Being hassled by EDF to install smart meter, but no signal for it to use

A._Badger

I don't like the phrase 'in denial' but I am stretching to find a better one to describe your fantasy about smart meters.

It's no 'conspiracy theory' that they are designed to facilitate remote disconnection and control. It is the government's stated objective and however much you might mock the Daily Mail, what it was doing was quoting the government's own policy.

You can dress this up in 'Green' rhetoric as much as you like but the facts are quite simple and not open to dispute. The aim of the present government is to move to a situation similar to the one in Japan where variable, differential pricing becomes the norm and eventually (note Ofgem's suggestion about mandating appliance manufacturers to produce compliant products - even the BBC has reported this) to be able to remotely control appliances depending on the availability of supply.

And the only people who don't understand why supply is going to be an issue are those who have drunk the 'Green' Kool Aid.

As I said, they call this progress.

twiglet98

May I join this thread to say I've had a similar email today from E-on, that they are phasing out customers' old meters.

My meter (Landis + Gyr 5235A) bears the date September 2013, it was installed when I changed tariff in January 2014 to replace one that had separate day and night rates.

The technical specification is dated 5/12/08 and the Landis website states the meter "has been given a 20-year certification life by OFGEM".

I won't be replying to their invitation to make an appointment.

System

twiglet98 wrote: »

May I join this thread to say I've had a similar email today from E-on, that they are phasing out customers' old meters.

My meter (Landis + Gyr 5235A) bears the date September 2013, it was installed when I changed tariff in January 2014 to replace one that had separate day and night rates.

The technical specification is dated 5/12/08 and the Landis website states the meter "has been given a 20-year certification life by OFGEM".

I won't be replying to their invitation to make an appointment.

To put this into its proper context, suppliers have a legal right to exchange a meter at its end-of-life. Whether you or I agree that end of life has been reached is irrelevant as we do not own the meter. The Government has also said in various Committees that it is minded to legislate from next year onwards that replacement meters should be of a smart design. When consumers protest, the supplier will fit the meter without the smart communications hub.

This makes total sense as it would be costly for suppliers to hold on to and support old generation meters because a small minority of people do not want them. Equally, if you move out and the new owner/tenant wants a smart meter then all that is required is an engineer with a communications hub. I suspect that, as in the case with water meters, going back to an old generation meter from a smart will not be an option.

Unless this project is cancelled because of the increasing cost, then I suspect that the majority of us will have smart meters by 2025 - whether we like it or not.

littlerock

Ok Smets2 meters may connect to the new Data Communications grid but EdF are installing Smets1 models which i believe use mobile phone signals a or WiFi and there are neither in the back of my house or basement.

Previously EDF have agreed I have no signal - they came and surveyed it. But they want to change my existing electric meter for a new one which is already out of date and will not be able to operate smartly as there is no signal for it to use, in order to comply with government targets.

As a matter of interest is the Data Communications Mesh currently operating? All my discussions with EDF they have said their smart uses mobile phone. signals.

Saw a friend the other day, lives locally, said he is getting the same weasel words letters from EDF that he needs a new smart meter because old one is at end of its useful life, when in fact he had a new one installed about 4 years ago.