re-activate BG smart meters

JonnyMK

I recently switched back to british gas using the MSE Energy Club referral as they are now the cheapest option for me with my usage. I was with them around the end of 2018 previously and I had smart meters fitted and everything worked wonderfully with them. When I moved away from BG to a different supplier that doesn't support smart meters, they were no longer able to get the readings automatically etc.. but the IHD carried actually on working until about 11-12 months of being with the other supplier (albeit with a more expensive tariff loaded in), but after 11-12 months the IHD also stopped working and the whole setup turned into completely basic meters again.

Nevertheless I am moving back to British Gas anyway due to being cheaper tariff, but i'm also hoping the smart meters will reconnect to BG network again since I found it useful to see real-time and daily usage; after all, they are British Gas smart meters, so unless my other provider broke them remotely, you'd think they'd still work in "smart" mode again.

 It has been two days already and the IHD still shows no data, no tariff and no meter reading. I can't seem to find a clear answer on whether they will become smart again. The support told me that in 14 days they will start working again, but i'm not convinced. Anyone else been in this situation and got their BG smart meters working again after moving back to them? did it require them to send an engineer to re-pair everything or did it just kick into life in 14 days?

Thanks,
Jonathan

Hasbeen

Have you tried to reset IHD? or Paired it back up again?

JonnyMK

Hasbeen said:

Have you tried to reset IHD? or Paired it back up again?

Nope. how do you do it? when i go into advanced it asks for a PIN. I was wondering if there was a generic British Gas PIN ?

mac.d

I know someone who has done this, returned to BG after a gap. After waiting a few weeks to see if the IHD would work, or if the data would appear in their online account, they contacted BG and were told an engineer who have to visit to 'fix' the smart meter. Even after the engineer visit, although the IHD works and shows both gas & electric usage, BG appear to be only getting data from the gas meter, not the electric, and at the moment they are having to submit the electric readings online. 

Craig2909

I have the same issue. BG meters, moved to another provider for a year, now back with BG
The meters don't talk to the smart meter and BG said it requires an engineer to visit to pair them back up.

JonnyMK

Thanks both, it's certainly looking that was since about 2 weeks has passed. Not to worry, I'm sure after the lockdown is over they can send someone. at least the Tariff is cheap

MeterMan

Its not the monitor at issue, Jonny.

Look at the comms hub attached to your electricity meter, if the WAN light is orange, then it needs the sim card reactivating. This used to be a simple 2 minute phone call along with a 5 minute wait, this functionality has been removed and now an orange WAN light means we have to exchange the meter, or meters to move to SMET2.

jaybeetoo

I moved back to BG and they are unable to get meter readings remotely.  I was due to get a technician come and replace the transmission unit In the smart meter but the appointment was cancelled by BG due to the lockdown.  I have to submit readings manually using the BG chat.

MeterMan

That should change soon JayBeeToo

jaybeetoo

The smart meter also no longer communicates with the in-house display unit.

RelievedSheff

Interesting that so many of you are having problems.

Our new build was originally supplied with BG smart meters, we switched to EDF and the smart meters didn't work. We have now switched back the BG for our cheapest tariff and both smart meters now work. We had a short spell where only the electric meter sent readings so we had to manually submit the gas meter readings but then suddenly the gas meter started sending readings again. So all now works fine again with no engineer visits required.