Smart Meters - Rant!

Chrishazle

Been interested in smart meters for over a year, finally got the BG man here an hour ago (we're long term BG dual fuel customers). He took one look at my 3 phase meter and first said he can't touch it as he's not 3 phase qualified - then said they don't yet do 3 phase smart meters, and he can't do the gas as it's the electricity meter that has the comms on it. As we've been BG dual fuel customers for years, they have the EAN (or whatever it's called) for my meter they should have known it was 3 phase.

Further discussion - the meters they currently install only talk to BG, so if I changed supplier (my current fixed deal runs out end of Feb) the new supplier would have to install their own smart meter - another meter change! Plus some time next year they roll out the new meters that actually send the data to Telefonica, who then forward it to the appropriate supplier, so you can change supplier without changing the meter.

So - have told BG to forget it until they can install the new type 3 phase meter, so we only have 1 swop-out.

The word MUPPETS comes to mind!:mad::mad::mad:

Robisere

Chrishazle wrote: »

Been interested in smart meters for over a year, finally got the BG man here an hour ago (we're long term BG dual fuel customers). He took one look at my 3 phase meter and first said he can't touch it as he's not 3 phase qualified - then said they don't yet do 3 phase smart meters, and he can't do the gas as it's the electricity meter that has the comms on it. As we've been BG dual fuel customers for years, they have the EAN (or whatever it's called) for my meter they should have known it was 3 phase.

Further discussion - the meters they currently install only talk to BG, so if I changed supplier (my current fixed deal runs out end of Feb) the new supplier would have to install their own smart meter - another meter change! Plus some time next year they roll out the new meters that actually send the data to Telefonica, who then forward it to the appropriate supplier, so you can change supplier without changing the meter.

So - have told BG to forget it until they can install the new type 3 phase meter, so we only have 1 swop-out.

The word MUPPETS comes to mind!:mad::mad::mad:

That is familiar! We live in Sheltered Housing, a complex of 23 bungalows. I have told this story here before, but basically, after badgering our Social landlord for years, we managed to get our ancient Economy 7 night storage heaters replaced by Gas C.H. The electricity meter had to be replaced and of course a new gas one fitted, gas meter was no problem but one engineer who came gave the same story. 'Can't do that, it's 3 phase and I am not qualified'. Promised to report this to his HQ and we waited. And waited, eventually EDF forced them to fit a single phase meter. After the engineer left, the meter door was found on the floor.

What you have to ask is, why do you have 3-phase anyway? I am told that we had it for the NS heaters, but another 'expert' tells me that is Ovoid Objects.

System

BG do lots of three phase smart meter changes and have been doing them for years but only for business meters. Your property may have had a small business in the past which needed extra power.
i think you should employ a private electrician to rewire to the meter to make it single phase and then organise a meter change and get your set -up back to a standard domestic meter to avoid future problems when SMETS2 meters eventually start to be fitted. It could be many years before you get a SMETS 2.. Dont stay loyal to BG, as Martin Lewis was saying on the TV a couple of weeks ago, switch to their cheaper option with Sainsburys Energy. My smart meter continues to work smart switching from BG to Sainsburys Energy by the way.

Chrishazle

I think all the properties in our cul-de-sac have 3 phase as they had storage heater CH from build - either individual SH's or one big one with a piped water system to radiators. Ours was probably individual SH's as we found loads of blanked off electric points at odd heights round the house, and across the road just had the big one ripped out and replaced with gas.

I don't want to replace the 3 phase with single - we have 3 separate consumer units in the fuse board, plus the next owner might want to run 3 phase power to my workshop, so it would be a selling point (3 phase equipment is much cheaper than single phase!). Also we've had a couple of occasions where a single phase has gone out, but the other 2 were OK. With single phase, it's all or nothing!

C_Mababejive

Did you know that some smart metering installation companies are now advertising for people with "no experience needed". Would you want these people in your house messing with the gas and electric?

lstar337

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Did you know that some smart metering installation companies are now advertising for people with "no experience needed". Would you want these people in your house messing with the gas and electric?

I think they train them.

I doubt anybody is born with the appropriate qualifications. :rotfl:

FOREVER21

lstar337 wrote: »

I think they train them.

I doubt anybody is born with the appropriate qualifications. :rotfl:

Train them but to what standard.
In any event I would have thought the person changing the gas meter would have to be gas safe registered.

lstar337

FOREVER21 wrote: »

Train them but to what standard.

Whatever is required I would guess.

FOREVER21 wrote: »

In any event I would have thought the person changing the gas meter would have to be gas safe registered.

Most likely.

System

They re trained just to change a meter, gas or electric and they do not have to be Gas safe registered to change a gas meter. From what I ve been told its quite a long training period and it involves going out with a trained meter fitter for months.
I have just taken an old gas cooker out and it involved unscrewing a big nut and switching the gas off at the meter, should I have had a Gas safe registered bloke round to do this vital bit of skilled work for a £100 ! no thanks.

System

House_Martin wrote: »

I have just taken an old gas cooker out and it involved unscrewing a big nut and switching the gas off at the meter, should I have had a Gas safe registered bloke round to do this vital bit of skilled work for a £100 ! no thanks.

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/media/1449/who-can-legally-work-on-a-gas-appliance-factsheet.pdf

System

FOREVER21 wrote: »

Train them but to what standard.
In any event I would have thought the person changing the gas meter would have to be gas safe registered.

COMPETENCY AND REGISTRATION OF PERSONS CARRYING OUT WORK

The Category of the type of work being undertaken (see above) dictates the requirement for competency and appropriate registration of the person undertaking the work.

Note: DIY work is not addressed by this Guidance.

Notwithstanding that you must be competent to carry out the work being undertaken, you will also need to be Gas Safe Registered and, for some work, be an Ofgem Approved Meter Installer (OAMI).