Switch to Eon - meter problem

Motau139

I am in the middle of switching to Eon from British Gas. I have activated the online account. The gas meter number is correct but the electricity meter is the old SMETS1 meter which was installed by Eon when I was with them before joining BG. BG has replaced it with a SMETS2 in July 2020. I have contacted EON and provided them with the current meter number. They said that they will change it on the system.

The switch will be effective from 1st February. I don't know what went wrong in the process but I am really nervous. Will I end up with no electricity if the meter issue is not resolved by 1st February?

[Deleted User]

Your supply is fully protected. E.oN is clearly taking action to update The National Database with the correct meter details. Once this action has been taken you can start the switch to BG. You will continue to pay E.oN for all energy used. Updating the Database can take a little time as it is a quasi Governmental organisation. 

Motau139

Sorry if I am not make myself clear. I am switching from BG to EON. I have activated the new Eon account and noticed the error. 

BG informed me that supply will up to 31|/01.  I am worrying whether I will have no electricity if Eon has not sorted out the issue by 1st February. Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Motau139 said:

Sorry if I am not make myself clear. I am switching from BG to EON. I have activated the new Eon account and noticed the error. 

BG informed me that supply will up to 31|/01.  I am worrying whether I will have no electricity if Eon has not sorted out the issue by 1st February. Thanks.

OK, I have read your post again and I believe that the issue is that E.on has taken over your supply using your MPAN and address. With a SMETS2 meter, only the designated supplier gets access to various functions related to your meter. This is for security reasons. If E.On has taken over the meter then as your supplier they can change the meter serial number on the Database but, more importantly, with The DCC. Once The DCC has acknowledged the meter serial number change then E.oN can access your meter data via The DCC. What you are looking at is a billing delay NOT a cut off of supply.

The_Green_Hornet

I had a similar problem with my recent switch to E.ON where they initially used details of an old meter which was replaced back in 2012. They corrected it once told.

I don't think it is a problem with the National Database as I switch every year or so and the meter details have always been correct. My suspicion is that they used some old meter details held on their database when I was a customer of theirs way back in the Powergen days.

I must admit it doesn't give me too much confidence in their IT systems.

Motau139

The_Green_Hornet, yes that's exactly what I have experienced now.  I hope that will be resolved as quickly as yours to save me worrying.

[Deleted User]

The_Green_Hornet said:

I had a similar problem with my recent switch to E.ON where they initially used details of an old meter which was replaced back in 2012. They corrected it once told.

I don't think it is a problem with the National Database as I switch every year or so and the meter details have always been correct. My suspicion is that they used some old meter details held on their database when I was a customer of theirs way back in the Powergen days.

I must admit it doesn't give me too much confidence in their IT systems.

You cannot compare a meter switch in 2012 with a SMETS2 meter installation. They are in different categories of complexity. In 2012 it was essentially a manual process. Today for a smart meter, the process is carried out via a phone or tablet. What could possibly go wrong:

https://octopus.energy/blog/solving-smart-meter-issues-octopus-energy/

Motau139

It's a bit worrying now.  So I just need to keep checking the account and chasing EON but I definitely won't be cut off on 01/02/21 with the incorrect meter number?

Motau139

I've checked with BG and they confirmed the meter details on the national database are correct.

[Deleted User]

Motau139 said:

It's a bit worrying now.  So I just need to keep checking the account and chasing EON but I definitely won't be cut off on 01/02/21 with the incorrect meter number?

Trust me. Even if E.oN was to go bust on the 2nd February, you will not lose your electricity supply as no supplier is actually supplying you (or me). The power that enters your home comes from a National Grid. You pay for x000kWhs of electricity a year, and the supplier pays its wholesaler or generator to add those kWhs to the Grid from many 00s of generation points. The only thing that might take a little while to resolve is billing. 

The_Green_Hornet

Motau139 said:

I've checked with BG and they confirmed the meter details on the national database are correct.

Yes, the suggestion that the problem was with the National Database is, as I suspected, a complete red herring.