Electric meter faulty - energy supplier wants to fit smart meters

[Deleted User]

From a DCC Report dated 1 Feb 21:

Quote: Much of the recent accelerated growth of the DCC’s network is attributed to the mass migration of more than 3 million first-generation meters (SMETS1). These meters pre-date the DCC network and the industry has worked hard to retrofit the many technology variants to the platform, giving the meters full smart functionality which is retained even when the consumer switches supplier. 

Unquote

I know that Octopus has E and A’d a large number of its Secure SMETS1 meters. To avoid some potential issues, they waited until we reverted to GMT before doing so.

brewerdave

[Deleted User] said:

From a DCC Report dated 1 Feb 21:

Quote: Much of the recent accelerated growth of the DCC’s network is attributed to the mass migration of more than 3 million first-generation meters (SMETS1). These meters pre-date the DCC network and the industry has worked hard to retrofit the many technology variants to the platform, giving the meters full smart functionality which is retained even when the consumer switches supplier. 

Unquote

I know that Octopus has E and A’d a large number of its Secure SMETS1 meters. To avoid some potential issues, they waited until we reverted to GMT before doing so.

One wonders whether other suppliers are approaching the issue with the same enthusiasm as Octopus !!!

niktheguru

brewerdave said:

Have you found any published numbers for this ? I haven't. Certainly my personal knowledge of this via a relation who has had (non operational) SMETS1 meters. His latest supplier ,EON, have told him that the meters will have to be replaced as they cannot be "upgraded" . He queried and was assured that replacement is the only option . My suspicion is that suppliers are defaulting to the easier option of replacement rather than adoption .

Yes, there are 3.3millions SMETS1 meters adopted by the DCC as of 20th Jan 2021. (+6.4mill SMETS2)
Overall there are 18millions SMETS1 and 2 meters operating smartly and 4.2million SMETS1 meters in dumb mode (BEIS figures from 21st Jan '21)

The migration of SMETS1 meters to the DCC was supposed to complete in 2020 but has been extended due to COVID. 
The current time frames are:
Initial Operating Capability (IOC) – meters operated by CGI Instant Energy (IE)

• 24 November 2019 to March 2021- Elster Honeywell meters
• Q3 2021 - Itron meters
• 23 February 2020 to March 2021 - Aclara meters

Middle Operating Capability (MOC)

• 15 March 2020 to March 2021 - Elster Honeywell meters currently operated by MDS (Morrison Data Services)
• 1 November 2020 to July 2021 - Secure meters operated by the Secure Meters group

Final Operating Capability (FOC)

• Q3 2021 - Landis + Gyr (L+G) meters currently operated by either BG SMSO (Smart Meter System Operator), DXC or CGI Instant Energy (IE).
• TBA - if directed by Government, the EDMI meter group.

These are ALL published figures. 

There's an excellent smart meter information website where these details have been quoted from. If interested look at www.smartme.co.uk

While I agree people should have a choice about whether to get a smart meter or not if it is an option for someone who currently has a working traditional meter, i see it being a bit ridiculous people squabbling over an end of life or faulty meter to be replaced by a dumb meter rather than a smart meter.  Smart meters are coming whether we like it or not. SMETS2 ones are actually decent. (SMETS1 was a pointless exercise!)

holmesr923

I am with AVRO energy which seems to be cheaper than every other .Electricity 15.75; Gas 2.54; Sc 18.9 and no exit fee

[Deleted User]

As I posted previously, BEIS has now agreed (Jun 20) that as suppliers have a legal right of entry to replace E-o-L meters then they are now allowed to fit smart meters. 

niktheguru

holmesr923 said:

I am with AVRO energy which seems to be cheaper than every other .Electricity 15.75; Gas 2.54; Sc 18.9 and no exit fee

erm, ok. Think you've prob got the wrong thread.
But thats certainly not the cheapest. Do single fuel comparisions. Also depends on where you live.
Example: Neon reef in my area is 14p unit rate and 13p standing charge

niktheguru

brewerdave said:

Have you found any published numbers for this ? I haven't. Certainly my personal knowledge of this via a relation who has had (non operational) SMETS1 meters. His latest supplier ,EON, have told him that the meters will have to be replaced as they cannot be "upgraded" . He queried and was assured that replacement is the only option . My suspicion is that suppliers are defaulting to the easier option of replacement rather than adoption .

To be honest, replacement is the quicker fix. I'd certainly have that rather than wait for the DCC take over of my smets1. They're probably asking to replace as it goes towards their target numbers!

brewerdave

niktheguru said:

brewerdave said:

Have you found any published numbers for this ? I haven't. Certainly my personal knowledge of this via a relation who has had (non operational) SMETS1 meters. His latest supplier ,EON, have told him that the meters will have to be replaced as they cannot be "upgraded" . He queried and was assured that replacement is the only option . My suspicion is that suppliers are defaulting to the easier option of replacement rather than adoption .

There's an excellent smart meter information website where these details have been quoted from. If interested look at www.smartme.co.uk

While I agree people should have a choice about whether to get a smart meter or not if it is an option for someone who currently has a working traditional meter, i see it being a bit ridiculous people squabbling over an end of life or faulty meter to be replaced by a dumb meter rather than a smart meter.  Smart meters are coming whether we like it or not. SMETS2 ones are actually decent. (SMETS1 was a pointless exercise!)

I've never believed the stuff published on that site as it was quite clearly a Govt propaganda mouthpiece in the early days of the roll out.

niktheguru

brewerdave said:

I've never believed the stuff published on that site as it was quite clearly a Govt propaganda mouthpiece in the early days of the roll out.

While I cant really comment on what it was like before, it is now a very balanced site on smart meters with lots of factual information with hard data (including references) and gives a balanced view in my opinion.

 Far better than the anecdotal opinionated comments made on these forums by the pro and against groups on this topic, or the unbalanced (as always with things that dont work) reports of faulty smart meters on the internet.

UnclaimedEnergy

I am very interested to hear actual reasons why people refuse a smart meter when the only difference to regular meters is that it can send readings automatically to suppliers.

Anything regarding "It doesn't actually send readings to suppliers" isn't really an argument as a non-smart meter doesn't either.
Anything regarding "raditation!!!!" isn't really an argument if you own a mobile phone.

Of course I don't actively look for the negative impacts of a smart meter so maybe I'm just missing some key information everyone else who refuses them knows?