ESB and Smart meters

brewerdave

[Deleted User] said:

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. 

In theory a battery failure will be flagged up IF the comms from the gas meter to the hub are reliable. HOWEVER, the suppliers are not very good at responding - many people have reported (on these forums) that the gas meter has stopped working but no sign of a fitter arriving to replace the battery. In fact there are stories of the meter being replaced instead of the old battery!

MikeE67

brewerdave said:

In theory a battery failure will be flagged up IF the comms from the gas meter to the hub are reliable. HOWEVER, the suppliers are not very good at responding - many people have reported (on these forums) that the gas meter has stopped working but no sign of a fitter arriving to replace the battery. In fact there are stories of the meter being replaced instead of the old battery!

If true, that seems a tad extreme replacing the meter instead of the battery !
Mind you there must be a maximum service life of smart meters as it is, after all, a comparatively new technology? 

brewerdave

MikeE67 said:

brewerdave said:

In theory a battery failure will be flagged up IF the comms from the gas meter to the hub are reliable. HOWEVER, the suppliers are not very good at responding - many people have reported (on these forums) that the gas meter has stopped working but no sign of a fitter arriving to replace the battery. In fact there are stories of the meter being replaced instead of the old battery!

If true, that seems a tad extreme replacing the meter instead of the battery !
Mind you there must be a maximum service life of smart meters as it is, after all, a comparatively new technology? 

Being a suspicious soul, I would suspect that the fitters (who are often 3rd party companies) would "earn" more commission by replacing the meter rather than the battery !

MikeE67

brewerdave said:

MikeE67 said:

If true, that seems a tad extreme replacing the meter instead of the battery !
Mind you there must be a maximum service life of smart meters as it is, after all, a comparatively new technology? 

Being a suspicious soul, I would suspect that the fitters (who are often 3rd party companies) would "earn" more commission by replacing the meter rather than the battery !

I hadn't thought of that !  🤔