Electric meter faulty - energy supplier wants to fit smart meters

Browntoa

My scepticism came from a 10 hours smart meter install a couple of doors down from me . We all have identical builds and meter set up . 

9 am 1 van turns up to begin job . 3 hours later 2 van turns up to assist the first . 5 pm british gas logo van turns up and other vans depart . 

7pm neighbours power and has finally back on . They were never told what the problems were or why it took so long 

[Deleted User]

Browntoa said:

My scepticism came from a 10 hours smart meter install a couple of doors down from me . We all have identical builds and meter set up . 

9 am 1 van turns up to begin job . 3 hours later 2 van turns up to assist the first . 5 pm british gas logo van turns up and other vans depart . 

7pm neighbours power and has finally back on . They were never told what the problems were or why it took so long 

Probably something related to the commissioning process as this Blog explains:

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

Quote: If we cannot apply our Octopus certificates to the meter (this is a security measure that ensures that only we can read your meter), we will not be allowed to complete the commissioning process. Unquote

Telegraph_Sam

Seems to me that going the smart meter route (with its complexities as described in the Octopus link) to access Agile type "flexible" tariffs is an act of faith or leap in the dark if one isn't charging EV's and the like overnight. I can select the best supplier based on my forecast annual  consumption  but when it comes to forecasting the phasing of my consumption other than in broad outline I wonder if that is not a step too far. I have yet to see any of the Agile type tariffs listed in any of the search engine rankings. Can any of the clever apps overcome this? Is this not just a hi-tec version of the decision whether or not to opt for Economy 7, or does it go beyond that?

Browntoa

I've got more faith with octopus , they are the only suppliers using their own smart meter installation team unlike the others who use contractors. 

niktheguru

wild666 said:

IMHO, Smart meters should not have been rolled out until every supplier could read the meters if the original supplier was changed. My SMETS 1 meter stopped working with other suppliers when I left BG and until Sept. 2019 it displayed the daily rate of 26.1p but now it's 0.00p.
It has been claimed that SMETS 1 meters would be able to be read by all suppliers by early 2020 it's now Feb 2021 and they still cannot be read by anyone but the original supplying company.

Unfortunately the British gas SMETS1 smart meters are pretty much last in the queue to be updated to the DCC. Was supposed to be complete by beginning of this year, but current target date for adoption to DCC is end of 2021 (and i'll be surprised if it meets that target)
Bit surprising they've left the BG ones to lasts as i would have thought BG were one of the big companies pushing these meters, so there will be a lot of them out there.

[Deleted User]

Browntoa said:

I've got more faith with octopus , they are the only suppliers using their own smart meter installation team unlike the others who use contractors. 

Octopus has its own smart meter team but they also use sub-contractors. I had a replacement SMETS2 electricity meter fitted in December and it was fitted by Energise (‘working on behalf of Octopus Energy’ - emblazoned on the side of the van). Based on my experience, Octopus does have a first class smart energy team.

Browntoa

Octopus also say they will replace non smart meter with a similar unit if available for free

[Deleted User]

Telegraph_Sam said:

Seems to me that going the smart meter route (with its complexities as described in the Octopus link) to access Agile type "flexible" tariffs is an act of faith or leap in the dark if one isn't charging EV's and the like overnight. I can select the best supplier based on my forecast annual  consumption  but when it comes to forecasting the phasing of my consumption other than in broad outline I wonder if that is not a step too far. I have yet to see any of the Agile type tariffs listed in any of the search engine rankings. Can any of the clever apps overcome this? Is this not just a hi-tec version of the decision whether or not to opt for Economy 7, or does it go beyond that?

It is not possible to use a standard PCW to compare a fixed term contract (with a fixed unit price; DSC and term) with a tariff that is based on daily changing daily or HH prices. In some ways the ToU tariffs offered by Octopus - that is, Agile; Tracker Gas and Tracker Electricity - are Caveat Emptor. That said, the risk is very low given the vast amount of information that is available, and the ability to change tariffs on the same day of asking. ToU tariffs are working well for me because I know precisely how many units I have used and daily prices/costs since my last bill. Octopus also produces daily cost and consumption charts/figures for everyday of the billing period.

Personally, I don’t think that tariffs like Agile will go mainstream. Octopus is using them to refine its billing system with billing based on HH usage and costs rather than meter readings per se.  My guess is that we will see ToU tariffs similar to those offered in many other countries comprising of 3 tier prices/times: peak; mid peak and offpeak. We may also see tariffs with different daily standing charges depending on an agreed maximum kW figure.

A one day snapshot of an Octopus ToU statement:

Telegraph_Sam

That is well put - caveat emptor since the outcome must be that it will become vastly more difficult to decide on one's "best" supplier / tariff compared with a flat rate system. I asked Octopus how their most expensive peak time rate with Agile compares with the fixed rate. Reply outstanding.
Does the same scenario apply to gas also? I would guess that here there is not the same differential between peak and off- peak supply and demand.
It's a bit like HS2 and Google Analytics:  Given all the technical wizardry bells and whistles, what is the final net benefit to the consumer and is this worth the hassle? I congratulate myself if I can keep up with my standard ongoing bills (which credit to Octopus they make easier than many) but I would not relish each time wading through a month's worth of detail similar to what you have just attached.
It would be different if it could be shown statistically that in all probability the consumer would be measureably better off in peak times with Agile than with the standard fixed tariff, but is that what they are claiming??

[Deleted User]

Octopus Tracker Electricity and Gas are daily priced per kWh. On Agile, the maximum price is capped at 35p/kWh. Prices during the day per kWh can vary from negative pricing (ie; they pay you) to the cap of 35p (usually over the period 5 to 7pm.  

https://octopus.energy/static/consumer/documents/agile-report.pdf