Can you refuse entry to meter readers?

MattMattMattUK

I have had a smart meter since I moved in in September 2019, never had a meter read.

doingitanyway

I too feel uncomfortable with meter readers turning up unannounced. I tell them I will read it through and send it out and I do. It hasn't caused an issue and I have had various providers. On the occasions the meter needs to be checked (rarely, perhaps once a year) I have received a letter or a card has been dropped through asking me to set up an appointment. 

[Deleted User]

imeach said:

Ultrasonic said:

imeach said:

Having smart meters unfortunately won't stop meter readers, still got to do the "visual inspection"

How often out of interest? Is this less frequently than old meters are read?

Varies by supplier, but can still be doing some smart meters quarterly.

The visual inspection as you put it is down to each supplier. My SMETS2 smart meters have been in situ now for nearly 4 years, I have never seen a meter reader since they were installed. Prior to the change in the meter reading requirement, BG had an Ofgem derogation that allowed it to read meters once every 5 years. One of the key points of installing smart meters was ‘no meter readers’ and the £6 per year saving is included in the smart meter business case.

nick74

We've lived in our current house since 2015 and never had anyone to read the electricity or gas meters in all of the time we've been here. I was at the previous address from 2007-2015 and someone used to regularly call to read the meters until about 2009, then apparently stopped bothering after that. Perhaps it's because I've always been very careful to enter meter readings online once a month or so, and change suppliers quite frequently?

Verdigris

As serial switcher I'm not sure thay my meters have been read for many years, although that is partly because they are ouside. I did have the odd reading marked something like "mobile", on one supplier's bill, which could have been a meter reader, but I think if regular readings, that make sense, come through suppliers are happy to make a saving by not ordering independent readings.

[Deleted User]

Verdigris said:

As serial switcher I'm not sure thay my meters have been read for many years, although that is partly because they are ouside. I did have the odd reading marked something like "mobile", on one supplier's bill, which could have been a meter reader, but I think if regular readings, that make sense, come through suppliers are happy to make a saving by not ordering independent readings.

Suppliers no longer have to read any meter. The SLC requirement which was changed some years ago.

21B.4 The licensee must take all reasonable steps to obtain a meter reading (including any meter reading transmitted electronically from a meter to the licensee or provided by the Customer and accepted by the licensee) for each of its Customers at least once every year.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

the visit is not just to read the meter, need to check seals, check that the meter glass hasn't been damaged, maybe you had a cowboy electrician in and had to pull the main fuse, then not resealed properly.

The fact that you deny entry raises suspicions, what have you been up to?