Prepayment Talexus ace9000 kbd (is it a proper smart meter?)

Speedw4y

I have seen conflicting evidence as to whether or not these are proper smart meters, I need to know as I want to put a good few quid on before March 31, however, if it is a true smart meter, it won't save me any money.. Can anyone shed any light on this please? It was fitted in 2013 and has been out of debt many years... But at the moment it would be unwise to go DD due to cancer...

Thanks in advance

Karl 

QrizB

No sign of a comms hub, has a slot for a key.

I would say "not a smart meter".

Speedw4y

Hi, thanks, is there a way to definitely confirm it's smartness? As I said, I have stomach cancer and don't want to commit to A DD meter at the moment. But would like to be able to buy some energy at March prices which you can do if your meter is not smart (According to M. Lewis YouTube video)

Thanks again for any help offered..

Karl 

Verdigris

No, they're not smart.

QrizB

Well,someone on the MSE Forums had one in 2008:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1083049/newly-bought-house-a-couple-of-pre-pay-meter-questions

But as far as I can tell smart meters weren't launched until 2013. If that's true, there's no way it can be smart.

MWT

EDF use that meter and their instructions reference changing the tariff via the key when you top-up, so probably safe.

The only small risk is that many of those more 'recent' electronic meters were also capable of being updated remotely but very few providers ever did it that way as it required additional equipment locally (which doesn't seem to be fitted to yours ) or could be updated by a hand-held device within a short range of the meter, but again, few if any suppliers are sending out staff to update pre-payment meters these days...

Speedw4y

It was fitted in 2013, and we did get proper meter readings, but they seemed to stop when the pandemic hit.... So it must be capable of giving readings... or does it even really need to? The debt it was installed to collect was paid off in around 2018. Would British Gas tell me if I asked em? 

Gerry1

Insert the key, press the blue button and look at the S and T screens.

• S The amount of debt left to pay on your instalment plan

• T The weekly amount due on your instalment plan

Verdigris

You just need to scroll through the menu with the blue button to get the readings, rates etc.

Any changes in rates, etc, get put on when you recharge the key.

wild666

I believe they aren't smart but if your provider is Scottish Power, I think it's that provider, have said they will increase the prices on any remaining credit on prepayment meters, smart or otherwise, on 1/4/22. ML has reported them to OFGEM. 

Speedw4y

My provider is British Gas, both electric and gas... the debt was paid off in 2018, what I meant was would BG tell me if it was a smart meter or not...

I want to put excess credit on it at March prices if I can, apparently this doesn't work with smart meters...

Thanks again

Karl