

Email is too slow? Really! :eek:

Not sure PM is any quicker. If it was available, you'd have to wait for the intended recipient to either sign back into MSE (and hopefully spot they have a message waiting for them) or wait for MSE to send the intended recipient an email saying there is a PM waiting for them (and assuming the intended recipient has requested such email notification)

I have found when emailing companies it is very unreliable. They often take a number of days to respond if at all. My experience here is I usually get a reply within a day, sometimes within hours. I discovered after I asked that their pm isn't working and as I have said I sorted it via Facebook now anyway.

donnajunkie

footyguy wrote: »

That could be a bit of a problem if you ever are tempted to switch supplier

How do you know what the meter reading was on installation? (it was probably zero, but how can you be sure?)
How will you be able to verify any bills you are sent?
:huh:

Well yeah it's not a good thing. The gas meter has nothing displayed and the Electric has a load of info that does not make sense. The In house display does have readings though. The worrying thing about that is they say they only guarantee the In house display for 12 months which makes me think we would have to pay for a new one if it broke after that.
I think smart meters are being used to make it hard to change supplier because the paperwork says a new supplier might not be able to work with the meters. How are companies allowed to put something in place to make it hard to switch supplier.

zaax

Sounds like you have dodgy meters. The smart meter (mesh) technology it not really there, as there is a lot of radio black spot, also Gas and electric are not the best things to mix.

SallyG

Why don't "smart" meters display their readings like the better "manual" type of meter?
Anyone with smart meters experienced difficulty switching supplier?
What happens if you refuse to change to smart meters?

Robisere

SallyG wrote: »

Why don't "smart" meters display their readings like the better "manual" type of meter?
Anyone with smart meters experienced difficulty switching supplier?
What happens if you refuse to change to smart meters?

There have been other Threads on this. I checked with Which? and the Gov. site and discovered that it will not be compulsory to have a Smart meter. Therefore, if you refuse to have one fitted, you will just carry on with your current arrangement for reading your 'dumb' meter and sending the readings in the same method you use now.

As has been noted here, if you live in a poor signal area (as I do) then I cannt see how a Smart meter will work successfully. There may be others here who will argue that is not correct. Can they absolutely guarantee that every reading will arrive at its destination? I don't think so. The only way that the government can make this work, is by giving every UK location a perfect working signal. that worked well for the Rural Broadband Initiative, did it not?- NOT!

donnajunkie

In terms of signal there isn't an issue because when I contacted them they said everything was working ok. I guess we will know exactly where we are at when we get the new statement in the next week or two.

thor

donnajunkie wrote: »

The gas meter has nothing displayed and the Electric has a load of info that does not make sense.

Is this the remote meter you are talking about here? If that is the case then don't worry about them messing up your bills because they are not used to give npower the readings they require to generate a bill. They are there for your information and not 100% accurate.

donnajunkie wrote: »

The In house display does have readings though.

Is this the meter that is actually connected to your elec/gas supply? These are the readings you would have to send to npower if you were going to give your own readings.

I had a problem with my npower smart meter which was fitted 3 months ago where I too was getting reminders to send readings. I ignored them, reasoning I have smart meters so all that stuff will be done automatically now but when I checked they just used estimates. I had to call npower a few times before their smart meter team managed to get it fixed. I await the fruits of their labour when my next bill comes through.
I think you are suffering the same problems I had so hopefully npower will be able to fix it(eventually)

simonwhu

We had a smart meter fitted when with Ovo. We are now with Green Star energy who apparently can't access it. So what's the point. They want a reading but I don't know how to get one. Have emailed them asking for someone to call or come round but not heard anything. Useless.

Robin9

On my Elec meter the display is permanently lit.

My Gas has a small black button which livens up the display.

simonwhu

nope not mine