Smart Meter - change supplier

thorganby

House_Martin wrote: »

You re making a bad guess
.Landis and Gyr would not have specified module exchanges if it was nt going to be used in the first place.
Not sure why you`re going on about diesel/petrol car theory .
Try another comparison.
Meter readers like myself are competent on battery exchanges on gas meters. We also did sim card exchanges on the first generation smart electric meters . It could be every bit as easy as that in practice.
BG have fitted around 2.5 million Landis Gyr Libra 310 smart gas meters. Its very cost effective just to update a bit of hardware rather than face unscrewing the whole meter with its gas purge problem and boiler relights with old style boilers.

You are once again making assumptions and showing just how little you actually know about smart meters.

Previously you were stating that these first generation meters would be made to conform to SMETS2 by doing an over the air upgrade when this is simply not possible.

The L&G Libra 310 would certainly need the comms module changing because it operates at approx one third of the frequency of the later L&G370 and the electric meter and in house display that it communicates with would also need changing.

Just because the manufacturer states that something is modular and that this could be done, it certainly does not mean that the end user i.e. the energy supplier will do this regardless of how many time you say that they will.

These meter are designed so that different modules can be fitted during manufacture to suit the requirements of the supplier in the country that they are used in.

badmemory

At the moment I cannot see anyone able to guarantee any meter will still work after a change of supplier.

EachPenny

House_Martin wrote: »

You re making a bad guess
.Landis and Gyr would not have specified module exchanges if it was nt going to be used in the first place.

Manufacturers like to offer flexibility because it helps sell their products. The buyer feels more comfortable thinking that if things change they can unplug this bit and plug a different bit in. But how many do?

House_Martin wrote: »

Not sure why you`re going on about diesel/petrol car theory .
Try another comparison.

I was trying to make the point that just because you can do something, it doesn't mean it is cost effective to do so.

Another example would be PC hardware. People buy PC's with motherboards which allow processors to be swapped and memory upgraded by changing modules. More than once I've built myself a PC with a high-spec motherboard and a low-spec processor on the basis I'd buy a better processor in a couple of years time when the prices have dropped. I've never done it because when the processor cost reaches a level it might be worthwhile doing, a much better motherboard is available at relatively low cost.

Millions of PC's have been sold with spare slots for memory.... how many of them have ever been filled? So now when you buy a laptop the chances are there will be no facility for the user to upgrade anything, sometimes even the battery is non-replaceable. Why? because the option to upgrade is so rarely used and providing it costs money. It is cheaper for the customer to just buy a new one and have the benefit of a brand new piece of kit rather than one which is already 'old'.

House_Martin wrote: »

Its very cost effective just to update a bit of hardware rather than face unscrewing the whole meter with its gas purge problem and boiler relights with old style boilers.

So assuming the upgrade module is still manufactured, and assuming the cost per unit is low, we will pay for someone to visit each meter by appointment (not going door to door like you'd prefer) in order to swap a module on a piece of equipment that may already be 5 to 10 years old? Even though the programme to install smart meters first-time still won't be completed? And let's hope there are no compatibility issues with the module swaps, and none of them cause the whole meter to fail. I know the smart meter programme loves wasting money.... but seriously?

Michaelw

Hengus wrote: »

Within the next three years, all smart meters will be installed or modified to work with a central data/communications hub.

Its already two years behind schedule and there is not any information on this vast programme combined with a less then ideal take up of smart meters.

House_Martin wrote: »

Meter readers like myself are competent on battery exchanges on gas meters.

Similar situation here with British Gas and Ebico transfer.The smart meter cannot be operated by Ebico on transfer either in credit or prepayment and the battery problem is a real concern although the meter is termed credit a battery failure in this mode will shut off supply as in prepayment,how will Ebico deal with this situation?and how quickly respond to loss of supply as the low battery will not apply as there is no back to base connection?

They (Ebico)appear quite on smart meter in tarrif terms and in the current mess of smart meters and complex equipment simply not working appears wise.They do mention the secure smart meter which does now appear to be more widly installed but how would this fit into a modified IGT ground box modified by British Gas?

British Gas spending over two hours installing these smart meters that will not work appears now a waste of time and effort.The worry over meter faliure and the lack of British Gas service back up is a concern if their equipment does fail and how a smaller supplier will cope with this in terms of time and ability.

House_Martin

Michaelw wrote: »

Its already two years behind schedule and there is not any information on this vast programme combined with a less then ideal take up of smart meters.



Similar situation here with British Gas and Ebico transfer.The smart meter cannot be operated by Ebico on transfer either in credit or prepayment and the battery problem is a real concern although the meter is termed credit a battery failure in this mode will shut off supply as in prepayment,how will Ebico deal with this situation?and how quickly respond to loss of supply as the low battery will not apply as there is no back to base connection?

They (Ebico)appear quite on smart meter in tarrif terms and in the current mess of smart meters and complex equipment simply not working appears wise.They do mention the secure smart meter which does now appear to be more widly installed but how would this fit into a modified IGT ground box modified by British Gas?

British Gas spending over two hours installing these smart meters that will not work appears now a waste of time and effort.The worry over meter faliure and the lack of British Gas service back up is a concern if their equipment does fail and how a smaller supplier will cope with this in terms of time and ability.

Secure Liberty are not more widely installed. For years only 2 small suppliers were using these god awful cheap meters for reasons of economy only.Ovo, Utilita conned people into "smart prepay s with a promise of online top ups
They are primarily a small business meter (SME ) designed just for small businesses initially in India adapted for UK smart metering. They are cheap to buy which will be the big draw for cash strapped suppliers like Eon.
They show their business pedigree by having 8 digits on the electric meter where 5 is normal for domestic in UK.They also show Kvarh readings as well as Kwh which is totally unknown on UK domestic electric meters.
Recently Eon, with well known finance problems has surprisingly opted to start using them presumably to keep costs down.
They are not at all suitable for domestic properties
Eon will regret it in the long run. I m with Eon now for a year, and I can inform Malc the Eon rep, they re not putting them in my house .Eon used to sensibly use Landis Gyrs and they can fit them if they want

House_Martin

thorganby wrote: »

You are once again making assumptions and showing just how little you actually know about smart meters.

Previously you were stating that these first generation meters would be made to conform to SMETS2 by doing an over the air upgrade when this is simply not possible.

The L&G Libra 310 would certainly need the comms module changing because it operates at approx one third of the frequency of the later L&G370 and the electric meter and in house display that it communicates with would also need changing.

Just because the manufacturer states that something is modular and that this could be done, it certainly does not mean that the end user i.e. the energy supplier will do this regardless of how many time you say that they will.

These meter are designed so that different modules can be fitted during manufacture to suit the requirements of the supplier in the country that they are used in.

Not according to L and G. .
1. "Module exchange WITHOUT NEED FOR BASE GAS METER REPLACEMENT "
2." upgrades existing L and G Libra 310/310p to G370 " ( which is SMETS2 compliant)
https://www.landisgyr.eu/product/g370-zigbee-smart-ultrasonic-gas-meter/
There you go..SMETS2 compliant without need for removing over 2 million BG gas meters already installed, (and more from EDF,Scot Power who use this meter) , at much greater expense .