Smart Meters

Highland76

oldandwizend said:

Smart meter - no thank you.as until they offer substantially lower tariffs for  having them (very unlikely as utility companies want to maximise profit) then i can see no real advantage.

Actually you'll find the cheapest tariffs with the 'big 6' providers as all (or most) insist on you agreeing to take out a smart meter or already have smart meter as part of the tariff t&c's. There's loadsa threads on MSE where people have been caught out by this, ie have taken out the cheap smart meter only tariffs but don't want to get smart meters fitted. So I would argue smart meters give you access to the cheaper tariffs. FYI I'm paying only 2.05p kWh for gas and 13.90p kWh for electric on an EDF Smart meter tariff - my smets2 meters were installed by E.ON last year.

Gerry1

Talldave said:

why do we have two different WAN technologies in different parts of the country?

The O2 mobile network is Grim Up Norf, that's why.

Highland76

giraffejoe said:

I had a smart meter fitted by eon in December. It has a 19P serial code so annoyingly it looks like a first gen version.

This is what my smets2 meter fitted by E.ON in Dec 2019 looks like. Is yours not similar?

Tadcuwyrdd

I've been chased for years by EDF to get a Smart meter and always refused. But I just got an email from them saying "At our last meter reading we found that your meter may not be recording accurately and we will have to fit a replacement". Which of course will be a Smart meter. There is no way I can argue my way out of this. The Cvirus will delay this but eventually I will be forced to accept a Smart meter.

oldandwizend

Tadcuwyrdd said:

I've been chased for years by EDF to get a Smart meter and always refused. But I just got an email from them saying "At our last meter reading we found that your meter may not be recording accurately and we will have to fit a replacement". Which of course will be a Smart meter. There is no way I can argue my way out of this. The Cvirus will delay this but eventually I will be forced to accept a Smart meter.

Smart meters are not compulsory so if that is what they tell you they are fitting then just refuse.

Also first time I have heard that a meter reader can tell that a meter is not recording accurately. I think it is a bit more technical than just looking at it!

Gerry1

Tadcuwyrdd said:

I've been chased for years by EDF to get a Smart meter and always refused. But I just got an email from them saying "At our last meter reading we found that your meter may not be recording accurately and we will have to fit a replacement". Which of course will be a Smart meter. There is no way I can argue my way out of this. The Cvirus will delay this but eventually I will be forced to accept a Smart meter.

Welcome to the forum.

Read your Ts &Cs VERY carefully.  E.On are notorious for claiming that you are obliged to have a smart meter when this is not the case.  Many of their new tariffs do now require this, but previously you only agreed to be contacted.  Your meter may well need to be replaced, but there's no legal requirement for the new one to be smart.

Just move to another company: IIRC you can escape any E.On exit fees by moving to an E.On tariff with no exit fees before switching to a different company.

Many smaller ones don't insist on smart meters, and they'll probably be cheaper as well.  For starters, have a look at Yorkshire Energy, Avro, Neon Reef and Gulf.  I've found them all to be good.

matelodave

Here's the latest info from OFGEM on the Smart Meter Rollout (date 30th June 2020) - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/06/open_letter_2020_smart_rollout_progress_and_forward_look.pdf

This is also worth a read https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/06/beis_open_letter_on_operational_fulfilment.pdf

brewerdave

matelodave said:

Here's the latest info from OFGEM on the Smart Meter Rollout (date 30th June 2020) - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/06/open_letter_2020_smart_rollout_progress_and_forward_look.pdf

This is also worth a read https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/06/beis_open_letter_on_operational_fulfilment.pdf

The first letter is notable for its use of 30 words when one would do ! You can tell it is written by civil servants with time on their hands.
Also for perpetuating the myth that SMETS meters are good for the customer!!

AquaCaro

Good afternoon.  
I had a smart meter fitted by EON last year. I was told that these were being installed in the area and that all households would have these provided.  I was not told it was mandatory.  
Since the meter was installed. I have noticed a steady increase in bills(charges) 
Due to Covid 19 i have worked from home so would expect some increase in charge. EON have contacted me recently to say that I need to double my direct debit.
I have now reviewed my bills prior to SMART meter being installed and post.  My direct debit more that met the cost of my quarterly bills. I am taking daily readings now on my SMART meeting to review.  However checking my usage on the smart meter I an unable to make comparisons as the units used are different.  It looks so complicated. I am contacing the citizens advice bureau to discuss.as I do not think the usage reflected in my bills is actually what I am using.  
I have read some of the comments on here and see that some of gone onto special rates. I did not go onto a plan I am on a standard plan.  However I was not advised to go onto a plan by the company.  
Anyone have a similar experience? or can offer any advice.  On my experience I would advise people not to get them put in. 

carl.waring

Unless you changed your tariff at the same time as your smart meter exchange (perhaps as a consequence of the tariff change) then your unit rate and standing charge will not have changed and therefore your costs remain the same. Only by using more energy can your DD be increased. Depending on how often you used to give reads (ie rarely or not at all) then I would suggest that your usage is now simply more accurate than it used to be.