Smart Meter switch

ScarlettTiger

Hi,
I’m currentlly on pay as you go for gas and electricity and have a smart meter, both with Utilia. I have struggled to find a provider that I can switch my energy to on payg. So can I switch to pay monthly with the smart meter?
Thank you.

[Deleted User]

Utilita will do credit history checks before switching the payg to credit.. Only when you switch supplier will the meter be switched to credit..Then you face the same procedure with the new supplier who should also do a credit history search, or apply their own criteria before accepting you for a credit meter. BG are a little stringent and EDF are known to be one of the more flexible suppliers.
Nearly all the small suppliers use Secure Liberty meters if they have moved over to smart meters.

ScarlettTiger

So, having the smart meter shouldn’t be a problem?

[Deleted User]

ScarlettTiger wrote: »

So, having the smart meter shouldn’t be a problem?

..Utilita will simply remotely move it over to credit meter mode..Prepay rates have been capped and may be cheaper than Utilitas best fixed.. Do a comparison site check with UKpower.co./Uswitch comparing your annual usage in kwhs with prepay v credit to get an accurate picture of prices.
If you switch to a supplier in credit meter mode and are accepted then the meter will be a dumb meter..No problem with that but if you want to stay on prepay then some suppliers, eg BG, EDF, Scot Power cannot use the Secure Liberty meters in their systems and would have to switch the meters. Eon now use Secure meters so they could probably still use Utilitas meter

Anthorn

ScarlettTiger wrote: »

Hi,
I’m currentlly on pay as you go for gas and electricity and have a smart meter, both with Utilia. I have struggled to find a provider that I can switch my energy to on payg. So can I switch to pay monthly with the smart meter?
Thank you.

I'm guessing that you want to switch provider. You will need to check with Utilita about their process of switching to other suppliers with a prepay smart meter. Overall the process is when you switch they should remotely change the prepay mode to credit mode and then it's up to your new supplier to decide on the mode and then fit a new meter as necessary. But not all suppliers and not all smart meters handle a switch prepay in the same way. However provided you are not in arrears you should be able to switch supplier without any trouble: When you apply there should be questions related to prepay and smart meters, and you just leave it to the new supplier.

ScarlettTiger

I’m wanting to switch providers as Utilita is getting more and more expensive. I’ve just tried to switch to Bulb, as recommended through the energy club, but they cannot switch me on that tariff, because of the smart meter.

[Deleted User]

ScarlettTiger wrote: »

I’m wanting to switch providers as Utilita is getting more and more expensive. I’ve just tried to switch to Bulb, as recommended through the energy club, but they cannot switch me on that tariff, because of the smart meter.

Bulb could take you on if the meter was in credit mode and you passed their credit meter criteria, but not in PAYG
I read meters for many suppliers, including Bulb and have seen dumb Secure Liberty meters in place with them and many other suppliers . Bulb don`t seem to have started installing smart meters yet but when they do it will probably be the same make and model meter as Utilita use, Secure Liberty meters but in SMETS2 spec.
. Once a smart meter has been switched away from the original supplier then it just becomes a standard dumb credit meter. The Secure Liberty meters have been around for many years and are all over the place nowadays from frequent switchers

Anthorn

ScarlettTiger wrote: »

I’m wanting to switch providers as Utilita is getting more and more expensive. I’ve just tried to switch to Bulb, as recommended through the energy club, but they cannot switch me on that tariff, because of the smart meter.

As I explained, you need to contact Utilita to find out what they do with the prepay meter when you switch away from them. Then armed with that information you can approach other suppliers.

Let's get one thing out of the way: Utilita cannot stop you switching supplier unless you are in arrears with your account.

If Bulb are being ball-breakers over the meter which in my experience is not unusual with Bulb, switch to some other supplier. Then when the meter is sorted out switch to Bulb if you must have Bulb.

Thomas_Edison

Hey,

If you're on smart prepay when you switch to another supplier Utilita will automatically send a message to your meter at midnight to switch it to credit mode.

This means when you sign up with a new supplier you need to sign up as if you have a credit meter and they'll ask for your bank details to set up a direct debit.

The reason for all this is that you have a 1st gen smart meter, so when you switch to the new supplier they wouldn't be able to communicate with it making smart prepay impossible.

The only thing that would hinder a switch is if Utilita believed you owed them money.

[Deleted User]

Thomas_Edison wrote: »

Hey,

If you're on smart prepay when you switch to another supplier Utilita will automatically send a message to your meter at midnight to switch it to credit mode.

This means when you sign up with a new supplier you need to sign up as if you have a credit meter and they'll ask for your bank details to set up a direct debit.

The reason for all this is that you have a 1st gen smart meter, so when you switch to the new supplier they wouldn't be able to communicate with it making smart prepay impossible.

The only thing that would hinder a switch is if Utilita believed you owed them money.

Suppliers do more than just asking for your credit details to "sign you up "..They all apply a credit check of some kind before accepting new customers for credit meter accounts.. EDF are supposed to be very lax in this and so was the late Spark Energy before they went bust and were taken over by Ovo..Check with a suppliers website before you switch to see details about credit history

PennineAcute

That's how I got away from prepay meters. With Utilita, it is easier, as you are listed on the National Database as having a credit meter. You can check this by doing a quote on edf's website.

On the day you leave, Utilita will switch your meter to credit mode.

This just leaves you choosing your new supplier. As mentioned, some do credit credit and some do not.