Octopus forcing new smart meter

lovelylass_2

Hi everyone. Due to previous company going bust, I’m now with octopus. They have contacted me to say that my gas meter needs to be changed due to it being 16 years old and they need to install a smart meter (something I have always objected too). Just asking if anyone knows if it’s true that meters need to be replaced every 15-20years and if so do I have to have a smart meter as I thought it was customer choice. Thank you for reading

tacpot12

Your contract with Octopus might give them the right to cancel it if you don't have a smart meter. When we moved to Octopus they were clear that having a smart meter was a condition of having the tariff.  They've written to us for the same reason, a 15 year old gas meter that needs replacing due to age. 

I think that gas meters do wear out, but our bills have remained very conistent for many years, fluctuating only due to the depth of the winter we experienced, so I doubt that our meter (or yours) is inaccurate.

My partner is not keen on having smart meter, but I don't really mind. We are expecting to be forced into having smart meters over the course of the contract and have had an electrical isolator installed in readiness for this. Smart meters don't have an integral isolator, as it was missed off the specifications for smart meters. It's likely that we will have some changes made to the electrical distribution network in the house over the next few years, so having the ability to isolate the consumer unit from the supply without having to involve the DNO is useful. 

Our plan is to just ignore them for as long as possible, probably until they call us in person. At that point, I expect we will relent.  

matelodave

The supplier can change the meter whenever he wants to because it belongs to him and not you. The fact that a meter may be certified for a longer period doesn't mean that the supplier is obliged to keep it in service for the whole of it's certified life.

Likewise there is no statute or law that says you must have a smart meter, however it's up to the supplier to decide what sort of meter he wants to fit and he could make it a condition of  having certain tariffs and charging more for those tariffs that dont have a smart meter.

If the Octopus billing system is set up for smart meters then you may have either to get a smart meter if you stay with them. possibly end up on a less favourable tariff or go to a supplier who doesn't insist on a smart meter if you can find one who wants to take you on at atheir lowest cost tariff..

WillPS

My gas meter is much older than 15 years. Judging by the old British Gas logo it's mid-90s at the latest.

gt94sss2

Meters have a certain lifespan after which they need to be replaced.

They can fit a new smart meter though you can ask that it operates in a dumb mode.

Verdigris

WillPS said:

My gas meter is much older than 15 years. Judging by the old British Gas logo it's mid-90s at the latest.

Meters can be taken out of service, recalibrated, and used again. It will usually have a sticker showing the recalibration date if that is the case.

Won't happen now, thought, they'll just replace with a smart meter.

Browntoa

My understanding is octopus use their own engineer's to fit smart meters rather than the contractors that all the others use 

If I had to have one fitted I would trust octopus more 

lovelylass_2

Thank you everyone. I think I will put them off as long as I can as my meter is consistent and at the moment I don’t want to have a smart meter fitted just yet.

[Deleted User]

Suppliers have a legal right to enter a property to undertake a meter change if they deem the meter to be end-of-life. BEIS - the Government - agreed a year or so ago that as suppliers can fit a smart meter in these circumstances without the homeowner’s approval. For the gas meter to work in smart mode, the supplier will also fit a smart electricity meter and a comms hub. Octopus has one of the best smart teams in the sector. 

Merlin139

I have been moved to Octopus from Avro and my Meters will be 20 in March 2022

Don't want Smart Meters. Read mine every week and submit readings once a month or more if asked. Therefore no requirement to have a new meter fitted.

Both meters are outside my house so I guess someone could just turn up and replace them!

Looks like I will have to put the automatic sensor controlled .50 Cal out to put them off!

tastyhog

Why are people so against smart meters? it's not like they're spying on you, unlike the multitude of other devices you have in your home