Can't have a smart meter-wiring issue, am I alone?

molerat

It would likely be a very simple fix with a Henley Block if necessary but that is out side the qualification of meter fitters.  It should have also been mandated that when replacing a meter a cut off switch was installed but joined up thinking is outside the remit of the energy supply industry.

ProDave

molerat said:

It would likely be a very simple fix with a Henley Block if necessary but that is out side the qualification of meter fitters.  It should have also been mandated that when replacing a meter a cut off switch was installed but joined up thinking is outside the remit of the energy supply industry.

One of the reasons I don't want a smart meter, is my present dumb meter has an output isolation switch built in.  Such a backwards step not including that in smart meters.

FreeBear

ProDave said:

molerat said:

It would likely be a very simple fix with a Henley Block if necessary but that is out side the qualification of meter fitters.  It should have also been mandated that when replacing a meter a cut off switch was installed but joined up thinking is outside the remit of the energy supply industry.

One of the reasons I don't want a smart meter, is my present dumb meter has an output isolation switch built in.  Such a backwards step not including that in smart meters.

There is a cut-out switch built into smart meters, but it is not accessible by the customer.

I believe an isolator switch switch is required if you are having an EV charging point installed - Most energy suppliers will one for a small fee.

QrizB

My smart meter installer fitted a cut-out switch. I didn't have to ask or pay anything.

wittynamegoeshere

Mine was about to install a meter without a switch.  He told me I'd have to order a switch as a separate job from Western Power, and it would be over £100.  Then he said he had a spare in his van and fitted it, off the record.

It's down to the luck of the draw, but getting a switch is definitely not standard or expected.  It's nuts that they're not fitted as standard, and if in future an electrician pulls the fuse to avoid the risk of death while working on your consumer unit then your smart meter will send an immediate alarm to HQ, they've been known to send out an emergency response as a result, supposedly in case there's a cable fault, but in reality so they can issue a fine.

If you have a smart meter without a switch then if you need electrical work in future you need to arrange for the power company to come out and pull the fuse out, you need to pay them to do this.  Then the electrician does the work, then they reconnect it.  It's a complete farce, and the NIC/EIC are attempting to resolve it, perhaps by allowing more electricians to pull the fuse themselves.  But a switch is the real solution.  The switch goes after the smart meter so doesn't cause the supply to the meter to be cut, whereas the fuse is before it so does cut its power supply, after which it uses its built-in battery to phone home.

The actual issue is that when you pull the fuse it gives access to an unmetered supply.  This is how the dodgy types get free power, and is one of the big reasons we're getting smart meters and probably the real reason why some people object to them so strongly, as it means that they will have to pay for their power instead of stealing it as they've done until now.

MWT

QrizB said:

My smart meter installer fitted a cut-out switch. I didn't have to ask or pay anything.

Mine was also free when Octopus fitted smart meters for me.