2nd Gen Smart Meters in Ryedale, North Yorks.

adrianbatty

This is not just North Yorkshire, we have had exactly the same in Little Driffield, East Yorks, a good 30 miles south of the radar station.
Agreed, don't tell the Ruskies !!

lohr500

Is there a reason why the companies won't/can't install SIM card based communicators as I believe these are used for areas in the south of the UK?

andyinyork

Hi all. 

I wrote to the BEIS a few weeks back about the meters and got a reply this week.  Positive news:

Thank you for your email dated 14 October, regarding your concerns about smart meters.  I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department.

Smart meters are replacing traditional gas and electricity meters as part of a national infrastructure upgrade that will make our energy system more efficient and flexible, enabling us to use more renewable energy and reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels.  Therefore, I am pleased to read that you are interested in having smart meters installed, but sorry to learn of the difficulties that you have encountered.    

 

Smart meters are connected to a national communications network, which relies on a variety of technologies to deliver connectivity.  These include cellular mobile technology plus wireless mesh radio, and long-range radio technology.  The Data Communications Company (DCC) operates the secure national communications infrastructure for smart metering.  Smart metering devices at a property communicate with each other via a Home Area Network (HAN), which is a short-range wireless network contained within the home.  A standard smart metering installation will usually include gas and electricity smart meters, an In-Home Display and a communications hub.  This hub enables smart meters to connect to both the WAN and the HAN. 

 

Some premises within the vicinity of RAF Fylingdales will require new technology that industry has been developing – a special type of communications hub – for smart meters at those properties to connect to the national smart metering network.  Rigorous testing is now complete and these communications hubs are expected to begin deployment in the coming months.  I suggest that you remain in contact with your energy supplier for further advice on whether your property is one that is in the vicinity of RAF Fylingdales and therefore requires this new communications hub.   

 

I understand the delay in being able to take up the opportunity to have smart meters must be frustrating.  I would like to assure you that the Government will continue to work closely with industry parties to ensure that households can fully realise the benefits of smart meters.   

  

Thank you once again for writing.  I hope my response is helpful to you. 

Rodders53

It's a new frequency that has been approved and cleared to work:  454 MHz rather than the 423 MHz that Fylindales' radar interferes with.

In the North of England Arqiva operate the proprietary long range UHF radio system(s) used.

https://www.smartme.co.uk/technical.html states 

The Variant 450 comms hub for the North at Fylingdales is expected to be first available in February 2022.

whitling2k

That's positive!  I bet all the decent EV tariffs will have disappeared by then though!  

anncleveland

I am in Redcar……really quite far away and I had a reply yesterday saying it was not possible, so I don’t know what has happened to the February 22 deadline ! 

Rodders53

anncleveland said:

I am in Redcar……really quite far away and I had a reply yesterday saying it was not possible, so I don’t know what has happened to the February 22 deadline ! 

Feb 22 was the expected start of availability of the new variant; but with semiconductor supply issues the world is experiencing I'm not especially surprised they are further delayed.

whitling2k

Believe it or not, I finally have my SMETS2 smart meter that appears to be communicating properly!  

QrizB

whitling2k said:

Believe it or not, I finally have my SMETS2 smart meter that appears to be communicating properly!  

Thank you for coming back to let us know! I hope you and your smart meter have a long and happy relationship 😃

whitling2k

The plot thickens, despite my MP raising it with Ofgem, who raised it with my supplier, who promised the amended SMETS2 meter that works in/around Ryedale/RAF Fylingdales….

It turns out they installed a bog-standard SMETS2 meter, which (believe it or not) to their surprise didn’t work…..

what makes it worse, is that they installed several with each one not working.

After I complained again, they replied saying we thought the standard meters would work (despite them clearly stating they wouldn’t in the past).   So I’m back to square one, waiting for an updated comms design to be rolled out.

Still unable to get an EV/TOU tarif
Still manually submitting monthly readings!

These companies are absolute jokes!