Price comparison and smart meters

dqj999

When using the price comparison tool there is no indication whether the tariff requires that a smart meter be installed as a condition or not. I recently signed up to an SSE tariff using the MSE site and there was no indication that having a smart meter fitted was a condition for having the tariff. The MSE site should be changed to indicate whether the tariff requires this or not. In the case of the SSE tariff the condition could only be found AFTER you had switched over buried in the small print off the welcome pack. This is not good enough, either from MSE or from the supplier.

spiro

Out of interest what was the full name of the tariff?

[Deleted User]

Every comparison site I have seen will show three things about each tariff. "Plan features and info" is shown along "what will I pay " and "switch now " and that is where you will find if smart meter installation is a requirement .Don t bother with the long winded T /c s, its shown before you attempt to switch supplier.

DawnCrush

dqj999 wrote: »

When using the price comparison tool there is no indication whether the tariff requires that a smart meter be installed as a condition or not. I recently signed up to an SSE tariff using the MSE site and there was no indication that having a smart meter fitted was a condition for having the tariff. The MSE site should be changed to indicate whether the tariff requires this or not. In the case of the SSE tariff the condition could only be found AFTER you had switched over buried in the small print off the welcome pack. This is not good enough, either from MSE or from the supplier.

No comparison service is going to list the full terms and conditions of each and every tariff offered by over 70 different suppliers on their own comparison website.
If they did, no one would bother reading them.(and would probably be put off using the comparison service too)

But what most do, if you switch through them, is to ask to to read and confirm you have understood and accept the terms and conditions (link provided) applicable to a supplier & tariff you are seeking to switch to.

If it's not specified in the suppliers terms and conditions, it won't be a requirement.

dqj999

Houbara wrote: »

Every comparison site I have seen will show three things about each tariff. "Plan features and info" is shown along "what will I pay " and "switch now " and that is where you will find if smart meter installation is a requirement .Don t bother with the long winded T /c s, its shown before you attempt to switch supplier.

Sadly that is not true. Here is the information from MSE Cheap Energy Club for my tariff today.

SSE Southern Electric
SSE Southern Electric
Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v3

Not enough feedback yet

Estimated cost
£140 /mth
£1,675/yr


Switch in progress
What to expect
£30 Early Exit Fee
Warm Home Discount
Info about this new ELECTRICITY tariff

Supplier
SSE Southern Electric
Tariff name
Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v3
Tariff type
Fixed
Payment Method
Monthly Direct Debit
Unit rate
13.094p per kWh
Standing charge
28.497p per day
Tariff ends on
12 months fixed term
Price guaranteed until
12 months fixed term
Early Exit Fee (if you cancel this tariff before the end date)
£30
Discounts
None
Additional products or services included
None
Illustrative electricity cost on this tariff
Based on the usage figures you gave us, this is the estimated cost you'll pay for the next year.


Average UK usage
Assumed annual consumption
3100 kWh

Estimated annual cost
Not available
Based on your usage
12000 kWh

£1,675

Nothing there about the Tariff Requiring a Smart Meter as part of T&Cs. However in the sign up for this tariff

Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v3 Terms and Conditions
...

5. By signing up to the Fixed Tariff you are agreeing to have a Smart Meter installed in your
property. This means we will contact you to arrange a suitable installation date. Once your
Smart Meter is installed, you will automatically benefit from accurate bills.

dqj999

spiro wrote: »

Out of interest what was the full name of the tariff?

SSE Southern Electric
Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v3

Signing up to this tariff requires that you accept the installation of a smart meter.

[Deleted User]

dqj999 wrote: »

Sadly that is not true. Here is the information from MSE Cheap Energy Club for my tariff today.



Nothing there about the Tariff Requiring a Smart Meter as part of T&Cs. However in the sign up for this tariff

The SSE v3 appears to have ended now on CEC, but no mention of it being a smart meter tariff on the SSE v4.
.However BG, EDF, Eon all mention in tariff details on CEC of it being a smart meter installation requirement.. Looks like a clerical error in omitting that important clause with the SSE one... CEC do show the others as you would expect

brewerdave

For anyone with a SMETS1 meter -out of interest - what happens if you already have smart meters which have become dumb, when you take up one of these smart tariffs?
Do they a) replace the meters b) switch you to a non smart tariff (surely a bit unfair) or c) maintain the tariff using manual reads?

Skools_Out

dqj999 wrote: »

When using the price comparison tool there is no indication whether the tariff requires that a smart meter be installed as a condition or not. I recently signed up to an SSE tariff using the MSE site and there was no indication that having a smart meter fitted was a condition for having the tariff. The MSE site should be changed to indicate whether the tariff requires this or not. In the case of the SSE tariff the condition could only be found AFTER you had switched over buried in the small print off the welcome pack. This is not good enough, either from MSE or from the supplier.

I cannot comment specifically on v3, because as indicated abobe it is no longer available, and has been replaced by v4. (but I expect it to be very similar in terms of the process of applying)

If you apply to switch to v4 of this tariff via the CEC, you are transferred to MoneySuperMarket, where at the bottom of the application you see this




The terms and conditions referred to are here (actually on the MSM site )
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/policydocuments/Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v4 GEN.PDF

The terms specific to the tariff are found on page 28 thereof.

Gerry1

Skools_Out wrote: »

you are transferred to MoneySuperMarket, where at the bottom of the application you see this...

The terms and conditions referred to are here (actually on the MSM site )
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/policydocuments/Exclusive 1 Year Fixed v4 GEN.PDF

The terms specific to the tariff are found on page 28 thereof.

So Martin thinks it's OK for a main condition to be on display only in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard'?

happyandcontented

If a condition reads 'agrees to be contacted about a smart meter' should that be read as not needing to agree to one being installed but just listening to their spiel? This a condition of an EON tariff.