British Gas refusing to install smart meter

markjprobert

Assuming it's because they're trying to save a few quid, but does anyone know definitively why British Gas are refusing to install a smart meter on a "Independant Gas Transportation" pipe (IGT). Basically the house is a new build and Miller homes got a third party to install the pipes on the cheap rather than getting national grid to connect the house. I've spoken to the IGT provider and they have advised they are not stopping BG from installing smart meters and Bg are misadvising customers - they've apparently had loads of complaints about it.

Sparx

My gas is via an IGT - we had smart meters installed May last year by British Gas no problem... I know it doesn't help you, but just as fuel to the fire!

System

markjprobert wrote: »

Assuming it's because they're trying to save a few quid, but does anyone know definitively why British Gas are refusing to install a smart meter on a "Independant Gas Transportation" pipe (IGT). Basically the house is a new build and Miller homes got a third party to install the pipes on the cheap rather than getting national grid to connect the house. I've spoken to the IGT provider and they have advised they are not stopping BG from installing smart meters and Bg are misadvising customers - they've apparently had loads of complaints about it.

I have bought 5 new build houses in the past 25 years from a variety of builders. They all used IGTs to provide the services. There is nothing cheap about IGTs: all connections have to be to a given standard. The lower connection cost is reflected in the purchase price for the property. I suspect that the issue might be down to BG playing hardball on payments to the IGT. Come what may, all property owners will be offered a smart meter by 2020. Personally, I would wait until 2018 before even thinking about accepting one.

footyguy

markjprobert wrote: »

Assuming it's because they're trying to save a few quid, but does anyone know definitively why British Gas are refusing to install a smart meter on a "Independant Gas Transportation" pipe (IGT). Basically the house is a new build and Miller homes got a third party to install the pipes on the cheap rather than getting national grid to connect the house. I've spoken to the IGT provider and they have advised they are not stopping BG from installing smart meters and Bg are misadvising customers - they've apparently had loads of complaints about it.

According to BG

The sheer size of the smart metering revolution, which is a complex infrastructure upgrade across the whole of Great Britain, requires energy suppliers to roll-out smart meters in an effective and well planned way. With nearly 16 million homes to upgrade, British Gas aims to reach a good balance between upgrading those customers who have expressed their interest in smart meters and practical considerations (such as deploying field engineers), which mean that some customers might have to wait a bit longer.
At British Gas we tend to replace those meters that are nearing the end of their shelf life first, so if your current meters are relatively “young” we might postpone your upgrade. Some reasons that are specific to your account might also play a role in the delay, for example: if you are a Sainsbury’s Energy customer or if you have an open billing query.
Also, as the technology is quite new, not every home can be upgraded to smart meters straight away. For example, flats and high-rise buildings (where the meters may not be close enough to the signal transmitter), or homes fitted with Economy 7 or pre-payment meters can't receive an upgrade just yet. Properties located in areas with poor mobile signal coverage or with meters that are difficult to access might also need to wait a bit longer for their upgrade.

and

There are other less common reasons that might prevent us from upgrading a property, for example if your gas supply is with an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) who operates and maintains a local gas transportation network. However, we're working hard to develop the technology and ensure that all Britain’s households can benefit from having smart meters.

We have invested in recruiting and training 1200 Smart Energy Experts who are highly skilled British Gas engineers to give the best customer service however, due to resources and a higher demand in certain areas of the country we may not be able to exchange your meter until a later date.
Rest assured that we're rolling out smart meters to all our customers by 2020 and although this may take a little longer for some, everyone will get them over the next few years.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Meters-meter-readings/Smart-Meters/the-smart-meter-revolution/Who-can-get-a-smart-meter-upgrade.html?

markjprobert

Thanks for the replies everyone

Hengus, why would you wait til 2018? Better technology etc?

gt94sss2

The current generation of smart meters lose their 'smart' functionality if you change supplier.

By 2018, suppliers should be fitting models which continue to act as smart meters if you change energy supplier rather than becoming 'dumb' again.

markjprobert

Thanks for the advice! Will no longer be pushing for one until after 2018! I change supplier all the time!

MeterMan

All the information that you have been given on this thread is incorrect.

IGT wont allow any supplier to change their meters unless its a functionality change, such as Credit to Prepay or vice versa.

You may get your gas through british gas, but they only rent the use of the meter and under these conditions, IGT will not allow the exchange of the meter from dumb to smart.

footyguy

MeterMan wrote: »

All the information that you have been given on this thread is incorrect.
...

Really?

Do you have a source to substantiate that claim, as I provided the source to the advice I provided. :cool:

System

markjprobert wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone

Hengus, why would you wait til 2018? Better technology etc?

Hopefully, by 2018, all installers will have no option but to install SMETS2 meters. Foundation meters, SMETS1, are NOT going to be upgraded to SMETS2 if the latest Data Communications Company consultation is anything to go by. It would seem that the cheapest option with the least technical risk is to 'orphan' these on to the DCC through a separate communications link.

SMETS2 meters will have automatic fault reporting and a number of other enhancements - including better security - above the SMETS1 specification. SMETS1 meters only have a projected life of 15 years. For the sake of a year to 18 months, I intend to sit on my hands until SMETS2 meters are the norm.

System

footyguy wrote: »

Really?

Do you have a source to substantiate that claim, as I provided the source to the advice I provided. :cool:

It would seem that some IGTs have been installing smart meters for over 4 years now.

https://www.gtc-uk.co.uk/information/news/article/2012/01/17/gtc-milestone---1-000th-smart-meter-installed-on-our-independent-networks