ESB and Smart meters

kev2009

Hi,
My fixed rate energy deals are up in couple of months so thought I'd take some time to look around now and get an idea of new tariffs.  I realise these could change by the time I come round to changing but at present ESB are look reasonable for dual fuel.  At present I have a separate supplier for Elec and gas.
Is anyone with ESB at the moment and if so, do you know if they are able to take SMETS2 smart meter readings? and also, do they supply a SMETS2 gas meter? Any idea which ones they supply?  I looked on the help page of ESB website at the questions/answers regarding Smart meters - one says yes they do them and another says if you have a SMETS2 they are unable to take the reading so didn't make sense.
My Elec is SMETS2 smart meter and my Gas is a standard meter (not smart meter) as current supplier hasn't started to supply them and also unable to take readings. I'm now considering switching to a supply that can supply a SMETS2 gas meter.  My only concern with it is I have a semi concealed box which gas meter sits in and I did read a while back that not all suppliers are fitting if you have this or are able to.
Thanks
Kev

[Deleted User]

All suppliers have to be registered DCC Users; however,.........  To recover your smart meter readings from the DCC, suppliers have to use an Adaptor - approved software that links to the DCC in a secure way - that transfers meter data to billing systems. Not all suppliers have these essential links in place.

Zellah

kev2009 said:

  My only concern with it is I have a semi concealed box which gas meter sits in and I did read a while back that not all suppliers are fitting if you have this or are able to.
Thanks
Kev

My original standard gas meter was located in a semi-concealed box externally, E.ON had no issues installing a smets2 gas meter in the same location:

Zellah

Also it seems ESB don't install or support smart meters (any type) at present so if you move to them, your smart meters will become 'dumb' and you will need to supply manual readings. If you're desperate to get a smets2 gas meter installed, then going with one of the 'big 6' suppliers is your best bet.
https://www.esbenergy.co.uk/help-centre/meters 

kev2009

Zellah said:

Also it seems ESB don't install or support smart meters (any type) at present so if you move to them, your smart meters will become 'dumb' and you will need to supply manual readings. If you're desperate to get a smets2 gas meter installed, then going with one of the 'big 6' suppliers is your best bet.
https://www.esbenergy.co.uk/help-centre/meters 

Thanks for your reply, I looked at the website and these are the 3 questions I found and answers.  As you see they contradict each other so hence my question on here as confused:-

What happens if I have smart meter?

Great news with a SMETS2 smart meter you can become an ESB Energy customer and retain your ‘smart’ functionality. If you would like more information about becoming a customer, click here.
Are you supplying smart meters?

You can still become an ESB Energy customer but your smart meter will lose it’s ‘smart’ functionality as we do not support them at the moment. If you would like more information about becoming a customer, click here.
How do I use my In Home Display (IHD)?

Here is a handy booklet to help you make the most of your IHD.

Kev

kev2009

Zellah said:

kev2009 said:

  My only concern with it is I have a semi concealed box which gas meter sits in and I did read a while back that not all suppliers are fitting if you have this or are able to.
Thanks
Kev

My original standard gas meter was located in a semi-concealed box externally, E.ON had no issues installing a smets2 gas meter in the same location:

Thanks for your reply!  ah yes, those are the electronic E6 gas meters with a battery in right as opposed to the diaphragm gas meters i.e:-


I was hoping to get the diaphragm one fitted as I'm sure my one is at the moment and i figured they were the same size?
Kev

Zellah

kev2009 said:

Zellah said:

Also it seems ESB don't install or support smart meters (any type) at present so if you move to them, your smart meters will become 'dumb' and you will need to supply manual readings. If you're desperate to get a smets2 gas meter installed, then going with one of the 'big 6' suppliers is your best bet.
https://www.esbenergy.co.uk/help-centre/meters 

Thanks for your reply, I looked at the website and these are the 3 questions I found and answers.  As you see they contradict each other so hence my question on here as confused:-

What happens if I have smart meter?

Great news with a SMETS2 smart meter you can become an ESB Energy customer and retain your ‘smart’ functionality. If you would like more information about becoming a customer, click here.
Are you supplying smart meters?

You can still become an ESB Energy customer but your smart meter will lose it’s ‘smart’ functionality as we do not support them at the moment. If you would like more information about becoming a customer, click here.
How do I use my In Home Display (IHD)?

Here is a handy booklet to help you make the most of your IHD.

Kev

Yep, its a bit unclear. My suspicion is that they don't support smets1 but do support smets2. I would call or email them to get this clarified.

brewerdave

Zellah said:

kev2009 said:

  My only concern with it is I have a semi concealed box which gas meter sits in and I did read a while back that not all suppliers are fitting if you have this or are able to.
Thanks
Kev

My original standard gas meter was located in a semi-concealed box externally, E.ON had no issues installing a smets2 gas meter in the same location:

They can be installed in these external boxes BUT as I have found recently , if you have an internal electric meter the comms. from the gas meter to the SMETS2 hub can be problematic. SP have virtually given up with my relative's meters -he has to supply a manual gas reading!!

kev2009

Thanks @Zellah - I will definitely give them a call nearer the time if still have good tariffs, just thought I'd ask here in case someone already has had it done

Thanks @brewerdave - Very interesting, my Gas meter is like above, outside the property and the Elec meter is inside near back of the property.  I thought the gas meter would submit its data independently of Elec meter?  I have different providers for gas & Elec at the moment. My semi concealed box appears to have bit going into the ground, appears bottom half of the existing non-smart meter I have (U6) is below the box so hoping I can get an equivalent SMETS2 smart meter of same size.
I read online the batteries in the gas meter pictured above only last around 10 years and as its a smart meter I'm never going to check it so will oblivious if it stops working but i understand it will still remain submitting readings, its just the display that wont work?
Kev

kev2009

just had a quick look, it seems my semi concealed box is similar to this one:-

Kev

[Deleted User]

kev2009 said:

  I thought the gas meter would submit its data independently of Elec meter? 
I read online the batteries in the gas meter pictured above only last around 10 years and as its a smart meter I'm never going to check it so will oblivious if it stops working but i understand it will still remain submitting readings, its just the display that wont work?
Kev

Smart meters use a single comms hub that sits above the electricity meter. When the power in the gas meter battery falls to a specified level, an alert is sent to the supplier advising them that a battery change is required. In theory, gas batteries should last for up to 15 years. In the event of a total battery failure, the meter will retain readings 13 months worth of readings. Most smart meters will show an error code when the battery needs to be replaced some weeks ahead of total exhaustion.