Switching with an Aclara SMETS2 meter

doodlez1612

I switched to Ovo in around Feb 2019 and they fitted Aclara SMETS2 meters for both gas and electric (including switching from E7 to standard). In about November I realised that the readings weren't being transmitted to the IHD but thought nothing of it as we don't really use it (so could have been the case for a while)...until our next energy bill and I noticed that it was all estimated readings. I spoke to Ovo and they talked me through some fixes then said they'd need to get an engineer out and would be in touch with availability. Long story short they are still waiting even to be able to provide me with availability let alone fix it and I want to switch supplier anyway so thought I'd switch instead of waiting. When we got the SMETS2 meters fitted I was under the impression that they could be used with any supplier and it was just the SMETS1 meters that couldn't, but when I went to switch to Octopus it said they can only use meters made by 'Secure' (presumably regardless of whether they are SMETS2 or not) yet Ovo was listed as one of the providers they are compatible with.
So basically, I'm confused.
Is there such thing as a meter that works for all suppliers anymore? Or was that all a lie?
Can I switch to Ovo with my Aclara SMETS2 meter still acting 'smart'? And if not who can I switch to? And why are there not decent lists online of who is compatible with what?

Thanks.

Gerry1

Just make sure you send meter readings every month, and keep a permanent record of all your readings, ditto for your statements.  This will avoid bill shock (estimated readings can turn out to be too low) and help you to check that the same readings have been used by the new and old supplier when you switch.

You can switch to any supplier that serves your location.  If the smart meter can send readings, think of it as a bonus.

matelodave

It really isn't everso difficult to read the meter(s) and send in the details to your supplier. Likewise if you check that your bills/statements are using the readings then you wont have estimated bills. Dont just rely on the meter doing it's thing, because many of them dont and neither do the suppliers.

Its the same if you change suppliers - just read the meter yourself and send in the readings. Even when my meter was "smart" I still read the meter myself and kept my own records - it really helps when an energy firm goes bust or their network fails.

You've got your own data saved for any future queries (just look at the number of posts where people have had catch-up or revised bills several years after they've left a supplier. I keep PDF copies of all my bills going back nearly 10 years and eight different suppliers

doodlez1612

I’m aware I could just go back to submitting meter readings myself (and I will if the only company I can switch to whilst keeping it ‘smart’ is expensive or or not 100% renewable) and I have still been checking the bills tally from time to time but there must be some way of knowing who I can switch to or this whole smart meter thing seems a rather conniving way of the suppliers tying people in, now that they’ve made it less easy for them to hike the prices for non-switchers.    

JGB1955

You can switch to whichever supplier you choose. I'm not aware that any of them require you to have a 'working' smart meter. Our BG meter has been dumb for quite a few years now and we have gone through 3 or 4 suppliers since, all with no problems.

slimbuck

doodlez1612 said:

I switched to Ovo in around Feb 2019 and they fitted Aclara SMETS2 meters for both gas and electric (including switching from E7 to standard). In about November I realised that the readings weren't being transmitted to the IHD but thought nothing of it as we don't really use it (so could have been the case for a while)...until our next energy bill and I noticed that it was all estimated readings. I spoke to Ovo and they talked me through some fixes then said they'd need to get an engineer out and would be in touch with availability. Long story short they are still waiting even to be able to provide me with availability let alone fix it and I want to switch supplier anyway so thought I'd switch instead of waiting. When we got the SMETS2 meters fitted I was under the impression that they could be used with any supplier and it was just the SMETS1 meters that couldn't, but when I went to switch to Octopus it said they can only use meters made by 'Secure' (presumably regardless of whether they are SMETS2 or not) yet Ovo was listed as one of the providers they are compatible with.
So basically, I'm confused.
Is there such thing as a meter that works for all suppliers anymore? Or was that all a lie?
Can I switch to Ovo with my Aclara SMETS2 meter still acting 'smart'? And if not who can I switch to? And why are there not decent lists online of who is compatible with what?

Thanks.

As previous poster says, you can switch now.

If your smart meter has become dumb (or becomes dumb due to a change of supplier) the plan is to update it via an OTA update in due course, after which it should once again work in smart mode.

MWT

doodlez1612 said:

...but when I went to switch to Octopus it said they can only use meters made by 'Secure' (presumably regardless of whether they are SMETS2 or not) yet Ovo was listed as one of the providers they are compatible with.
So basically, I'm confused.
Thanks.

There is some confusion there, the 'Secure' meters are SMETS1, and yes, if you were on a SMETS1 meter it would need to be 'Secure' brand for it to work with Octopus, and yes if OVO had fitted a SMETS1 meter it most likely would have been 'Secure'..

However as you are on SMETS2 that should not be a problem, but the fact that the meters are not working will obviously be an issue so there is no reason not to go ahead with a switch, but expect to provide meter reading manually until the meter problem eventually gets fixed.

doodlez1612

MWT said:

doodlez1612 said:

...but when I went to switch to Octopus it said they can only use meters made by 'Secure' (presumably regardless of whether they are SMETS2 or not) yet Ovo was listed as one of the providers they are compatible with.
So basically, I'm confused.
Thanks.

There is some confusion there, the 'Secure' meters are SMETS1, and yes, if you were on a SMETS1 meter it would need to be 'Secure' brand for it to work with Octopus, and yes if OVO had fitted a SMETS1 meter it most likely would have been 'Secure'..

However as you are on SMETS2 that should not be a problem, but the fact that the meters are not working will obviously be an issue so there is no reason not to go ahead with a switch, but expect to provide meter reading manually until the meter problem eventually gets fixed.

Aha. Thanks for that. That makes sense. So SMETS2 meters ARE cross compatible as I thought. It really wasn’t very clear that ‘Secure’ meters are SMETS1.  So I can proceed with the switch in the meantime and get whoever I switch to get the meter working. 

doodlez1612

Aha. Just burrowed down on the Octopus website (rather than just looking at the switching form which says ‘Secure’ brand only) and it says all SMETS2 will work. 🙄🙈

RelievedSheff

slimbuck said:

doodlez1612 said:

I switched to Ovo in around Feb 2019 and they fitted Aclara SMETS2 meters for both gas and electric (including switching from E7 to standard). In about November I realised that the readings weren't being transmitted to the IHD but thought nothing of it as we don't really use it (so could have been the case for a while)...until our next energy bill and I noticed that it was all estimated readings. I spoke to Ovo and they talked me through some fixes then said they'd need to get an engineer out and would be in touch with availability. Long story short they are still waiting even to be able to provide me with availability let alone fix it and I want to switch supplier anyway so thought I'd switch instead of waiting. When we got the SMETS2 meters fitted I was under the impression that they could be used with any supplier and it was just the SMETS1 meters that couldn't, but when I went to switch to Octopus it said they can only use meters made by 'Secure' (presumably regardless of whether they are SMETS2 or not) yet Ovo was listed as one of the providers they are compatible with.
So basically, I'm confused.
Is there such thing as a meter that works for all suppliers anymore? Or was that all a lie?
Can I switch to Ovo with my Aclara SMETS2 meter still acting 'smart'? And if not who can I switch to? And why are there not decent lists online of who is compatible with what?

Thanks.

As previous poster says, you can switch now.

If your smart meter has become dumb (or becomes dumb due to a change of supplier) the plan is to update it via an OTA update in due course, after which it should once again work in smart mode.

I think BG must have been updating smart meters which had been dumb because our gas meter has recently, in the last week, started working in smart mode again.