Who owns my Smart Meters?

Timmys_Dad

My Smart Meters were installed by First Utility in Dec 2017. Since then I’ve switched to EverSmart Energy, who insisted on Smart Meters, but they went bust. Their accounts were taken up by Utilita who were not Smart. I’ve since switched to Avro Energy.........also not Smart.
On occasions my gas supply is turned off remotely by some company......but who? I’ve managed to get the supply back by pressing a few buttons on the meter. Worries me if I was 80 yrs old in the middle of winter. So, who’s ultimately responsible for my gas supply and has control of my Smart meters?

Robin9

Is this a pre-pay or credit meter ?

gozaimasu

I have a similar issue. Previous occupier had a smart meter installed by British Gas.

I switched supplier and they couldn't use the smart meters. I thought that they were SMETS2, but apparently not. I assumed this based on an installation date.

I switched supplier yet again, and now one of my meters has gone completely blank, so I cannot submit a meter reading to the new company. The "smart meter" still blinks and flashes, so I assume that the original installer (British Gas) are still collecting data from the smart meter even though they are not in charge of the supply.

The whole energy sector has completely messed up this whole smart meter thing. Why can't we do things properly the first time round?!

mattinglis

It always used to by the DNO (Distribution Network Operator) SSE and the likes who owned the meters, however smart meters have just made this all a confusing pile of *****.

Ultimately they supply the raw product, who bills you is a different matter.

I would try calling the DNO and see what they say, they have helplines and i have always found them helpful.

[Deleted User]

The supplier who first fitted the smart meter paid for it so they own it..OFGEM changed the rules where meters were owned and fitted by DNOs but they changed it for the smart meter roll out to the suppliers owning and fitting the meter s because they thought they could do a better job at making the public accept them
When you leave a supplier who fitted the smart meter, that supplier then sets the meter remotely into credit meter mode when the customer leaves to join another supplier.
The new supplier then has to either accept you as a credit meter customer ( if you pass their credit history check ) using that same meter as a dumb meter .
Otherwise they can fit their own prepayment meter if you prefer, ( or fail their credit check) and fit a new smart meter of whatever make and model they are using.
.First Utility, (now Shell) use Secure Liberty smart meters
All sounds both messy and expensive..

Timmys_Dad

Thanks for your reply.
They’re Credit Meters. I pay by DD each month.

gozaimasu

Here's the link to DNOs.


http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html


Might be worth contacting the one for your area and let us know how you get on?

Gerry1

Timmys_Dad wrote: »

On occasions my gas supply is turned off remotely by some company......but who? I’ve managed to get the supply back by pressing a few buttons on the meter. Worries me if I was 80 yrs old in the middle of winter. So, who’s ultimately responsible for my gas supply and has control of my Smart meters?

It's Greta ! She's telling you you're using too much.
Joking apart, that's exactly what could happen. You could be given a daily carbon allowance and be remotely cut off if you exceed it... the Smart Meter Says NO.

Perhaps the Extinction Rebellion zealots are right and we should be enforcing draconian restrictions via smart meters. But if so, this should be open and transparent, not via the Trojan Horse of a shiny IHD toy with ulterior motives.