Beating the smart meter bullies

markjs419

I currently have a mechanical electricity meter. Sometime between May and August 2020, it stopped recording my usage for a number of months (i.e. when I read the meter the reading was the same as the last reading I submitted 3 months earlier).

I called my supplier (SSE) and told them about this. They didn't seem too concerned and told me that someone would be in touch to arrange a replacement within the next 2 weeks, but I didn't hear from them and I didn't bother chasing them up on this. After a couple of months the meter seemed to come back to life by itself and as I write this it seems to be recording my usage normally again.

To cut a long story short, last week I had a letter from SSE telling me the meter is faulty and I must make an appointment to have a smart meter fitted. The letter was quite threatening in tone and told me that if I didn't do so they would obtain a warrant to force entry and charge me for the privilege 

I responded via email and made it clear that it was not a problem if they wanted to replace the meter, but it must be replaced with a non-smart meter.

I got a response with the usual spiel about why smart meters are wonderful, though they said they may be able to replace the meter like for like but wanted a reason.

I would have thought that the fact that I'm the bill payer and the meter is in my home should be reason enough, but what are my rights here? Any suggestions on the best response to this?

kaMelo

They are correct in saying they can apply for a warrant of entry to fit a meter if it's thought/known to be faulty and you are not willing to engage with them. However their power is to fit "a meter" you are under no obligation to have a smart meter fitted and they cannot force you to have one..

Therefore something along the lines of "I don't want a smart meter" should suffice. Nothing else needs to be said...

bagand96

The meter is the property of the supplier.  It is faulty and they do have the right to replace it. They can get a warrant to do this if you refuse them access. 

Recent forum posts here have reported a policy change that means they are also allowed to replace life expired/faulty meters with smart meters. You should be able to request they have the smart functionality disabled. 

MWT

kaMelo said:

They are correct in saying they can apply for a warrant of entry to fit a meter if it's thought/known to be faulty and you are not willing to engage with them. However their power is to fit "a meter" you are under no obligation to have a smart meter fitted and they cannot force you to have one..

Things have changed a little in the last year.

Currently suppliers are obliged to fit a smart meter when replacing a faulty meter unless there is a 'good reason' not to, so 'I don't want one' isn't going to cut it any more.

You can still insist that it is fitted in 'dumb' mode so it does not send data to the DCC.

... or some suppliers will allow you to choose an older meter type if they have one available, and they are allowed to charge for it, where the smart meter would be free.

kaMelo

bagand96 said:

The meter is the property of the supplier.  It is faulty and they have the right to replace it. They can get a warrant to do this. 

They are also allowed to replace life expired/faulty meters with smart meters. 

They are fully entitled to enter and replace a meter, as you said they are the property of the supplier, but that is where their remit ends, in fitting a meter. The choice of meter is down to the consumer who owns the house, the supplier cannot force a smart meter upon a consumer who doesn't want one, they either don't replace it or replace it with a normal meter.

bagand96

kaMelo said:

bagand96 said:

The meter is the property of the supplier.  It is faulty and they have the right to replace it. They can get a warrant to do this. 

They are also allowed to replace life expired/faulty meters with smart meters. 

They are fully entitled to enter and replace a meter, as you said they are the property of the supplier, but that is where their remit ends, in fitting a meter. The choice of meter is down to the consumer who owns the house, the supplier cannot force a smart meter upon a consumer who doesn't want one, they either don't replace it or replace it with a normal meter.

As the poster above states, they do now have the right to fit smart meters. The consumer can elect for them to be fitted in “dumb” mode. 

oliverbrown

Ofgem's advice below. The question is, does "You can choose not to accept an offer to have a smart meter fitted" apply to the first bullet point?

kaMelo

Hansard extract.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111129/text/111129w0004.htm

 Charles Hendry MP (former Energy minister) : We expect the benefits of smart meters, such as providing consumers with control over their energy usage and an end to estimated bills, will lead to demand for them from consumers.

To ensure that all customers are able to benefit from smart meters, we will require suppliers to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters. However, we recognise that there may be some circumstances where it would not be practical to install a smart meter.

We have made it clear that we do not expect suppliers to seek an entry warrant simply to fit a smart meter and it will not be an offence for householders to refuse to accept a smart meter.

No legislation has passed that changes that position.

MWT

They are not doing it ‘simply to fit a smart meter’ but to replace a faulty meter, so that comment does not apply. 

oliverbrown

My interpretation of Ofgem's page is that the supplier is expected to install a smart meter for replacements, but there remains no requirement for customers to accept one. Customer refusal is "a good reason" for a supplier to not install one, whereas the supplier getting hold of a load of cheap traditional meters would not be a good reason.

kaMelo

MWT said:

They are not doing it ‘simply to fit a smart meter’ but to replace a faulty meter, so that comment does not apply. 

Of course it does, the supplier has a duty to fit a meter, nothing more.
The reason for a meter needing to be fitted is irrelevant, the consumer is within their right to say no to a smart meter and that's the end of the conversation on smart meters. There is no legislation that allows a supplier to override that choice..