Smart Meter

rjdt

I have an Easy Online tariff for Gas and Electricity with EDF, I believed that the need to have a Smart Meter fitted was optional. In a recent communication "Don't forget you need to claim your smart meter upgrade" January 2022 the small print quotes, " the easy Online is a Tariff backed with a Smart Meter. If you don't' book your appointment and complete your meter installation in accordance with it's terms, we may end this contract on 30days notice and transfer you onto Deemed contract terms and prices (which are typically more expensive). Am I committed to having a Smart Meter fitted? Thanks.

[Deleted User]

No - however, if you do not accept the smart meter then EDF will change your tariff to one that does not require a smart meter. It so happens that the deemed tariff is the cheapest tariff on the market but, if reports are correct, then expect that the tariff will increase by 50% in April.

Gerry1

You need to look at the Ts & Cs to which you signed up.  If these apply, you can opt out of having a smart meter installed.

You can opt out at any time.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

why do you not want a smart meter?

jimjames

Gerry1 said:

You need to look at the Ts & Cs to which you signed up.  If these apply, you can opt out of having a smart meter installed.

You can opt out at any time.

Any idea what happens if you didn't sign up to those T&Cs but were switched to them via SoLR process? By staying are you deemed to have accepted?

QrizB

jimjames said:

Gerry1 said:

You need to look at the Ts & Cs to which you signed up.  If these apply, you can opt out of having a smart meter installed.

You can opt out at any time.

Any idea what happens if you didn't sign up to those T&Cs but were switched to them via SoLR process? By staying are you deemed to have accepted?

I don't think they're allowed to make any particular metering arrangement a condition of a SoLR tariff, BICBW.

Gerry1

jimjames said:

Gerry1 said:

You need to look at the Ts & Cs to which you signed up.  If these apply, you can opt out of having a smart meter installed.

You can opt out at any time.

Any idea what happens if you didn't sign up to those T&Cs but were switched to them via SoLR process? By staying are you deemed to have accepted?

I doubt that anyone would be switched to those Easy Online Ts &Cs via the SoLR process: it's an online dual fuel tariff, so I imagine you'd have to opt in to it.

minorman

First of all, I do not have a smart meter and don't  particularly want one. I was with peoples energy until they failed and then I was transferred to british gas (bg) by ofgem.  Since then, bg has been asking me to have a smart meter fitted. I upload my readings once a month to my bg account online no problem. Currently the pressure is growing and to quote "we are in your area" emails keep arriving together with "you signed up for this when you joined us". The reasons I don't  particularly want one is the level of control they can use such as "load shedding" (temporary disconnection) with little or no compensation for possible losses and also the ability to administer punishing variations of charge rates at peak times.  the questions therefore, can they force me to accept smart metering or can I just tell them to s*d off !  I never signed up for anything, Ofgem dumped me on bg.

Verdigris

The reasons I don't  particularly want one is the level of control they can use such as "load shedding" (temporary disconnection) with little or no compensation for possible losses and also the ability to administer punishing variations of charge rates at peak times.

The energy suppliers are in the business of selling energy. Why would they cut customers off, except in an emergency? They can do that, anyway, just cutting whole areas off, without the finesse of being able to keep people reliant on medical equipment connected.

You are also cutting yourself off from the advantage of tariffs that can meet your consumption and financial needs better than the more "one size fits all" you get with a dumb meter.

Gerry1

Verdigris said:

The reasons I don't  particularly want one is the level of control they can use such as "load shedding" (temporary disconnection) with little or no compensation for possible losses and also the ability to administer punishing variations of charge rates at peak times.

The energy suppliers are in the business of selling energy. Why would they cut customers off, except in an emergency? They can do that, anyway, just cutting whole areas off, without the finesse of being able to keep people reliant on medical equipment connected.

When demand exceeds supply then either you have to reduce demand and/or cut customers off, otherwise the frequency and local voltage will veer outside permitted limits.  We haven't invested in sufficient new generating capacity to replace life expired stations as they close, so shortages will become increasingly common.  There have been serious wobbles because of simple things like lightning strikes.

The powers that be have decided that, rather than the generating capacity always meeting the demand, when the going get tough the demand will be limited (=rationed) so that it doesn't exceed the available supply.  Enforcement is by Time of Use tariffs (=Surge Pricing), Load Limiting and Load Shedding.  It's known as Demand Side Response.  Not a conspiracy theory or black helicopter stuff, it's all there in the Smart Meter specification and BEIS documentation for anyone with an open mind who cares to check it out.  Start by looking at the sections beginning at Lines 1346, 1502, 4902, 5065 etc if you don't believe it.

It's obvious really, the government wouldn't have pushed the massively expensive smart meter rollout so relentlessly just for the fun of it.

minorman

couldn't  have  put it  better  myself !  Each suppier can shed individual consumers as they require to meet the power they have brought every half hour.