Victim of Future Energy Collapse, now got useless smart meters... Read more: https://www.diynot.com/

breakingbad

Hi all,

We were Future Energy customers before they folded last year. Shortly before the collapse, they fitted us with smart meters. Now I was never happy with the gas meter and how it didn't fit in the existing box, resulting in the lid being left unlocked and open (see photos: https://ibb.co/jB7ain https://ibb.co/cqWPb7 https://ibb.co/h8QT3n )

Now we have been moved over to a new supplier (Green Star Energy), I am wondering whether they are liable for rectifying the problem?

Also, the smart meters appear to be useless, as Green Star say they cannot read from them anyway?

What to do?

Thanks,

System

breakingbad wrote: »

Hi all,

We were Future Energy customers before they folded last year. Shortly before the collapse, they fitted us with smart meters. Now I was never happy with the gas meter and how it didn't fit in the existing box, resulting in the lid being left unlocked and open (see photos: https://ibb.co/jB7ain https://ibb.co/cqWPb7 https://ibb.co/h8QT3n )

Now we have been moved over to a new supplier (Green Star Energy), I am wondering whether they are liable for rectifying the problem?

Also, the smart meters appear to be useless, as Green Star say they cannot read from them anyway?

What to do?

Thanks,

It is the case that most of the first generation smart meters become dumb when you switch suppliers. This fact has been well publicised on suppliers!!!8217; websites and in the Press. There are plans to upgrade these meters by 2020. Meters that cannot be upgraded will be replaced.

Your new supplier is responsible for your meter. Whether they will do anything about your meter box is up to them. Have you spoken to them about it?

AndyPK

thank you for the pics

that is the sort of meter box I have.

Do any smart meters fit them I wonder?

Robisere

The meter box on my wall was broken 3 years ago when my meters were renewed after changing from NSH Eco7, to gas and electricity. The new meters were not Smart meters, which means EDF cannot use the "old meters" excuse to change them, but they have admitted that. The 'new' gas meter is also outside, further around the wall.

I have appealed to EDF regarding the broken box, they say it is down to Northern Energy, who say it is down to my landlord, who say it is an external fitment outside and not their problem. I therefore informed Northern Energy that it is certainly not MY problem; if it falls off and the meter is damaged, who is responsible?

This particular 'buck' has been passed through so many hands now, it is worn out. SOMEONE is responsible!

molerat

Meter boxes are the responsibility of the property owner.

House_Martin

breakingbad wrote: »

Hi all,

We were Future Energy customers before they folded last year. Shortly before the collapse, they fitted us with smart meters. Now I was never happy with the gas meter and how it didn't fit in the existing box, resulting in the lid being left unlocked and open (see photos: https://ibb.co/jB7ain https://ibb.co/cqWPb7 https://ibb.co/h8QT3n )

Now we have been moved over to a new supplier (Green Star Energy), I am wondering whether they are liable for rectifying the problem?

Also, the smart meters appear to be useless, as Green Star say they cannot read from them anyway?

What to do?

Thanks,

It is now a dumb meter of course.
You will have to do the readings from now on. At least the meter is nt too deep and you can see the screen easily enough.
Not sure why you are making such a fuss over a minor detail like the lid sticking up a bit
. I doubt that you actually own the meter box unless you have bought the flat.Its the landlords problem if that is the case
I see as usual the small suppliers have fitted the cheap as chips Secure Liberty meter in your semi concealed meter box. Press button 9 for the reading which will be on the first screen displayed. Watch out that it shows M3 and not Kwhs. It will show 8 digits and will have a hard to see decimal point before the last digit so do not include the last digit.
Its not unusual to see these ground level meter boxes with either their lids completely off or a little open as yours is. They are never securely locked but just need a triangular 50 p key. They are not supposed to be securely locked. Some people fit their own padlocks.This is not allowed.
Large prepayment gas meters cause the same problem.
Often meter fitters start again and screw a new meter box to the wall and place the meter a foot off the ground.
Semi concealed below ground level is never a good idea for a meter box,yours is ok being at ground level and not below. they can, and do fill with water. I ve seen flats where every meter was under water and useless for readings.

Kitchen_Sink

This doesn't appear to be an issue arising from the fitment of a smart meter.
The smart meter actually appears smaller than a conventional dumb meter (but that may be an illusion)

The meter has simply been attached using the existing attachment points, and it looks to me it is the upper elbow of the RH fixing point that is actually holding the cover open. i.e. nothing to do with the meter itself.

molerat

Just looks badly fitted to me, is that clear space below the meter ? Meter fitters want to get as many done in a day as they can, messing around making sure the job is done neatly is not in their remit.

S0litaire

molerat wrote: »

Just looks badly fitted to me, is that clear space below the meter ? Meter fitters want to get as many done in a day as they can, messing around making sure the job is done neatly is not in their remit.

Their is always a large gap below the meters (I was told it was in case they have to fit a pressure regulator between a high pressure main gas line and a lower pressure home gas pipe).

I'm up in Scotland, When I got my monthly meter replaced with a pre-payment meter, the installer added and upright section to the box as standard.

No reason they installer of the smart meter could not have done the same at the time (Unless they were cutting corners on costs.)

I can see why... Those box's cost a small fortune! I've a broken lid on mine and the replacement lid it's self was around £40 last time i looked.

K.S.

After i switched from Eon to Tonik, it took a month or two before Tonik could take readings from the smart meters Eon fitted, not really sure why, maybe it was admin backlog, but it's not always a lost cause.

Michaelw

Thats an Independent Gas Transporter groundbox.Normally the meter is placed on its back and the pipework modified.