How to read a smart meter after a supplier change?

mutexe

Hi,
My mother has recently changed from e-on to a cheaper supplier (Scottish Power I think). E-on are asking for a final meter reading for the gas, but I can't seem to get one. The remote unit doesn't seem to display a classic meter reading and it also looks like it's only recently starting logging information. Does this number get reset once someone moves from one supplier to another? In other words, now that she is on the new supplier have we lost the ability to get this number? The meter is an "Elster thermis alpha", and it's showing a very low number as the reading, sort of suggesting that it has indeed been reset to zero when mom left e-on.
On calling E-On, they just told my mother that they couldn't read it from their end as she'd already changed.
If anyone has any advice i'd be very grateful. I guess worst case scenario they'll just work out the final bill using estimated figures, which isn't the end of the world.
Many thanks in advance,

Tom

Robin9

You need to read the meter itself not the remote unit.

My meter has a little keypad and i have to press 9 to get the reading.

molerat

If it is the one with the left / right arrows just keep pressing until you get "* Current meter reading" on the display screen. Did she not get the user booklet left when the meter was installed ? Google the model and the user manual is available on line. The indoor display will probably now be a paperweight.

House_Martin

They do not re- set the meter when moving.The total stays for the life of the meter. I m not too familiar with the Elster gas meter but you need to see "total M3 " or anything with M3 ( cubic metres ) in the display.Some modern meters really confuse now with displaying gas readings in Kwhs.
Prepay electric meters can reset to zero when a new tenant moves in but they have a separate reading for total kwhrs (screen G ) screen H will reset only

Wolf3

As others have said, the Elster meters have a keypad on the front and you can obtain the gas read by pressing the number 9 on the keypad. your specifically looking for the read with m3 after the reading as it will also give a read in kWh. press 9 to cycle between the displays.
you need to give the read to the gaining supplier as they are in control of the transfer reads, not Eon. This is a process in the industry to make sure you are not billed twice for the same energy

House_Martin

Wolf3 wrote: »

As others have said, the Elster meters have a keypad on the front and you can obtain the gas read by pressing the number 9 on the keypad. your specifically looking for the read with m3 after the reading as it will also give a read in kWh. press 9 to cycle between the displays.
you need to give the read to the gaining supplier as they are in control of the transfer reads, not Eon. This is a process in the industry to make sure you are not billed twice for the same energy

I think that would refer only to the Secure Liberty smart meters with keyboard where the reads are on button 9 ( and 6 for Eco 7 )
Elster BK-G4E smart gas meter the reading is on rate 01 where it would show current reading, ,eg 00301.223 m3, so the reading would be the first 5 numbers only 00301

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

mutexe wrote: »

Hi,
My mother has recently changed from e-on to a cheaper supplier (Scottish Power I think). E-on are asking for a final meter reading for the gas, but I can't seem to get one. The remote unit doesn't seem to display a classic meter reading and it also looks like it's only recently starting logging information. Does this number get reset once someone moves from one supplier to another? In other words, now that she is on the new supplier have we lost the ability to get this number? The meter is an "Elster thermis alpha", and it's showing a very low number as the reading, sort of suggesting that it has indeed been reset to zero when mom left e-on.
On calling E-On, they just told my mother that they couldn't read it from their end as she'd already changed.
If anyone has any advice i'd be very grateful. I guess worst case scenario they'll just work out the final bill using estimated figures, which isn't the end of the world.
Many thanks in advance,

Tom

Hello Tom and welcome to the Forums. Sorry for the late reply. Missed your post but already some excellent advice on here. Thanks all.

As Wolf3 says, it's the new supplier who drives the switch. They'll send us the readings they intend to use to open their account. We'll use the same readings to close our account and issue a final bill. This stops the same energy from being charged twice.

Also agree, it's best to take any readings directly from the meter. As House Martin says, meters don't reset following a change of supplier but keep ticking over to record ongoing usage. Although smart meters can be read remotely, we lose the ability to do this once a supply switches away.

Sorry your mother's left us Tom but hope this helps.

Malc