EON Smart Meters

oliverbrown

Their new tariffs mandate smart meter installation, so I'm leaving.

grimble37

oliverbrown said:

Their new tariffs mandate smart meter installation, so I'm leaving.

Where are you going to? 

oliverbrown

Outfox The Market. From their T&C:

We are currently not supplying smart meters yet

grimble37

Isn't their ratings dreadful? How about Bulb? 

oliverbrown

I don't know, if I have any problems I'll complain. I haven't looked at Bulb, I went for the cheapest option who aren't mandating smart meters.

Smodlet

Does anyone know whether Avro are going to be a p.i.t.a about smart meters if I switch to them?  Somehow, I doubt it since, a year or so ago, they were banned from taking on new customers due to non-compliance about the data thingy to do with receiving info from smart meters, I think (huh?)

I would never before have considered a non Big *4 supplier until I spent a year with e-on.  Since I have now learned to do without customer service (present company excepted) and any useful information on my online account, I find my standards have dropped so it might as well be all about price with the small proviso the company has at least some chance of still existing when my one year fix expires...

*EDF are dead to me due to their utterly unreasonable stance on smart meters:  Even if you can't, as opposed to won't, have them they throw you to the wolves of their standard tariff and charge exit fees, according to the CEC and nPower have been assimilated... Clearly, resistance was futile. 

kev2009

Which energy are you looking to switch supply for? if gas, you could give Zog a go, at the mo they not doing smart meters.  They have elec license but so far are not providing electricity sadly, I've been eagerly waiting them to start supply elec.  

They are a no frills gas supply, no online portal etc but you can email them.  I try to supply a meter reading end of each month and bills are therefore accurate.
I've had no issue with them so far, statements each month by 
Kev

oliverbrown

kev2009 said:

They are a no frills gas supply, no online portal etc but you can email them.  

I think I'd draw the line at no online portal to be honest. The OTM portal is pretty good, these are the sections:

Greenenergy

pete-20-11 said:

EON are doing it again - two text messages saying that as part of my tariff I agreed to have smart meters fitted (which isn't true according to the terms and conditions!)

I was in discussions with Ofgem about this back in Feb, so I will send them the latest screenshots for their enjoyment. 

The last line of their email was

"I would therefore like to thank you for the information that you have provided and I would be grateful if you could please share any correspondence that you have received from E.ON that states that you must arrange for a smart meter installation. Ofgem is interested in any widespread non-compliance with the licence conditions and any examples of communications sent to customers are important to us."

So if anyone else has examples of this - drop them an email with the evidence to here: ConsumerAffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

I have so far:

1)Reported E.on twice to the Obmudsman - twice despite internal escalation the Ombudsman sided with E.on and even though they agreed the communications were misleading wouldnt force E.on to do anything.
2) I then raised this via the Ofgem complaints process and had the following back from them ( after escalating to a level 2 complaint): 
(Ofgem reply begins)
"You raise two points regarding communications you have received from E.ON, which you consider misleading. I have addressed each point below. Responsibility for ensuring that energy sector licensees adhere to license conditions rests with Ofgem. In this regard, you believe that E.ON has issued misleading or incorrect information regarding Smart Meters and that Ofgem should take action regarding this. You expand on this when making your second point. Therefore, I have addressed this concern below when answering the second point you raise. “2) The company agreed that they are misleading customers. Yet even now Ofgem won’t take formal actions or enforce Eon to stop sending these misleading communications. I trust this complaint will be reviewed and action taken to stop elderly and vulnerable people being misled now and in the future”. The supply licence condition SLC 0.3b requires energy suppliers to provide information (whether in writing or orally) to each Domestic Customer which is complete, accurate and not misleading. The concern you raise amounts to an allegation that E.ON are non-compliant with the terms of SLC 0.3b, by providing you with inaccurate and/or misleading information in respect of Smart Meters. The information you have submitted, including the examples of E.ON’s communications, was reviewed by Ofgem’s Retail Compliance Team. The team engage with suppliers where things may have gone wrong and ensure action is taken, if required, to put matters right

for affected customers and prevent recurrences. In serious cases, Ofgem’s Enforcement Team can open a formal investigation. However, investigations are not opened as a matter of course, following receipt of an allegation. Decisions on whether to open investigations are taken after considering a range of factors, including the seriousness and harm that has or could be caused by potential licence breaches. The full criteria we use to determine if an investigation is appropriate is detailed in our Enforcement Guidelines. In this case, as confirmed in our letter dated (removed) the Retail Compliance Team has discussed this matter with E.ON. I am unable to share with you further information on the nature of those discussions. The reason for this is that Section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000 places restrictions on the disclosure of information about the affairs of utility companies.

I appreciate that may be frustrating. I note that when raising your complaint you make reference to wanting to prevent vulnerable people being misled. You may wish to note that one of Ofgem’s priorities is to: “Protect consumers, especially the vulnerable, by stamping out sharp practice and ensuring fair treatment”. Therefore, while I cannot give you any information about our response to the specific concern that you raise, I can assure you that protecting vulnerable consumers is at the heart of Ofgem’s work. That includes ensuring suppliers do not issue misleading communications to their customers. Further information about this and other Ofgem priorities can be found on our website. Thank you once again for bringing this matter to our attention. If you are not happy with how we’ve dealt with your complaint and would like to take the matter further you can contact the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman. The Ombudsman carries out independent investigations into complaints about public bodies. To take a complaint to the  Ombudsman go to www.ombudsman.org.uk or call 0345 015 4033."
(end of reply from Ofgem)

I personally think that's an awful response  from Ofgem so have a complaint in with the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman and would suggest that others go down this route also.

Smodlet

Greenenergy, I thank you for your efforts, I really do.  Just confirms what we all know, Ofgem are just as much the energy sector's patsy as is the Ombudsman.  I agree it is a useless response and just confirms what I and you attest.