Both analogue meters faults but don't want to go digital - On OVO

andy_spoo

Both out meters have gone faulty. The economy 7 electric meter at fist (a while ago) and now the gas meter.
For numerous reasons I don't want to go to digital meters (don't waste your time asking why as switching to digital isn't the question I'm asking).
Since it's NOT a legal requirement to go digital, can I demand that OVO supply replacement analogue meters?

When they originally noticed that the electric meter wasn't producing good readings and they tried to push us in to digital meters, when I refused they said they'd just have to estimate on an average reading. NOW they want to charge us £460 a month (dual fuel) !! How is THAT an average? I swear that they've deliberately massively over estimated in an attempt to force us to digital - a pretty shoddy practice in my opinion.

One option might to to temporarily change to a supplier that doesn't do digital meters, and then swap to a cheaper supplier in the future?

What do you think?

Thanks,

Andy

The_Fat_Controller

Move with the times !

I bet you don't have a rotary dial landline phone.

Just bite the bullet and then at least you know you'll be paying for what you use.
 
If they are billing you your average usage then feel free to use as much above that as you wish, they have no way of billing you for anything above that.

Just how do you think you will get any sort of final bill or provide opening readings to a new supplier if your meters are faulty ?

The_Fat_Controller

You can request OVO supply you with replacement analogue meters.

You cannot demand them, you have no legal right to do so.

That's an answer, not an opinion.
 

[Deleted User]

Suppliers now have the right to fit smart meters when existing meters are deemed end-of-life. That said, where suppliers have a supply of analogue meters they may agree to fit them but charge you for doing so. 

Gerry1

You seem to be using 'digital' to mean 'smart'.  Any new replacement meter will be digital but not necessarily smart.

However the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Ofgem have reneged on all the assurances given in Parliament that smart meters would not be compulsory.

Ofgem used to state

 

but now it's become

Try submitting a formal written complaint, preferably saying why there's a good reason not to fit smart meters.

The_Fat_Controller

@andy_spoo as @Gerry1 has said above, you need to have a pretty compelling reason as to why you do not want a smart meter.

Please do tell us yours and whether your appeal to OVO using that reason is successful.

[Deleted User]

The rationale for the change is that suppliers already have a legal right to enter a property to replace end-of-life meters so no Court Order is required. The Government has always said that it wants every home to have smart meters. Encouragement is enough when demand exceeds the maximum rate of installation, but watch this space. I live in a close of 14 houses. Last week alone, there were smart meter installation vans from BG; Shell and Energise fitting smart meters in 3 adjacent properties. 

Robin9

andy_spoo said:

................................... to a supplier that doesn't do digital meters,.................

Thanks,

Andy

Are there any makers of analogue meters ?   

Chino

Dolor said:

The rationale for the change is that suppliers already have a legal right to enter a property to replace end-of-life meters so no Court Order is required. The Government has always said that it wants every home to have smart meters.

How is not needing a Court Order a rationale for installing a smart meter?

That a government wants something to happen should cause anyone with half a brain to question why the government wants that thing to happen. Whatever the motive is, it won't be the claimed motive; we may only learn that in thirty years' time, if at all. Although we know that the rationale for smart meters is that we'll need to have rolling blackouts because we're not replacing the generating capacity that we're shutting down, and smart meters deliver that. They'll also allow supply to be maintained to those registered as "vulnerable", which will be the sop that energy suppliers will offer to regulators to allow the policy of rolling blackouts to be pursued.

[Deleted User]

Chino said:

Dolor said:

The rationale for the change is that suppliers already have a legal right to enter a property to replace end-of-life meters so no Court Order is required. The Government has always said that it wants every home to have smart meters.

How is not needing a Court Order a rationale for installing a smart meter?

That a government wants something to happen should cause anyone with half a brain to question why the government wants that thing to happen. Whatever the motive is, it won't be the claimed motive; we may only learn that in thirty years' time, if at all. Although we know that the rationale for smart meters is that we'll need to have rolling blackouts because we're not replacing the generating capacity that we're shutting down, and smart meters deliver that. They'll also allow supply to be maintained to those registered as "vulnerable", which will be the sop that energy suppliers will offer to regulators to allow the policy of rolling blackouts to be pursued.

There is no legislation in place which allows suppliers to fit smart meters without the agreement of homeowners. There is however legislation in place which allows suppliers to replace end-of-life meters without a homeowner’s agreement. If you read BEIS papers you will see that the Government remains reluctant to impose smart meters on homeowners whilst voluntary take up remains high. They are happy to see suppliers offer inducements; eg, cheaper smart meter tariffs.

Rolling blackouts, as you put it, is blatant scaremongering: it would require a change in legislation. Yes, SMETS2 meters do include remote disconnection and in a number of countries demand balancing measures are in place but this is done by the way of a contract. The user agrees not to exceed an agreed kW limit at peak times for a lower tariff price. If the kW limit is exceeded, then the user is notified by various means that that power has to be reduced. Failure to comply may result in a temporary disconnection. Certain groups of people are barred from signing up to these contracts. 

bagand96

andy_spoo said:

One option might to to temporarily change to a supplier that doesn't do digital meters, and then swap to a cheaper supplier in the future?

What do you think?

Most of the big supplier's cheapest tariffs are already Smart Meter tariffs which either require you to have one or agree to have one installed.  That's only going to become more and more common.

Switching without meter readings could also be a hassle.