Smart meter

Margaret_hamilton

I’ve received messages from my energy provider, E.ON, which are quite abrupt and advising I had agreed to fit a smart meter SMETS2 I don’t remember doing this and don’t really want to change the meter as I change the supplier at most renewals and I read that it’s more difficult to change once the new meter is installed.   I’m not sure if this is correct however can anyone advise if there is any benefit to changing or am I just being and old daftie 

bargainbetty

You don't have to change if you don't want to. I finally gave in when I realised that pretty much all the companies are restricting their best deals to people who agree to have one fitted. If you agree, make sure they fit the latest model (SMETS2) as the older ones just stop being smart if you switch providers. It doesn't make it harder to switch, but you might find some companies can't use the smart functions, so you go back to reading and submitting your readings. 

Gerry1

E.On are notorious for saying you've agreed to having a smart meter when you only have to agreed to be contacted about them. 

Check your Ts &Cs to make sure: https://energysuppliers.energylinx.co.uk/eon/

Just say NO !

Highland76

OP, despite the horror stories, you'll be fine getting a smart meter installed through E.ON - but as bargainbetty says ensure its a SMETS2 meter they install rather than 1st gen SMETS1. I had a SMETS2 meter installed through E.ON in Dec 2019 and it works as it should. Perhaps I've been very lucky but so far the E.ON smets2 meter
1) Hasn't billed us for more energy than our old meters
2) Hasn't given the whole family cancer
3) E.ON haven't turned off the energy supply at peak time usage for giggles

Margaret_hamilton

Many thanks for your help and advice.   I’ll just delay it as long as possible.  I don’t see any benefit apart from going outside to read the meter which isn’t really a problem

ElephantBoy57

Margaret_hamilton said:

I’m not sure if this is correct however can anyone advise if there is any benefit to changing or am I just being and old daftie

A smart meter wont cause you any problems. Even if you change and lose functionallity with a different supplier, you will still be able to read the meter from the display meter on your kitchen window sill, instead of going in the meter cupboard.

The display untill will tell you how much energy you are using per day/hour/week.

brewerdave

ElephantBoy57 said:

Margaret_hamilton said:

I’m not sure if this is correct however can anyone advise if there is any benefit to changing or am I just being and old daftie

A smart meter wont cause you any problems. Even if you change and lose functionallity with a different supplier, you will still be able to read the meter from the display meter on your kitchen window sill, instead of going in the meter cupboard.

The display untill will tell you how much energy you are using per day/hour/week.

Not always true; have a look thru the many threads on "smart" meters - many reports of IHDs losing their functionality on switching.

ElephantBoy57

brewerdave said:

Not always true; have a look thru the many threads on "smart" meters - many reports of IHDs losing their functionality on switching.

There is a lot of negativity around smart meters; the display just shows what the meter is telling it, that is not related to changing supplier. The functionality lost is down to pricing.

brewerdave

ElephantBoy57 said:

brewerdave said:

Not always true; have a look thru the many threads on "smart" meters - many reports of IHDs losing their functionality on switching.

There is a lot of negativity around smart meters; the display just shows what the meter is telling it, that is not related to changing supplier. The functionality lost is down to pricing.

Nope , there are comms issues when swapping over eg my s-I-l was with SP - moved to EDF -not only do the smart meters not work but the comms with the IHD went haywire 

ado

I got a smart meter from tonik about 18 months ago but I've just changed to EON  and found that I can't use it as a smart meter anymore!  They said that there would be an update  in 2024 which would allow it to become smart again but in the meantime it will stay dumb.  One of the things about smart meters is that they are supposed to help with going green so it seems counter productive that most can't be used by more than one energy company and that I'll have to get a new meter with the old one being thrown away.  That doesn't strike me as being very green!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Margaret_hamilton said:

I’ve received messages from my energy provider, E.ON, which are quite abrupt and advising I had agreed to fit a smart meter SMETS2 I don’t remember doing this and don’t really want to change the meter as I change the supplier at most renewals and I read that it’s more difficult to change once the new meter is installed.   I’m not sure if this is correct however can anyone advise if there is any benefit to changing or am I just being and old daftie 

Margaret_hamilton said:

Many thanks for your help and advice.   I’ll just delay it as long as possible.  I don’t see any benefit apart from going outside to read the meter which isn’t really a problem

Hello Margaret_hamilton and I'm sorry you find our messages abrupt.

The need to fit smart meters will depend on the tariff you're on. Most tariffs released for sale since January 2020 come with the condition where customers agree to have smart meters fitted provided the property is eligible. This differs from earlier tariffs where customers only agreed to be contacted about smart meters. The relevant section of the T&Cs is 11.1 for both forms of agreement.

If you're on an earlier tariff, where you've only agreed to be contacted, you can refuse our offers to fit smart meters and stay on your chosen tariff.

We're now fitting the later SMETS2 smart meters as standard. These meters retain their smart features following a change of supplier.

There might be some installations (around 5 per cent) where, due to things like signalling issues, we're unable to fit SMETS2. In these cases, the technician will advise and customers can choose to either abort the job or go for SMETS1. If they go for SMETS1, these meters will be upgraded by the end of this year so they can be managed in the same way as SMETS2. This includes staying smart after a switch. These upgrades are done remotely so there's no need for a second home visit.

Hope this explains Margaret_hamilton. Please let me know if you need any more details as happy to help.

Malc