Switching suppliers: Smart meter installation mandatory?

click86

My fixed deal is due up soon, so I'm checking the comparison sites to find my next deal.

All the cheapest tariffs based on my figures (e.g. Eon Fix Online Exclusive v36) state 'Smart meter installation mandatory at no extra cost'.

I just wondered whether this actually enforceable by the supplier?

Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks

brewerdave

They will at some stage after the current covid emergency, expect you to make an appointment for smart meters to be fitted. If you refuse (or make it awkward to arrange) they can move you on to their expensive standard variable tairiff.
HOWEVER, I suspect the suppliers all have a backlog  of fittings to arrange so you might not get chased for months possibly not until the fix you move over to ,is coming to an end.

Yellow_mango

I’m curious why you wouldn’t want a smart meter. I love mine!

Highland76

Yellow_mango said:

I’m curious why you wouldn’t want a smart meter. I love mine!

That's because they give cancer to your kids, your energy supply can be switched off remotely by some spotty YTS trainee who fancies a giggle and worst of all, smart meters increase your energy bills by x 100. Well at least that's what some people believe.

On a serious note, I'm perfectly happy with my smart meters (smets2) which E.ON installed last year. I didn't get them to save energy (the IHD is collecting dust somehwere) as I already know how much i use each month approximately. It was mainly down to not having to take meter readings manually ever again as my meters are in an awkward location. 

Highland76

OP, as others have already said, you will most likelly be put on a more expensive tariff if you refuse to get smart meters installed on your chosen tariff. You need to decide which is more important: cheaper energy bills or sticking to traditional meters. Only you can make that choice.

click86

Yellow_mango said:

I’m curious why you wouldn’t want a smart meter. I love mine!

Oh yes, I should have elaborated...

I'm in a rental property and would need to seek permission from the LL. My letting agent takes a long time to respond at the best of times (perhaps due to LL not responding) so was concerned that, due to these unprecedented times, would take even longer (and beyond my switch date).

Thanks for the advice everybody. Much appreciated!

pinkladyvenus

I changed to a tariff where having a smart meter was hidden away in the small print I keep getting phone calls which go straight to voicemail mentioning  they are phoning to arrange an appointment to fit my smart meter for the past year and a half they have stopped for the moment  I am not refusing to have one fitted but am also not answering the calls.

Ectophile

The meter doesn't belong to the landlord.  If the energy supplier wishes to replace their meter, the landlord has no say in the matter.

MWT

Ectophile said:

The meter doesn't belong to the landlord.  If the energy supplier wishes to replace their meter, the landlord has no say in the matter.

That is true, but if it is the tenant causing it to happen I would always suggest checking the tenancy agreement to see if you have agreed to tell them about the change or even to seek their permission before doing do...

Gerry1

Ectophile said:

The meter doesn't belong to the landlord.  If the energy supplier wishes to replace their meter, the landlord has no say in the matter.

If you install or remove prepayment meters, you might have to put the original meters back at the end of your tenancy. This is because the change will count as an alteration to the property. You'll have to pay any fee your energy supplier charges for changing the meters back.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-a-tenant/

brewerdave

Yellow_mango said:

I’m curious why you wouldn’t want a smart meter. I love mine!

But you ( presumably)don't change supplier often. Many of the already installed "smart" meters have gone dumb on changing and the general consensus is that they are harder to read manually. Also they are far from perfect eg batteries failing on gas meters randomly, gas meters not communicating with the electric meter to send readings back to base, installations carried out which never pass readings back etc etc