Avro / Lowri Beck Smart Meters

rjmachin

Hi,
I am currently an Avro energy customer and have just had an email from Lowri Beck that they are working with Avro to install SMETS2 smart meters.  The email has a link to an online booking system.

Problem is, I was thinking of switching to Octopus Energy soon, then getting a smart meter with them, and go on the Go tarrif.

Does anyone know what the smart meters are like from Lowri Beck? 
Is it worth getting a smart meter before switching? 
Or are the octopus smart meters better quality?
Is it better to switch first?

bristolleedsfan

If you can get an installation in very near future whilst you are with Avro prudent to go for it as otherwise join Octopus then express interest in S/M they would contact you when they are installing in your area

lorrybelle

rjmachin - did you have a smart meter from Lowry Beck. I have received the email this morning and wondered if it was legitimate, as I have had no notification from Avro.

Verdigris

Lowri Beck fit smart meters for many suppliers. I assume the supplier chooses which make they fit. Somebody I know has had SMETS2 meters fitted by British Gas but have since gone separate fuels from BG and Octopus and the meters still work. SMETS2 meters should work with any supplier.

rjmachin

Yes, I have had the smart meters installed.
My bills is due to be processed tomorrow, but I have read that Avro are not ready yet to use the meter readings, so I will be submitting mine as usual.
My brother had his installed (also Avro) a week before me, and has just had a bill, but his shows as Estimated as he didn't submit the readings after having the smart meter, so it seems to be correct that Avro are not ready yet.

Verdigris

rjmachin said:

Yes, I have had the smart meters installed.

Are they the ones with the numeric keypad (plus an A & B button)?

rjmachin

No, just the A & B button.  They are the Landis Gyr 470 range meters

Verdigris

Same as British Gas, then.

Boa21

I've had the email. Looked them up on Trustpilot.

They are not coming anywhere near my meter cupboard!

MidlandsGlory

Boa21 said:

I've had the email. Looked them up on Trustpilot.

They are not coming anywhere near my meter cupboard!

They recently did my Avro smart meters, probably a wise choice of you, as it went pretty pear shaped (6 hours!), they are coming back next week to try and get the commissioning finished. Considering millions of these things have been rolled out I was amazed how hit and miss it is. Also the GEO in house display (IHD) AVRO provide is absolutely pants, it only works in my garage against the wall the meter is on the other side of so literally inches! No chance of it working in the actual house a few feet further. Even 12" from the meter it still drops out from time to time.
I thought I got around it by connecting it to the wifi and using the manufacturers app/cloud to read it on my phone, but apparently via the meter, the IHD gets updates every few days and wipes out the wifi setting, and switches it off. So I have to go through the laborious task of re-entering it all. Why? why? why?  .. 
Fortunately I still have an old British Gas IHD that has a transmitter that clamps on the cable and the display in the house reads current usage perfectly as I have been using until now anyway.
Considering Avro can't even remote read the meter from it, so far my current gain from letting them do it is zero.

[Deleted User]

MidlandsGlory said:

Considering Avro can't even remote read the meter from it, so far my current gain from letting them do it is zero.

Suppliers do not connect directly to your smart meters (or more accurately, the communications hub). For SMETS2 meters, the comms hub connects to The Data Communications Company (DCC). Suppliers communicate with The DCC via secure software known as an Adaptor. Information from the Adaptor has to be linked into the supplier’s billing system.