Electric company refusing to replace broken electric meter.

Skw1

Hi, I'm new here. This is my first post so will apologise in advance for mistakes or errors.

I would like advice on the following:
My electric meter has stopped working. I have notified electricity company. They have responded with an offer to install a smart meter. I have requested a non- smart meter. They have refused to install anything other than a smart meter (claiming they only have smart meters). As I don't wish to have a smart meter and they will only install a smart meter, they have suggested I continue forward without a meter and have my billing based on estimated billing. 

...suggestions/ thoughts? 

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Don't be bullied.

Submit a formal complaint by snail mail and go to the Ombudsman upon receipt of a deadlock letter or after eight weeks if they don't send one.

Conventional meters are still available, and there is no reason why you couldn't have a meter that's been removed from someone who has had a smart meter installed.

matelodave

They aren't refusing to replace your meter, it's you who are refusing to accept a replacement.

They may well be in a position where they don't supply standard meters anymore, however you can request that it's smart functions aren't activated.

[Deleted User]

You're entitled to have your electricity metered, but not to dictate what technology they use to meter it. If you opt for estimates you're handing them a gift on a plate, they'll be able to charge what they like and you won't have a leg to stand on if you try to complain.

MWT

Gerry1 said:

Conventional meters are still available, and there is no reason why you couldn't have a meter that's been removed from someone who has had a smart meter installed.

That just isn't happening, those meters are going straight to the scrap heap, nobody is going to pay to refurb/recertify a decommissioned old meter.

The OP can opt to have the smart meter installed in 'dumb' mode but they cannot insist that a smart meter is not used at all.

That is a complaint that will get nowhere...

FaceHead

Why do you want to have to crawl under the stairs and read a meter, when the electricity company is offering one that will get it right everyone without you having to life a finger? 

As others have said, you can have the smart features disabled so that you do have to read it manually, but I really don't see why anyone would want that. 

[Deleted User]

BEIS agreed to a proposal from suppliers in June 2020 that smart meters can be fitted when a meter is end of life. A broken meter is clearly end of life. The argument put forward was that suppliers already have the legal right to enter a property to replace a meter in these circumstances. When a supplier still has stock of non smart meters, they can still be fitted but the supplier is now entitled to raise a charge for doing so.  Nearly two years on, I am happy with my SMETS2 meters. My bills are accurate and I get a daily breakdown of usage and costs.

Skw1

Thankyou for your help on this matter. 

"DUMB MODE"

Within my initial enquires I was told that a meter could be deactivated and installed in 'Dumb mode'. I was told to discuss this request with the installation team upon the day of install. The day arrived, the installer was very kind and open. He talked me through the installation process. He pointed out that 'dumb mode' was not something he was aware of, or ever done. He also explained that the system is authorised and activated remotely.

I made a request to the energy company, to provide written confirmation that the unit would remain in 'dumb mode'.

I was directed to the correct department. At this point 'dumb mode' seemed to have been a figment of my imagination. This entire department was unaware of this functionality and seemed to have entered 'dumb mode'.

Despite all my attempts to activate 'Dumb Mode' at this point nobody would even acknowledge this feature existed.

So dumb mode was offered, initially. It was retracted soon after. Does anybody know of anybody with a unit in dumb mode? Or was this just a line to get an installation booking? 

Any thoughts welcome.  Thankyou in advance. 

Gerry1

@Skw1 Welcome to the forum.

Like so much of the smart meter info, it's highly misleading.  The meter will still be monitoring your usage (and hence your life style) by recording your occupancy in 13 months' worth of half hour chunks.  Even if it's possible deliberately to install a meter in dumb mode, it will still be capable of being upgraded / activated, so the joys of ToU tariffs, Load Limiting and Load Shedding will no doubt await you one sunless day.

niktheguru

I seriously don't get these conspiracy theories regarding smart meters. I'd say there are more things in your home that can monitor what you're doing and track your movements which would be more concerning than having a smart meter. I understand the specifications and the possibility of load limiting and shedding but in the 10 or so years of smart meters has there been any evidence of this in practice in the UK?

Saying that for those that are still adamant they don't want one then they should just be charged £100 for the change to a standard meter if they are insistent they don't want a smart. Then it would allow everyone to get what they want.

worrywart_3

There’s some that believe they are not good for your health but surely WiFi is the same