E.ON smart meters on Fix Online

oliverbrown

I decided to ring E.ON up and the lady was very clear, that going forward everyone signing up to one of their fixed rate tariffs must consent to having a smart meter installed.

Knowing that's not something I want, I don't want to consent to something I'll know I'll refuse later on, so I'll be on the move to a new supplier.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

oliverbrown wrote: »

I was going to sign up to E.ON Fix Online v8 today, but I notice during the sign up process that it says I have to "agree to have smart meters installed". I don't want them.

This is not a "smart tariff" with variable rates at different times of day as far as I can see so I'm unsure why they need to stipulate I must have smart meters installed. Presumably the government is stepping up pressure on suppliers to hit targets.

I think I know the answer here, but in signing up I assume I waive my right to refuse a smart meter?

oliverbrown wrote: »

That doesn't sound too bad then, although I'm guessing I would be slapped with the £60 exit fee?

oliverbrown wrote: »

I decided to ring E.ON up and the lady was very clear, that going forward everyone signing up to one of their fixed rate tariffs must consent to having a smart meter installed.

Knowing that's not something I want, I don't want to consent to something I'll know I'll refuse later on, so I'll be on the move to a new supplier.

Hello oliverbrown and smart meters remain optional. You can refuse our requests to have them fitted at any time.

The new Fix Online version 8 and some of our other fixed tariffs carry a condition where customers moving to these products agree to be contacted about having smart meters. Once they're on the tariff, our smart meter teams will contact them to see if they're eligible for these meters. If they're eligible and turn down our offer to fit them, our advisor will talk about the options available at that time.

There'll be no exit fees should this mean moving to another of our tariffs. We only charge exit fees when changing supplier outside of the renewal window and not when moving to another of our tariffs.

Hope this explains oliverbrown.

Malc

oliverbrown

Hi Malc, thanks for your reply, I don't want to leave E.ON and your reply has made me reconsider.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

If they're eligible and turn down our offer to fit them, our advisor will talk about the options available at that time.

Can you be a little more specific on those "options"? Fix Online 8 is not a time of day tariff and is perfectly viable with a traditional meter, so I'd be disappointed if the "option" was to be pushed back onto EnergyPlan.

I understand you have government targets, but this policy may well lose me as a customer, and I suspect I'm not the only one.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

oliverbrown wrote: »

Hi Malc, thanks for your reply, I don't want to leave E.ON and your reply has made me reconsider.




Can you be a little more specific on those "options"? Fix Online 8 is not a time of day tariff and is perfectly viable with a traditional meter, so I'd be disappointed if the "option" was to be pushed back onto EnergyPlan.

I understand you have government targets, but this policy may well lose me as a customer, and I suspect I'm not the only one.

Thanks for coming back to me oliverbrown and sorry to be vague.

Our products are changing all the time and it depends on what's available when we contact you about smart meters. This is unlikely to be immediate as we've a large number of customers changing tariff or moving to/from us at any given time.

It also depends on the circumstances at the time. It might be we're unable to fit smart meters at your property. They aren't available everywhere yet as it depends on things like the actual area, type of property, strength of the mobile phone signal and the current metering set up. We won't know this until our smart meter specialists talk to you.

The one thing I can say, if it turns out we can't fit smart meters, you'll be able to stay on Fix Online v8.

Sorry again to be vague oliverbrown.

Malc

oliverbrown

Thanks Malc, you've convinced me to stay with E.ON. I will refer to your post in future if I have any hassles.

Quentin

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

The one thing I can say, if it turns out we can't fit smart meters, you'll be able to stay on Fix Online v8.

This is not quite the point!


The ts + cs state:

By choosing this tariff you agree to be contacted, where eligible, for the installation of a smart meter and have one installed for each fuel we supply

This is not the same as "if you refuse to have this fitted then ignore this!"


Doesn't your statement mean that if for some technical reason you cannot fit smart meters the customer will be able to stay on the tariff or are you really saying customers refusing smart meters can ignore that condition?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

brewerdave wrote: »

Don't know about the exit fees - in the past I moved tariffs within EON and they never charged the fees for an internal move:)

Still the same brewerdave. As above, we don't apply exit fees when customers move from one oo out tariffs to another E.ON tariff. Exit fees are only applied when changing supplier outside of the renewal window.

Malc

oliverbrown

@Quentin
There's no technical reason that I know of that a smart meter can't be fitted at my property, so I doubt that one would apply to me.

The main thing I wanted to clarify is that the worst that can happen if I refuse to have a smart meter fitted under Fix Online v8 is that I would be moved to another package without any penalty, and that's been made clear.

Quentin

oliverbrown wrote: »

@Quentin
There's no technical reason that I know of that a smart meter can't be fitted at my property, so I doubt that one would apply to me.

The main thing I wanted to clarify is that the worst that can happen if I refuse to have a smart meter fitted under Fix Online v8 is that I would be moved to another package without any penalty, and that's been made clear.

Maybe


However that's not the point made by the rep!


His statement is "..if it turns out we can't fit smart meters, you'll be able to stay on Fix Online v8."


That suggests if the customer (ie you) says "NO, you can't come and fit them", they can stay on that tariff.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Deleted_User wrote: »

brewerdave is correct. Eon do not charge an exit fee if you move tariff but stay with them, only if you switch supplier.

Regarding the T & C of having a smart meter fitted on certain tariffs then that's a different matter but when asked to switch to a smart meter by Eon I asked them if they were fitting Smet 1 or Smet 2 meters and they said smet 1 at the moment (unless they've changed that policy recently) so if you later switch supplier the smart meter will become a dumb meter.

Perhaps the Eon rep could clarify these points to keep us up to date.

Hello warhead and you're spot on about exit fees. As above, we only apply these when changing supplier outside of the renewal window. There are no exit fees when going from one E.ON tariff to another.

We've been rolling out SMETS2 smart meters since the latter part of last year and are increasing the number installed all the time. Additionally, many of the SMETS1 meters already installed will be updated remotely so they're managed in the same way as SMETS2. This includes being able to work and communicate following a change of supplier. We're planning to start these updates later this year.

Hope this clarifies warhead. Let me know if you need any more information as happy to help.

Malc