Smart Meter - Make/Model - Some better than others?

BigBlueSky

A family member has been asking about smart meters and is thinking about getting one (at the same time as reviewing who they are with for their energy services).

Is there a standard make/model of smart meter that is generally installed regardless of who your energy provider is, or is there a large number of different makes and models ?

Are some better than others? - Are some of the displays easier to read than others ?

Not really interested too much in the IHD, but the smart meters themselves.

Thanks in advance

niktheguru

There are many different brands in use by the different companies. British gas tended to use landis & gyr. Some of the other brands include kaifa, edmi, secure....at the end of the day they all do pretty much the same thing. I know there was a problem with some landis meters if you had a tesla powerwall and they were swapped out.

Robin9

Unfortunately @BigBlueSky  your family member doesn't get to choose.   Whatever they get learn how to read it, keep their own records and check the bills.

matelodave

You dont really have much of a choice - you get whatever you are given by the supplier at the time they install it..

So if you really think that one is better than another then you'll have to find out which suppliers are using it and then apply to them for your energy and hope they dont change meter providers in the interim.

As Nik says, they all do roughly the same thing, some are a bit easier than others to read and different supplier's use different IHD's so it really doesn't make a lot of difference.

Gerry1

Don't worry, unless they go dumb they can all ration you, disconnect you and charge a fortune just when you want to use electricity !

BigBlueSky

Thanks for all the replies.  It sounds like they are pretty much the same then.

I remember a few years ago reading about some that were near on impossible to read unless you were at the absolute right angle.  Sounds like that isn't much of an issue anymore.

matelodave

A lot depends on where the meter is fitted and how easliy you can get to it - it's not unique to smart meters and some LCD screens are easier to read than others. There will always be the whingers and moaners who aren't happy for some reason or another.

Mine is OK as I can read it straight on but not so easy when the sun shines on it or I'm a bit off centre and it's nigh on impossible to photograph but as an electric meter it does the job. I can get the meter reading on the IHD from indoors without needing to access the meter (which is in an outside meter box)

MWT

Not that you get a choice, but if you have solar then you probably want to avoid the Kaifa as they have problems consistently recording half-hour export readings, and as previously mentioned, if you have a Tesla Powerwall, avoid getting the L&G E470 model 5424. Other L&G models do not have the same problem. 

Tallerdave

Some L&G gas meters go berserk when their battery is failing. Check the Rogue Meters thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6103628/rogue-smart-meters

MWT

Tallerdave said:

Some L&G gas meters go berserk when their battery is failing. Check the Rogue Meters thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6103628/rogue-smart-meters

Although it is interesting to note that we didn't see any reports of problems this last winter, even though it was generally colder this year...

Tallerdave

MWT said:

Tallerdave said:

Some L&G gas meters go berserk when their battery is failing. Check the Rogue Meters thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6103628/rogue-smart-meters

Although it is interesting to note that we didn't see any reports of problems this last winter, even though it was generally colder this year...

True. I wonder if the battery fitted in them was changed at some point in production? Particularly once they got wind of early failures.