Replacement 'non-smart' meter

SammyS1987

I have recently had Southern Gas Networks move my existing meter from a wall mounted position to a ground mounted unibox, they have successfully moved the meter however as the meter is too big for the new box they have had to adapt the box and it looks rather ugly.
I basically need to have my meter exhanged to the semi-concealed type however my DNO wants to charge me for this, does anyone know of a DNO that will change the meter free of charge? I am happy to switch to a new supplier to facilitate this. I am aware the smart meters are supplied free of charge but for a number of reasons I'd rather not have one.

[Deleted User]

From the Ofgem website:  The New and Replacement Obligation (NRO) requires energy suppliers to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters for all new connections and replacement meters at domestic and non-domestic premises. The NRO is subject to exemptions that mirror the smart meter roll-out duty exceptions. It came into effect on 30 June 2019.

Ofgem has also informed suppliers that when a meter exchange is required - and the consumer refuses to accept a smart meter - they can charge for the meter installation.

PS: DNOs are not like suppliers. You have no choice over the DNO that has network responsibility for your area.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/key-term-explained/map-who-operates-electricity-distribution-network

m-holland

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

SammyS1987

m-holland said:

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

I'd rather that my DNO didnt have the ability to cut my gas off remotely for whatever reason.

MikeE67

SammyS1987 said:

m-holland said:

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

I'd rather that my DNO didnt have the ability to cut my gas off remotely for whatever reason.

I haven't heard of an example where this has been carried out because of safety concerns.

Carrot007

SammyS1987 said:

m-holland said:

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

I'd rather that my DNO didnt have the ability to cut my gas off remotely for whatever reason.

Not even possible with gas. Electric yes. Gas no. Gas meters run on a battery. Moving a proper cut off would be beyond the ability of a small battery. So tin foil hat time then. (not that it actualkly happens with electric either (excepting business's that sign up to allow it in their contract (and even then...))).

(Shoudl anyone know different then please show examples, real examples (in the UK)).

Gerry1

MikeE67 said:

SammyS1987 said:

m-holland said:

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

I'd rather that my DNO didnt have the ability to cut my gas off remotely for whatever reason.

I haven't heard of an example where this has been carried out because of safety concerns.

Appliances have to be turned off before it will restore the supply.  Do you really think they'd specify a remote disconnection facility that couldn't be used?

[Deleted User]

To put this in perspective (source Ofgem):

Quote: In 2018, suppliers in Great Britain disconnected just six electricity connections for debt (there were no disconnections in Scotland or Wales) and, for the first time since we started recording data on disconnections, there have been no gas disconnections for debt. Unquote

There was however a three-fold increase in the number of credit meters replaced/switched to prepayment (20,000 to 70,000) in 2018. 

Gerry1

Carrot007 said:

SammyS1987 said:

m-holland said:

Whats your reasons for not wanting one? Legitimate reasons, not tinfoil ones

I'd rather that my DNO didnt have the ability to cut my gas off remotely for whatever reason.

Not even possible with gas. Electric yes. Gas no. Gas meters run on a battery. Moving a proper cut off would be beyond the ability of a small battery. So tin foil hat time then. (not that it actualkly happens with electric either (excepting business's that sign up to allow it in their contract (and even then...))).

(Shoudl anyone know different then please show examples, real examples (in the UK)).

Wrong.

If you were correct, there wouldn't be any prepayment gas meters that turn off the supply when you run out of credit ! 

The battery operates a Shut Off Valve (SOV) to turn off the supply. The customer must be physically present at the gas meter to restore the supply, and before doing so the gas meter will check that no appliances have been left on.  If it detects gas flow it will display 'SHUT OFF APPLIANCES' or 'OVERLOAD' so you will have to turn everything off before it will leave the valve open.

Here are the instructions and video from Utilita, which I believe is a UK company.  No tin hat required to watch.

QED !

MWT

Gerry is correct, smart meters have the capability to shut off the gas supply, but they are subject to the same legal controls that apply to all gas meters.

Prepay meters have been cutting off people's gas when they ran out of credit long before smart meters came along, and smart prepay meters have the same capability for the same reasons.

badmemory

They won't start doing remote disconnections until most properties have smart meters, otherwise they would never get people to have them fitted, simple logic.