SMETS1 - Unable to get best deal as already got SMETS1 meter, still "dumb"

Blades62

Myself, my 83 year old mum & my 87 year old Aunt had SMETS1 meters installed by First Utility 2 years ago. Since I switched all 3 of us to various cheaper utility companies (Eon, EDF, Flow Energy (now Octopus Energy)) in Spring last year the 6 meters have been "dumb". I have been looking on Uswitch & other comparison sites for 2020 tariffs, & Shell Energy comes top BUT tariff only available if  new smart meter/s is ito be installed. NOT available with an existing smart meter, EVEN IF IT IS DUMB. First Utility installed all 6 meters, all SMETS1 & not functioning on the national network, but they refuse to offer their best tariff nonetheless - even though we all would be VERY grateful for the newer SMETS2 meters as a replacement. We were promised automatic software updates years ago, nothing has materialised. Why are we still being denied the cheapest tariffs from Shell Energy??! .Not our fault, we did as advised by their former company ie First Utility. But they say we already have (not) "smart meters" so cannot sign up for their best tariffs. Avro, Scottish Power, Eon, British Gas all offer slightly more expensive tariffs but MUCH less than Shell's alternatives. Why penalise us twice?? 

MWT

I would say it is simply that Shell wish to get the opportunity to install SMETS2 meters for those still on traditional meters which will allow them to count the install against their government target, and they also know that dealing with all the potential enrolment issues for a SMETS1 meter is going to be costly.

The meters are not free to the supplier, they have a cost, so there is no incentive to replace a SMETS1 with a SMETS2 at the moment.

So they are prepared to charge less to people who fit their criteria, just a business decision, not aimed at you specifically, but a choice they are perfectly entitled to make.

Blades62

Yes I understand your reasoning, but surely if they installed 6 meters (SMETS1) which are basically useless (worse than before, at least you could see the readings on legacy meters & photograph them without pressing 9 then quickly keep snapping before the reading vanishes!) a nightmare especially in winter. They've had their govt payment for installing outdated meters, how about helping their customers now? 

MWT

It isn't a 'government payment', the supplier pays for the meters and builds that into their cost structure so in the end we all pay one way or another. The energy companies have targets to hit for smart meter installations, Shell have decided to prioritise people that help them hit those targets, it is a commercial choice and they have made it.

They are not refusing you as customers, just not offering you their cheapest tariff. I guess they may not be your best choice right now...

Your current meters should not be dumb forever, but it is hard to predict exactly when they will be useable in smart mode again, but I'd be thinking 2021 more than this year.

Blades62

Thanks MWT, will choose other suppliers for this year. Fingers crossed for the software updates to our SMETS1 meters soon. I've heard anecdotes of some people having their 1st gen meters being replaced by 2nd gen (free of charge) because of the constant delays over nationally updating dumb meters (next year, then the next year, then the next...etc). It's as if the expected upgrades have been abandoned as a lost cause. Thanks for your help & info

MWT

Talk to any provider you are considering moving to and perhaps they can tell you if they are willing to install SMETS2 for you, it is certainly possible if they are willing...

matelodave

already having a SMETS1 smart meter or even a dumb meter shouldn't preclude you from getting a cheap deal, so what's the problem.

If they cant handle it as a smart meter then you read it manually the same as would if it was a dumb meter and if they want to change it then it's up to them in exactly the same way as if it was a dumb meter. Their alternative would be to upgrade it and get it enrolled onto the DCC but how they do it shouldn't be your problem and neither should it stop you getting a better deal.

Instead of whinging about them find another supplier

MWT

matelodave said:

If they cant handle it as a smart meter then you read it manually the same as would if it was a dumb meter and if they want to change it then it's up to them in exactly the same way as if it was a dumb meter. Their alternative would be to upgrade it and get it enrolled onto the DCC but how they do it shouldn't be your problem and neither should it stop you getting a better deal.

The unusual aspect of Shell is that they are offering a particular tariff only to those who do not currently have a smart meter, but are willing to have one installed, so it is not available to existing smart meter customers at all regardless of which version they have or its current state of intelligence...

So it is not a matter of being able to handle it, Shell would happily welcome the OP as a customer, just not on their cheapest tariff...

... so yes, heading elsewhere is the right choice.

anniecave

The reference to "current state of intelligence" of the meter made me laugh 

Thanks for this thread, I was looking for options for switching supplier for a SMETS1 smart meter - which went dumb on switching last year - I was first of all thinking that all the "smart meter" type tariffs were all only available for people upgrading to a new smart meter, then I was happy to realise that most of them are options for a dumb smart meter, and only Shell is the one not available. A lot of the cheaper tariffs seem to be "smart meter" type tariffs.

Ironic when they're not likely to get upgraded to the DCC anytime soon, so with an imminent switch this year, and then probably a switch away again this time next year, this then means the entire time with the new supplier they'll remain dumb. So from the suppliers point of view, there's then no difference between a customer with a dumb smart meter and a customer who never wants to get a smart meter, as in both cases the customer has to submit their own readings!