SMETS2 Meter Upgrades

AndyCF

From my (quite likely wrong?) understanding some types of Smart SMETS1 meters can be upgraded to 2 via a firmware (or similar) upgrade applied. No issue there.

I have noted a few suppliers afaik have an FAQ where the question is "what type of meter do I have" and the last one I read pointed out if you have a monochrome IHD you have a 1 and if you have a colour display you have a 2.

Does this mean that any suppliers will be handing out shiny new colour IHD's perhaps ? I wonder if I could request one, as my very first Smart meter did have a colour IHD before I went back to a token key setup for a while before moving back to a Smart. This was in the days when they were asking for clients to be volunteers for said Smart meters.

If the answer is no, and I am able to obtain a used colour one and the programming code , would I require anything else ?

Honest question.

[Deleted User]

SMETS 1 meters that can be adopted and enrolled by the DCC will be. Those that cannot be taken on by the DCC will be replaced with a SMETS2.  Most people do not know when their SMETS1 meter has been enrolled as nothing changes. Suppliers are not handing out free IHDs.

You cannot just go out a buy an IHD and link it to a smart meter yourself. The secure connection has to be made by a supplier or other registered DCC user. Suppliers are under no obligation to replace IHDs which are older than 12 months, though most will do so if you pay for the new one. Companies such as Hildebrand offer their own SMETS1 and SMETS2 IHDs/CADs (£65 for the SMETS2 version) and as a registered DCC User they will link it to your meter provided you supply the information that is needed for them to make the connection.

https://shop.glowmarkt.com/

AndyCF

Thanks.

I was not aware I'd need anything other than the keypad sequence and code to link it myself, although in my case the IHD is relatively dumb in that you cannot for instance activate the EC or suchlike from it, its more or less a 'read only' device. The only user editable settings are the budget ones obviously.

I was aware if your IHD was damaged or faulty they'd replace it but at a charge, as in it would not be free, that's expected. I think mines probably 2-3 years old now. I only use it as a 'meter balance' display anyway to be honest with you, as that is the main reading of interest with a PAYG setup.

I wonder if the meter stats display on the unit itself will indicate by its revision if its been upgraded or not. I guess this itself depends on the meter manufacturer as well as other factors. Having said that there is no immediate gain for the end user/consumer with what they have, as far as I understand it, the upgrade means amongst other things if one switches suppliers the meter has a decent fighting chance of working properly with the new supplier and not turning into a dumb or semi-dumb unit.

I'm merely curious, I was not after any freebies regarding the meter IHD etc.

[Deleted User]

By way of clarification, adoption and enrolment of SMETS1 meters does NOT include updating the meter to the SMETS2 specification. For security reasons, SMETS1 meters have their own separate portal into the DCC infrastructure. If you want to know whether your meter is communicating with the DCC, then sign up for a N3rgy.com account. All you need is your MPAN and IHD MAC. If connected, you can access gas and electricity data.

AndyCF

Thank you.

It did bring me to something I'd thought about previously, as in if data is read every 30 minutes or so I'd possibly like to "see my charts" as such on occasion. Its possible some suppliers may offer that already via app or online I suppose though as the "data is there"

I'd rather see it more often though personally as I'd want to see where spikes in demand are present, it would be interesting from a facts/figures point of view as well to some.

[Deleted User]

Octopus offer daily 30 minute usage charts in a customer's online account for SMETS 2 and adopted SMETS1 meters (and Secure non adopted SMETS1 meters). I can see data in My Account for both gas and electricity. PM me if you would like to see screenshots.