SMART METERS & SMART METER READERS E-ON & BRITISH GAS

donny-gal

Words have failed me today, and be assured that is a rare occasion!   We had our original Smart Meters from BGas, the in house reader worked well, but the prices lead us away from BG, but for a while could still get the meter readings, but not the instant usage on it.  Move on a few years, and move over to E-On, new type 2 smart meters installed, together with their reader.  Sorry not a patch on the original BG one, and even using an inconvenient plug immediately behind the meter, it kept losing signal, E-On were not helpful.  Move to January and time to change again, BG had a reasonable deal, so thought, we would get a reader from them.  Oh no, whatever you got with the original smartmeter, that's it, not replacement, no alternative.  Complaint raised, as had been promised one during shutdown, but told today, that in these days of technology, a meter installed by Company A, cannot be connected to a read from any other company but Company A.  Maybe there is a touch of the smelly stuff, but come January, will be voiting wit our feet, unless the prices are unmatchable!

[Deleted User]

Most suppliers will provide you with a new IHD but they may raise a charge. Only the supplier can connect the IHD to your meter comms hub.

You can also purchase a much better IHD from Hildebrand. Hildebrand is registered with the network provider (The Data Communications Company) and it will connect their IHD to your comms hub.

MWT

donny-gal said:

... but told today, that in these days of technology, a meter installed by Company A, cannot be connected to a read from any other company but Company A.

Complete fabrication.

Would probably help to call it an IHD rather than a 'reader' just so there is no confusion with actual human meter readers  

Your current supplier has to do a little work behind the scenes to add their IHD to your existing meter but it is entirely possible to do so if they are motivated.

What is true though is they do not want to be sending out a new IHD every time someone switches as there really is no need so to reduce waste and cost they really shouldn't be replacing a working IHD.

donny-gal

I did say words to the effect that I did not believe it.  If the E-on one kept connection it would not need replacing, even though I find it not as good as the BG one.  Even worse was the inference that the App could be used in its place, but it does not give the instant usage a IHD does.  But all they wanted to do was to close the complaint I raised.