Smart Gas Meter

crashbandicoot

Hi, I'm looking for some advice from fellow members regarding an issue with our current energy supplier. I have smart meters fitted for both gas and electric but after attempting to get readings at the end of October I found my gas meter display blank. I have been in touch with my current supplier who is advising they will charge £120+VAT for an engineer to visit my house to inspect the gas meter. It would appear there is an internal battery fitted to this type of meter to which the householder doesn't have access to replace! My issue is that the meter is less than 3 years old and was fitted by British Gas when I signed up through MSE to one of their introductory tariffs. The display box in my home became redundant 12 months later after I moved supplier again as it wasn't compatible with the new energy supplier, so much for new technology! Has anyone else experienced this issue? Who is responsible? If my current supplier insists I pay and it does indeed turn out to be a dud battery I am seriously thinking of telling them where to stick the smart gas meter!

[Deleted User]

crashbandicoot wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for some advice from fellow members regarding an issue with our current energy supplier. I have smart meters fitted for both gas and electric but after attempting to get readings at the end of October I found my gas meter display blank. I have been in touch with my current supplier who is advising they will charge £120+VAT for an engineer to visit my house to inspect the gas meter. It would appear there is an internal battery fitted to this type of meter to which the householder doesn't have access to replace! My issue is that the meter is less than 3 years old and was fitted by British Gas when I signed up through MSE to one of their introductory tariffs. The display box in my home became redundant 12 months later after I moved supplier again as it wasn't compatible with the new energy supplier, so much for new technology! Has anyone else experienced this issue? Who is responsible? If my current supplier insists I pay and it does indeed turn out to be a dud battery I am seriously thinking of telling them where to stick the smart gas meter!

I work for BG as a meter reader. I have never heard of BG try to charge customers any money at all to either inspect or replace a faulty meter.
I have found a few of the early smart gas meters to have gone blank screen which usually indicates a dead battery. You do have to press the red button to activate a smart gas meter though. This prolongs the battery life which is supposed to be around 10 years.
Personally I think the current supplier is incorrect in attempting to charge you.When they took over the supply they also took over the meter and its up to them to replace the battery.
Batteries cost approx £15 each for the Lithium battery although they appear to want to exchange the whole meter rather than unscrew a couple of screws and replace it.
The only reason any supplier would try and charge any customers for meter replacement is if there was evidence of a a meter tamper which damages them. They cost about £120 for a smart gas meter

Consumerist

It would seem that in the present circumstances neither you nor your supplier will be able to retrieve meter readings so your consumption will be estimated until the meter/battery is replaced. This is not ideal during the winter months.

I would suggest you start the suppliers complaints procedure, objecting to the charge, to get the matter attended to.