Rogue Smart meters

Matthaus73

 Pretty sure its the gas companys responsibility but they arrange for the gas network (eg.cadent) to change it as they dont replace battery but whole meter.
Needs to be sorted as the meter can start switching itself off leaving u with no gas if left too long (happened to mine) 

NippyNelly

Matthaus73 said:

 Pretty sure its the gas companys responsibility but they arrange for the gas network (eg.cadent) to change it as they dont replace battery but whole meter.
Needs to be sorted as the meter can start switching itself off leaving u with no gas if left too long (happened to mine) 

Yes, I believe you're right. Feels like really bad timing!

moneysaver

inspectorperez said:

moneysaver said:

I was ready to send in my gas reading to Bulb yesterday. I have a Landis + Gyr Libra 310P and noticed my usage had jumped up quite a lot. 1300 units usage for 1 month. I usually use approx 110 a month this time of the year. Last month my usage was also up a bit but not a lot up an extra 40 units, I thought nothing about this until I read this months. I checked my usage during the night last night with all gas appliances off & I used 6 units. Definitely something wrong. I could only do an online chat with Bulb about this they said nothing could be done for a few months because of the Covid 19 issue. I asked for the meter to be checked, he said it would be done then.

Feeling a bit frustrated to say the least.

Moneysaver

I haven't read the whole thread so please forgive me if I've missed something!

Are you absolutely sure you haven't got a gas leak on the house side of the meter? Have you done a gas pressure test?

I only ask, because this happened to me many years ago and the culprit turned out to be a gas pipe under the kitchen floor leading to the cooker. It was in its own cavity underneath the wayroc floor, but had not been properly covered and the constant footfall caused a small piece of debris to pierce the gas pipe with a pin !!!!!! of a hole which was sufficient to cause a leak.

Just a thought.

Thanks for your interest. I have checked for a leak by smell & I also have a Co2 detector in my kitchen, the only place I have any gas appliances, It is digital & does not show anything wrong. I do not have the knowledge or equipment to do a pressure test.

Moneysaver

Talldave

How long before someone (Martin?) picks up on this problem?  If this behaviour is exhibited by all 310P meters as their batteries fail, we will be looking at the energy industry's equivalent of the "PPI" debacle as claims for ludicrous overcharging come flooding in. 

moneysaver

MWT said:

Have a close look at the display and see if there is a small 'b' showing, if so that will mean the battery is running out and needs replacing.

My meter has a small b next to the usage numbers. So a low battery would make it malfunction, i.e make it run fast & also run when all gas appliances are turned off?

Moneysaver

Matthaus73

Thats exactly what happened to mine, 48m3 in 2 days then 0m3 for a couple of days ....edf said this wasnt possible (basically saying i was lying) i didnt know whether to laugh or cry ! 

NippyNelly

Summary and update on our rogue gas meter (Landis Gyr 310p):

Winter quarter bill was very high, so we started looking at meter - at this point, it was showing a "b" on the reading screen, though that subsequently went off when the weather warmed up. Turning off gas at meter overnight and meter still recording usage.  Gas engineer called out and confirmed no leaks in system, suggested meter was at fault.  Lots more readings taken and usage calculated, and still showing whacking high gas usage.  Further confirmation from another gas engineer that boiler and appliances were working okay; basically, he said our kit was fine, but condemned the meter.  Took some wrangling but finally got supplier to remove meter and send for testing - be aware they will tell you there is a charge for this, if the meter is found to be working within acceptable limits.  Nearly five months down the line from when we first thought something was wrong, we have just received engineer's report that our gas meter was so broken they couldn't actually test it. Big relief!  We are still negotiating with the supplier about how much we actually owe, but as their meter was so broken, I'm interested to see what they come up with. 

Take home points for anyone else having similar problems (in no particular order):

1. Don't assume that because you might have a "smart" meter that it is any smarter than an old-style one.  I would say that the digital meters are probably more likely to suffer from problems than the old style ones, that operated on gas flow.

2. Landis Gyr are known to suffer patchy accuracy - that "b" we spotted was an indication, but if we'd seen it sooner, we may well have had lower bills over the last couple of years, even.  There's no way of telling how long a meter has been misbehaving for, so check it regularly for similar indications.

3. Take readings yourself and consider if they match your consumption.  Look back over old bills and see if your consumption has changed even if your lifestyle hasn't - that's a big clue. Don't look at price; that'll change depending on what supplier and tariff you're on.

4. Ask the forum! I found it hugely supportive to just be able to share with people who had had similar experience - we can learn from each other.

5. Test to see if your meter is still recording usage even when the gas is turned off.  We took a reading then turned the gas off overnight and took another reading in the morning before turning the gas on again. If it shows an increase in consumption even when turned off, that's a BIG clue that something's amiss.

6. If you have gas use being recorded even when the gas is turned off, call the emergency gas line and get someone to come and check that there's no gas leak somewhere.

7. Take photos of your meter, especially if they come to remove it for testing; you need to make sure that the results you get do apply to your meter (every meter has it's own unique ID, usually printed somewhere on the front of it).

8. Take videos of the meter reading climbing while the gas is turned off, if it does.

9. Contact your supplier ASAP. Even if they say they can't do anything about it, you need to register a problem with them ASAP - useful if you can give them a reading at that time, too, as this may well be the reading/date they go back to when calculating what your bill maybe should have been.

10. Use any and all means possible to contact them. We used special deliver letter, email, telephone helpline, social media. Whatever you can. Have to say, I got the best response from social media - everything else seemed to fall into a black hole.  If you're not on social media, find a friend or relative who is.

11. Write everything down. Keep a diary of reading, calls made, concerns, responses, everything. Really. If you end up going to the ombudsman, this will be evidence in support of your case.

12. If you use the forums, come back and let us know how you got on - what worked, what didn't work. It might help smooth someone else's journey

Gerry1

If gas smart meters were any good, they'd phone home to report the problem the moment it occurred.  Consumers shouldn't be expected to venture out on a cold dark night on the off-chance that the 'b' symbol might happen to be showing !

And once the battery has been detected as starting to fail, the warning should latch and be permanently displayed, preferably something unmistakable such as LOW BATTERY.

moneysaver

I have been having issues for months with the gas meter recording inaccurate readings. I have been corresponding with Bulb regarding this but have not got very far. I have been taking lots of readings & some video of the meter increasing even though all appliances off.

Just today I have noticed the small b has now disappeared. I have sent several pics to Bulb over the months showing the small b in the reading window but they are saying it is hard to see it. I have now cropped one of the pics and highlighted today and sent it to them and make it easier for them to see.

I am just a bit concerned now there is no small b in the window now that the weather has warmed up. I am not sure what else I can do, I am trying to get Bulb to arrange a meter test to bring this to a close.

I think I have a long battle ahead of me.

Moneysaver

Gerry1

Turn the gas off at the meter rather than at the appliances, in case you have a leak.

Surround the meter with freezer gel blocks if the 'b' symbol disappears or is hard to photograph.

What's the meter make and model number?

If all else fails, submit a formal complaint via Royal Mail, ask for a deadlock letter and go to the Ombudsman upon receipt or after eight weeks.  If the meter reading increases when the gas is switched off at the meter, take a video and consider getting the meter tested.