Can't get a new smart meter with new supplier

harryandedwardsmum

I had a smart meter with Ovo which we had installed 3 years ago when we moved house.  It's a SMET1.  I then changed to a smart meter tariff with British Gas a couple of months ago and was aware that the smart meter might not be compatible and might need to be changed.  However, as it was a smart meter tariff I was under the impression this would be relatively seamless and I didn't mind the disruption of someone coming to do it.

Since switching, I had been unable to book an appointment online for a new smart meter, I kept getting the message that there were no meters available for my property but that I was on the waiting list for when the technology was available.  Given I already had a smart meter so couldn't understand how the technology couldn't be available, I raised a complaint via their chat facility.  Today a very nice lady called me and said that they were waiting for a new SMET 2 meter that might be available in the next 12 months but that they weren't changing old SMET1 meters now because new technology was coming.  She couldn't give me a new date as there are delays due to covid (fair enough).

However, I'm left feeling slightly miffed.  I am now stuck with submitting meter readings again, which I hate doing as the gas one is outside and always full of enormous spiders.  And I liked being able to monitor my energy use.  I would have stayed with my old supplier had I known this as the benefits of the smart meter for me woudl have outweighed the saving of the new tariff.  Also this seems to fly in the face of the ambition of moving people to smart meters.

Has anyone else experienced this?  

Neil_Jones

Dark areas always attract spiders, they like dark and quiet places, and for some reason they seem attracted to gas meter cupboards.  Apparently buying a flea collar for a cat/dog, cutting it (the collar!) in half and leaving it in the area will repeal them.  Apparently, though just as likely they'll have the same effect as conkers - none.  Your mileage may vary.

[Deleted User]

Aye, blame the Goverment for pushing through on smart! Same for most suppliers. You should be able to use your smart monitor to submit readings though until the software update for your automatic readings. Does your monitor work?

brewerdave

The problem is that the suppliers have been "incentivised" (=threatened) to install "smart" meters. They aren't bothered about them working! Most of them are only interested in new installs , the standard replies to your query are " SMETS1 meters will be updated over the air"  or " the meter will need to be adopted into the DCC later this year (sic)"

harryandedwardsmum

They say I need to submit readings online now.  I'm back to the old fashioned system, basically.

[Deleted User]

Temporarily though and do you not have a smart monitor which shows your readings? It would take me about half an hour to get to my meters, but 2 secs to read my smart monitor.