Energy companies (or is it just EON) pushing installation of smart meters during lockdown

veryintrigued

Dolor said:

Factoid:

Lockdown 2

In November, the number of smart meters installed per day was on average 17,148 per day and throughout the month 360,100 SMETS2 meters were installed. 

In comparison the March to June lockdown saw average daily installations of just 658 a significant plunge from the 17,362-average seen in February. The lowest daily figure during the first lockdown was just 323. 

Well as these were critical to National Infra I can see why those tens of thousands of installations were ultra essential.

Without them the world might have stopped spinning or something worse.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi veryintrigued,

I'm sorry that you feel bombarded with messages from us about smart meters.

We have made some changes to our smart meter installations and developed a no contact  process which all our technicians will follow.

All technicians will have appropriate PPE which they will wear for the duration of the appointment. 

We’ll call you before arrival to make sure there has been no change in circumstance and it is safe for our technician to enter.

There is also a video on the website, that shows how the appointments will pan out, with any further information that you may need.

Thank you, Helena

Vegastare

Well the above says it all, and I am left wondering if companies want to reach government targets for smart meters no doubt.  I personally think the problem lies with the fact that some feel if they refuse fitting they might incur some increase in energy price etc.  Before I am blasted for this conclusion may I say that this was the thought of my Uncle in his 70's who had the same experience with another of the so called big six recently.  Glad to say it has been resolved and will do later in year.
While no doubt there is a standard protocol and safety never the less some folk would be horrified after shielding over many months to be faced with this at this present time.  

veryintrigued

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena said:

Hi veryintrigued,

I'm sorry that you feel bombarded with messages from us about smart meters.

We have made some changes to our smart meter installations and developed a no contact  process which all our technicians will follow.

All technicians will have appropriate PPE which they will wear for the duration of the appointment. 

We’ll call you before arrival to make sure there has been no change in circumstance and it is safe for our technician to enter.

There is also a video on the website, that shows how the appointments will pan out, with any further information that you may need.

Thank you, Helena

I appreciate your reply Helena so thanks for that.

I understand you're representing your company but I'd find it terrifically difficult to justify that a smart meter fitting is essential or critical in these current times.

As for the letter, phone calls and multiple texts I'm bemused why you're pushing so hard.

There are clearly some rewards for  EON fitting these.

It won't benefit me at all. As someone who has been taking monthly readings for decades (and enjoys this) I'm well aware of my usage.

The meter will actually cost me (a minimal amount of) money won't it? I.e. it's running cost.

Anyway back to the main purpose of this thread.

Now is not the time for any urgency on these - no matter how many times and methods you try and try to tell me it is.

Verdigris

There are clearly some rewards for  EON fitting these.

Not getting massive fines for not meeting their targets.

It won't benefit me at all. As someone who has been taking monthly readings for decades (and enjoys this) I'm well aware of my usage.

You are missing the main point of smart meters. Smart meters send half-hourly readings which, when they are widely installed, will give a much more detailed demand map which will assist making best use of diverse sources of generation, as we incorporate more renewable energy into the mix. The smart grid, in short. the benefit to you, and all of us, will be that the lights stay on.

The meter will actually cost me (a minimal amount of) money won't it? I.e. it's running cost.

All meters consume a very small amount of electricity but that comes from the supply side so is not metered.

Until recently I worked as a meter reader for the same company that fits smart meters for Eon. We had very strict anti-Covid procedures. Masked whilst inside premises, hands sanitised before entry, equipped with all manner of wipes, gloves etc. If you wear a mask and social distance and ventilate the room during the installation your risk is minimal, IMO.

Gerry1

Verdigris said:

Smart meters send half-hourly readings

Even you specify only daily or monthly readings?  That confirms my suspicision that they use weasel words.  They say that you can determine how often readings are given, but they are very coy about the granularity of the data.  Does it actually send a month's worth of half hourly readings?

Verdigris said:

Smart meters send half-hourly readings which, when they are widely installed, will give a much more detailed demand map which will assist making best use of diverse sources of generation

You mean that at present the generators simply haven't a clue about the demand from minute to minute? 

Verdigris said:

The smart grid, in short. the benefit to you, and all of us, will be that the lights stay on.

The smart grid, in short means that the lights stay on, but at critical times your smart meter will use Load Limiting to prevent you switching on anything else !

Verdigris said:

All meters consume a very small amount of electricity but that comes from the supply side so is not metered.

All meters consume a very small amount of electricity but that comes from the supply side so is not metered, but your IHD shiny toy is likely to cost you a fiver per year if you leave it switched on.

Vegastare

Verdigris said

Until recently I worked as a meter reader for the same company that fits smart meters for Eon. We had very strict anti-Covid procedures. Masked whilst inside premises, hands sanitised before entry, equipped with all manner of wipes, gloves etc. If you wear a mask and social distance and ventilate the room during the installation your risk is minimal, IMO.

While I am not  questioning the strict covid measures being undertaken, I feel sure companies will provide there workers - I am questioning the need to push this during lock down. 
My concern was around vulnerable people feeling they have to accept like I previously mentioned.
One has to ask also is this need because Eon and other companies have contracts with companies for installation and some where along the way costs are climbing if installations are on hold.
Finally I doubt smarts meters are  being fitted in Scotland - no matter how strict the covid procedures are by the installation companies.  It is not permitted at this time .  

Verdigris

My concern was around vulnerable people feeling they have to accept

Our instructions for meter reading was just to politely accept that the consumer didn't want anyone in the house and record it thus. I'm sure the engineering division has similar instructions.

consequences

Vegastare said:

some feel if they refuse fitting they might incur some increase in energy price etc.

It might not yet, but it will at some point when smart meters start being used to charge us different rates at different times of day, and then for different appliances (based on live consumption at first)

You'll end up on a "legacy tariff" which just has a high base rate for the full 24hrs.

Phones4Chris

veryintrigued said:

Anyone else being barraged with text messages, emails and now phone calls from their energy company in lockdown?

Surely this can't be considered essential work or essential travel?

There used to be EON reps lurking on here.

I see the Eon rep and others haven't mentioned anthing about stopping the barrage of texts, emails and phone calls (for whatever reason - leaving aside smart meters).
Just log into your on-line account and change your marketing preferences. Untick all those that you don't want. if there's no specifc place there to tell them you are not interested in a smart meter at this time if you aren't, ring them up and tell them to stop the messages. Also delete any phone numbers you don't want them to have (you probably may have to leave one - mobile maybe for convenience).