Removal of Smart Meter

greenguppie

CFrog said:

A family friend has recently changed their energy supplier from SSE to Bristol Energy (BE). 

I'm not sure how long it has been installed but they have been told by the new supplier (BE) that the smart meter (installed by SSE) is obsolete and BE won't remove the (obsolete) smart meter.  They have been told it's not BE's responsibility and to get in touch with the former energy supplier to remove it.  

Has anyone come across this situation before?

Surely this situation is no different to that where a supplier encounters an 'old' meter at a house (where there's never been a smart meter installed) and they are obliged to fit a smart meter.  Aren't the suppliers being paid / subsidised by us to install these damned smart meters?

Any comments / advice ?

TIA

No, it's usually only the first installation of a smart meter at a supply address (for each fuel) that is "free" to the consumer.

See the link above, It says it is hoped that eventually all smart meters will once again be able to act as smart meters - but as you can see, it's spectacularly missed the 2019 target already.
(I think latest industry reports suggest only a very few will not be able to be upgraded, and those will have to be replaced.)

[Deleted User]

Something doesn’t stack up here. The present supplier is required to ensure that their customers have an operating meter even if they didn’t install it. On switch the meters come with the customer. If the present supplier has deemed the meter to be obsolete then I would opine that they mean it is ‘end of life’. If that is the case, then they have a legal obligation to change it. Similarly, if it is a smart meter that cannot be enrolled and adopted by The DCC then it should be replaced.

PS: I had my SMETS2 meters replaced a year ago. I am still waiting the bill. A number of suppliers have been replacing SMETS1 meters on request.

Robin9

CFrog said:

mac.d said:

Nobody needs to remove anything, or even replace the meter. The meter is not obsolete, it's just no longer a smart meter, but a dumb meter that you need to take readings from manually to give your supplier.

Many thanks for the responses.   I should have added that my friend is in her 80's and can no longer bend to access her meter and take the readings herself.  She's going to persevere with BE and (Together Energy or not) see where she can get !

Is she on the Priority Services Register -  then BE will need to employ a meter reader

greenguppie

Dolor said:

Something doesn’t stack up here. The present supplier is required to ensure that their customers have an operating meter even if they didn’t install it. On switch the meters come with the customer. If the present supplier has deemed the meter to be obsolete then I would opine that they mean it is ‘end of life’. If that is the case, then they have a legal obligation to change it. Similarly, if it is a smart meter that cannot be enrolled and adopted by The DCC then it should be replaced.

PS: I had my SMETS2 meters replaced a year ago. I am still waiting the bill. A number of suppliers have been replacing SMETS1 meters on request.

Whilst "end of life" would necessitate a replacement meter "free" to the consumer, I'm not sure any installed smart meter has reached it's "end of life" yet.

The very first smart meter in the UK was only installed 10 years ago.
Our non-smart meter was installed over 30 years ago, and that is no where near it's end of life. I know some that have been installed decades earlier they are still going strong.

How long is a brand new smart meter designed to last as a minimum?

[Deleted User]

greenguppie said:

Dolor said:

Something doesn’t stack up here. The present supplier is required to ensure that their customers have an operating meter even if they didn’t install it. On switch the meters come with the customer. If the present supplier has deemed the meter to be obsolete then I would opine that they mean it is ‘end of life’. If that is the case, then they have a legal obligation to change it. Similarly, if it is a smart meter that cannot be enrolled and adopted by The DCC then it should be replaced.

PS: I had my SMETS2 meters replaced a year ago. I am still waiting the bill. A number of suppliers have been replacing SMETS1 meters on request.

Whilst "end of life" would necessitate a replacement meter "free" to the consumer, I'm not sure any installed smart meter has reached it's "end of life" yet.

The very first smart meter in the UK was only installed 10 years ago.
Our non-smart meter was installed over 30 years ago, and that is no where near it's end of life. I know some that have been installed decades earlier they are still going strong.

How long is a brand new smart meter designed to last as a minimum?

I can do no better than cut ‘n’ paste from a post from 4 years ago (courtesy @footyguy)

Since 1st August 1998, certification of electricity meters lasts for 10, 15 or 20 years depending on model type.

You can see the full legislation here, including certification validity durations
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1566/made/data.pdf

Since your meter was certified before the introduction of this legislation, then it could be your meter was certified for a longer period - certification lasting for as long as was specified at that time.

Additionally, subsequent in-service surveillance monitoring through the national sample survey can result in the certification life of a particular meter type being either extended or reduced.