Smart Meter Signal Compatibility

AuronGrande

I may get a bit ranty with this. Sorry.

I currently have my gas and electricity through Ebico, which is part of SSE on Pre-Payment meters. Ebico does have a single price rate but depending how you look at it. However, I won't argue on that right now.

I live in a block of flats with 11 residences. Both my gas and electricity meters are in awkwerd spots.
The gas meter is in a cupboard beneath the boiler in the kitchen.
The electricity meter is in a metal box next to my stairs, deeper inside the building.

A few years ago one of my neighbours on the top floor was forced to have a smart meter installed (I don't remember if it was gas or leccy) However, the energy company didn't run tests. The meter couldn't get a signal. It took a while for the stubborn company to replace the meter with a non-smart meter.

It's been a few years so the smart meter technology should have advanced enough. How would I go about seeing if the smart meters would work for me? You know, an engineer comes out and runs tests to see if there is a signal in both locations for gas and leccy.

It's just that I would like to switch to a cheaper tarrif but my only choices are prepayment card/key or prepayment smart meters. Because I'm on benefits the companies will only allow me on prepayment.

Raxiel

I don't know how your neighbour could have been 'forced' to have a smart meter fitted, they aren't compulsory (although that doesn't stop some companies implying they are). This doesn't get into the discussion of whether it's a good idea to have a smart meter fitted now or wait for the SMET's 2 meters, but it sounds like you have a specific need.

With regards your specific question, when E.ON replaced my meters late last year the guy checked both meters could talk to each other and that the Electric meter could talk to the network before he filled out the paperwork for the swap. He told me it was standard procedure and if he'd not been able to get a signal he'd be leaving me with my old meters.

Sounds like your neighbour had a right numpty fit theirs.

System

AuronGrande wrote: »

I may get a bit ranty with this. Sorry.

I currently have my gas and electricity through Ebico, which is part of SSE on Pre-Payment meters. Ebico does have a single price rate but depending how you look at it. However, I won't argue on that right now.

I live in a block of flats with 11 residences. Both my gas and electricity meters are in awkwerd spots.
The gas meter is in a cupboard beneath the boiler in the kitchen.
The electricity meter is in a metal box next to my stairs, deeper inside the building.

A few years ago one of my neighbours on the top floor was forced to have a smart meter installed (I don't remember if it was gas or leccy) However, the energy company didn't run tests. The meter couldn't get a signal. It took a while for the stubborn company to replace the meter with a non-smart meter.

It's been a few years so the smart meter technology should have advanced enough. How would I go about seeing if the smart meters would work for me? You know, an engineer comes out and runs tests to see if there is a signal in both locations for gas and leccy.

It's just that I would like to switch to a cheaper tarrif but my only choices are prepayment card/key or prepayment smart meters. Because I'm on benefits the companies will only allow me on prepayment.

SmartMetersGB/Ofgem has tasked suppliers to come up with possible solutions to smart metering issues in problem buildings. The initial estimate was that 42,000 buildings in the UK (note buildings not individual homes) will be unsuitable for smart metering. These are mainly buildings with many flats etc. The problem is both geography (siting of the meters) and physics ( the ability of the smart meter comms system to communicate both internally and externally).

Personally, I doubt whether any supplier will wish to look at installing a SMETS1 meter which talks directly to them. They, and you, would be better off waiting until SMETS2 meters are rolled out later this year. These meters work on a Wide Area Network principle so if your meter cannot communicate externally then it passes the data parcel around until it finds a meter that can talk to the new central hub - known as The Data Communications Company (DCC).

That said, even with SMETS2 meters there is absolutely no guarantee that all buildings and meter layouts will be suitable for smart metering.The fact that your gas and electricity meters are not collocated may be an issue. It may be possible to move your meters but this would be at your cost.

AuronGrande

Raxiel wrote: »

I don't know how your neighbour could have been 'forced' to have a smart meter fitted, they aren't compulsory (although that doesn't stop some companies implying they are). This doesn't get into the discussion of whether it's a good idea to have a smart meter fitted now or wait for the SMET's 2 meters, but it sounds like you have a specific need.

With regards your specific question, when E.ON replaced my meters late last year the guy checked both meters could talk to each other and that the Electric meter could talk to the network before he filled out the paperwork for the swap. He told me it was standard procedure and if he'd not been able to get a signal he'd be leaving me with my old meters.

Sounds like your neighbour had a right numpty fit theirs.

Either the energy company tricking them or a numpty engineer sounds quite possible.

AuronGrande

Hengus wrote: »

SmartMetersGB/Ofgem has tasked suppliers to come up with possible solutions to smart metering issues in problem buildings. The initial estimate was that 42,000 buildings in the UK (note buildings not individual homes) will be unsuitable for smart metering. These are mainly buildings with many flats etc. The problem is both geography (siting of the meters) and physics ( the ability of the smart meter comms system to communicate both internally and externally).

Personally, I doubt whether any supplier will wish to look at installing a SMETS1 meter which talks directly to them. They, and you, would be better off waiting until SMETS2 meters are rolled out later this year. These meters work on a Wide Area Network principle so if your meter cannot communicate externally then it passes the data parcel around until it finds a meter that can talk to the new central hub - known as The Data Communications Company (DCC).

That said, even with SMETS2 meters there is absolutely no guarantee that all buildings and meter layouts will be suitable for smart metering.The fact that your gas and electricity meters are not collocated may be an issue. It may be possible to move your meters but this would be at your cost.

I highly doubt any energy company would be able to relocate our meters. The design and construction of the building won't permit it.

Still, if the newer SMETS2 meters (I know little about smart meters apart from the fact that they exist) actually communicate to each other as a relay sounds good, presuming there is enough of these meters installed in our town. However, I'm not sure about them working inside the metal box where the electric meter sits.

I am only asking because I could get cheaper rates than my current one, but are only for those on smart meters. The other cheaper rates have daily surcharges which means that my credit gets used up when the gas isn't being used.

I know these as it wasn't long ago when I had help from the CAB to find a cheaper rate. Ebico is the cheapest without the daily surcharges.

System

I can t see why the company took the meter out ! even if the signal is not up to the job , the meter is a meter and works fine and will be more reliable than cheap £5 Ampy meter, which replaces it and will break down at sometime. Sounds like they are deliberately making extra work for themselves which didnt need doing

Sterlingtimes

It is a feature of many of these infrastructural projects that they take years to evolve and there are failures along the way. I have been involved with several. They all attract dissenters.

NHS Choose and Book
NHS Electronic Prescriptions
HS2
Smart Meters
Water leakage saving
Telephone exchange replacement
Broadband rollout

Each project has false starts and runs into expenditure difficulties.

With a growing population it is necessary to get electricity and gas supply and demand under control.

AuronGrande

House_Martin wrote: »

I can t see why the company took the meter out ! even if the signal is not up to the job , the meter is a meter and works fine and will be more reliable than cheap £5 Ampy meter, which replaces it and will break down at sometime. Sounds like they are deliberately making extra work for themselves which didnt need doing

Well I'm only going by what I'm told by my neighbours. My meters have only been replaced when they broke down, and that was only the gas meter. The leccy meter is the same one as when I moved in.