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Scottish Power hassling me to get Smart Meter

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kuepper
kuepper Posts: 1,493 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
Being bombarded with automated phone calls, emails and letters to get a smart meter. The latest email says "DID YOU KNOW YOUR CURRENT GAS AND ELECTRIC METERS ARE BEING PHASED OUT AND REPLACED WITH SMART METERS". This is simply untrue isn't it?

Comments

  • kuepper wrote: »
    Being bombarded with automated phone calls, emails and letters to get a smart meter. The latest email says "DID YOU KNOW YOUR CURRENT GAS AND ELECTRIC METERS ARE BEING PHASED OUT AND REPLACED WITH SMART METERS". This is simply untrue isn't it?

    It is sort of true. In many many years time, most meters in households will eventually be a Smart meter as there will only be smart meters manufactured The licence conditions for certain non domestic customers are already heading down the route that all businesses with a certain profile class have to have a Smart meter. It is inevitable that in the future only smart meters will be developed by the manufacturers.

    However, you do not have to agree to a smart meter if you are just being offered one and your current meter does not need to be exchanged.
  • chico
    chico Posts: 145 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    kuepper wrote: »
    Being bombarded with automated phone calls, emails and letters to get a smart meter. The latest email says "DID YOU KNOW YOUR CURRENT GAS AND ELECTRIC METERS ARE BEING PHASED OUT AND REPLACED WITH SMART METERS". This is simply untrue isn't it?
    Scottish Power Smart Meters FAQ 22. Do I need to have a smart meter?
    There is no legal obligation to have a smart meter installed.
    However Scottish Power are supportive of the Government mandated programme and are aiming to install smart meters in all customers' homes to help customers get the benefits of a smart meter.
  • r2015
    r2015 Posts: 1,136 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker! Cashback Cashier
    The best way to stop all those annoying letters, emails and phone calls is to let them install smart meters then change suppliers.


    That way your new meters become dumb.
    over 73 but not over the hill.
  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 9,075 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As said above, there's no legal obligation to have a smart meter however that doesn't mean that the energy supply company cannot fit one if they so desire.
    It's also likely that the only sort of meter thats goiung to be available in the future is a smart one. I can't see suppliers keeping a special stock of dumb ones for those who refuse to have one.

    The meter belongs to them, not you and if they decide for any reason that they want to change their T&C's to insist that a customer has a smart meter then you've got the option to go to a supplier that doesn't have this requirement.

    However that said, at some point suppliers might find it cheaper for them to run their systems with a smart meter and could start chaging people extra for the inconvenience and extra costs of supporting non-smart meters rather than giving discounts for having one.
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • PhilE
    PhilE Posts: 566 Forumite
    They are lying. Tell them one more phonecall or email about a smart meter and your changing providers.
  • PhilE
    PhilE Posts: 566 Forumite
    matelodave wrote: »
    As said above, there's no legal obligation to have a smart meter however that doesn't mean that the energy supply company cannot fit one if they so desire.
    .

    An energy company cannot enter your home, and force you to have a smart meter against your will. You must be from a UK in a different dimension.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/bills-and-utilities/gas-electric/smart-meter-roll-out-getting-one-still-compulsory/

    Have a look at the concerns with smart meters.
    https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/do-i-have-to-accept-a-smart-meter
  • Bigphil1474
    Bigphil1474 Posts: 3,523 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OP, even if you want a smart meter, there doesn't seem to be much point in getting one until the next gen ones are available. As above, the current ones go dumb if you switch supplier although there seems to be plans to update the software remotely via a magic button. Currently you don't have to have a new meter installed unless there's a problem with your current meter.
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    British Gas seem to be phoning me daily about it, they are on my block list.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,339 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OP, even if you want a smart meter, there doesn't seem to be much point in getting one until the next gen ones are available. As above, the current ones go dumb if you switch supplier although there seems to be plans to update the software remotely via a magic button. Currently you don't have to have a new meter installed unless there's a problem with your current meter.

    If your supplier deems your meter as being End-of- Life, it has a statutory right to replace it. This could be a smart meter with a disabled communications hub. The Govt has directed The Data Communications Company to look at methods of ‘adopting’ first generation meters onto its systems. This may not be possible OTA and the meter may not be upgraded to the SMETS 2 Standard.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
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