Are EON in breach of contract for not fitting a smart meter?

Smodlet

I absolutely love this thread and just wish to say that, while I loathe and despise smart meters, I would actually succumb to them just to get away from e-on without penalty fees.

joesoap1264

Smodlet said:

I absolutely love this thread and just wish to say that, while I loathe and despise smart meters, I would actually succumb to them just to get away from e-on without penalty fees.

Smodlet said:

I absolutely love this thread and just wish to say that, while I loathe and despise smart meters, I would actually succumb to them just to get away from e-on without penalty fees.

I do not want a smart meter
But want Scottish powers cheap tariff which says I must.
Perhaps I should sign up, and hope they don,t supply one as well as eon.I would relish the op,s circumstances.
Careful what you wish for.

joesoap1264

Ps.
If the company do not fit the meter before the contract ends, does the contract to have one end too?

MWT

joesoap1264 said:

Ps.
If the company do not fit the meter before the contract ends, does the contract to have one end too?

The contract was for the company to supply electricity at a specified price with the obligation on the customer to allow the installation of a smart meter, it was not a contract obliging the company to install a smart meter, so the meter install has no bearing on the end of the contract...

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

stew1802 said:

I signed up with EON to supply my gas and electricity last April and part of the T's and C's stated we had to agree to having their smart meters installed in order to get the "cheaper" online tariff. I explained to them that I already had Utilita smart meters that were installed by White Rose Energy but EON said they'd have to be upgraded with new software so they could read them. Now I'm almost at the end of my contract with EON and they still haven't done anything about the meter upgrade so I'd like to know if they're in breach of contract. The only explanation from EON is they're having difficulty getting the software upgrade but I feel they should've just fitted their own smart meters instead.

Hello stew1802  and welcome to the Forums.

We've recently started upgrading earlier SMETS1 smart meters so they can be managed in the same way as the later SMETS2. This includes restoring many of their original smart features like being able to send us readings automatically. We're also upgrading smart meters fitted by other companies and now supplied by us. Upgrades are carried out remotely so there'll be no need for a home visit. We're looking to complete the project by the end of this year and, once done, we'll write to customers to let them know.

There are some early installations where an upgrade won't be possible. These are mainly smart meters fitted from 2014 and before. In these cases, we'll offer to fit a SMETS2 smart meter.

With the tariffs we had available last April, I suspect you're on one where the T&Cs only required customers to be contacted about smart meters. This was clause11.1 which said the following.

With this tariff you agree to be contacted during the tariff term for the installation of a smart meter.

Please let me know if this isn't the case.

Our more recent tariffs have a different clause where smart meters are a condition of having the tariff.

Hope this explains stew1802.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

bhewitson said:

Ive had similar problem with EON, I signed up to the contract via  MSE website which stated EON would recommend a smart meter but it wasnt compulsory.  Since switching I have been HOUNDED by EON, receiving texts, emails and letters through post.  I have replied and sent a screen shot of the T&C stating it is not mandatory but they wont leave me along....  They have now changed their tactic by sending a letter through the post saying my current meter is not safe!!! how ridiculous....I wished I had never chosen EON but Im stuck with them for another 11 months, I wont wouldnt recommend them and wont be using them again.  Not MSE fault, I use these all the time, but think this needs putting on website to say customer will be hounded.  

Hello bhewitson and welcome to the Forums.

You're right, smart meters aren't compulsory. I suspect you're on a tariff similar to stew1802 above. This is where the T&Cs (clause 11.1) only require customers to be contacted about smart meters. If you're on one of these products, you can turn down our offers to fit smart meters and stay on the tariff. This isn't the case with our more recent offers where agreeing to smart meters is a condition of staying on the tariff.

I'm sorry you feel hounded by these communications. As you don't want smart meters, please ignore our requests and offers to fit them. There's no need to contact us as nothing can or will be arranged without your permission.

The other letter sounds like something different. I suspect you're due a statutory meter exchange because yours is nearing the end of its guaranteed shelf life. These exchanges are important to make sure meters stay safe and accurate. For these jobs, we'll offer to fit a smart meter where properties are eligible. As above, smart meters aren't compulsory and these offers can be turned down. Please make this clear when you book an appointment and we'll fit an alternative.

Statutory meter exchanges are looked after by a separate part of the business. To book an appointment, please phone the number on the letter and stress the need for a non-smart meter.

Hope this explains bhewitson.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Retiredin2009 said:

I've got BG smart meters that went dumb when I switched to Eon and Iv'e never had an email or letter from them about upgrading them.
I would love for them to become smart again so I didn't have to go outside to read them.

Hello Retiredin2009 and, as above, it's part of our ongoing plans to upgrade earlier SMETS1 smart meters.

As in my reply to stew1802, we've recently started upgrading SMETS1 smart meters so they can be managed in the same way as SMETS2. This includes restoring many of their original smart features like being able to send us readings automatically. We're also upgrading smart meters fitted by other companies and now supplied by us. Upgrades are carried out remotely so there'll be no need for a home visit. We're looking to complete the project by the end of this year and, once done, we'll write to let you know.

There are some early installations where an upgrade won't be possible. These are mainly smart meters fitted from 2014 and before. In these cases, we'll be in touch to offer to fit a SMETS2 smart meter.

Hope this is of interest Retiredin2009.

Malc