Octopus Energy dragging feet over getting meter checked.

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

Chrysalis said:

The easiest thing for me to test was my fridge, as testing something else alone means turning the Fridge off and spoiling food.

Should have used a large resistive load like a kettle or a heater not a small inductive load like a fridge, and you can safely turn off the fridge for several hours without risk to the contents as long as you leave the door closed...

Agreed. Ignore the handheld meter. Turn on the immersion heater for 30 mins having first taken an electricity meter reading: after 30 minutes, the index reading should have increased by c 1.5 kWh. (May be slightly more with your standard baseload).

All meters have a certificated life. Certification of any new meter model requires independent laboratory testing. The certification period will only be extended after further testing of meters which have been in use for the certificated period. The manufacturer will also have knowledge of meters that were removed following on or off site testing and the results of these tests. Gas meters cannot be tested in situ. They have to be removed to a laboratory for testing.

k_man

I suggest a test with the fridge turned off, but the socket trip on (only that one).
If power use still goes up (at the meter) then something else on that trip circuit is using it.

Is it a spinning wheel, or flashing LED meter?

Chrysalis

Its a flashing meter, so not so easy to quickly eyeball to see if usage.

I have done tests with fridge off as well, but dont want to do it for several hours.  The fridge was just what I put as an example in the thread.

I can do the immersion test as well, but its all meaningless if the supplier refuses to test the meter.

MWT

Chrysalis said:

Its a flashing meter, so not so easy to quickly eyeball to see if usage.

They are actually one of the easier ones to work with, with most of them if there is no use at all the red light stays on solid.

... and assuming it is 1000/kWh you only have to watch for a minute and count the flashes to properly record even small loads.

Chrysalis said:

I can do the immersion test as well, but its all meaningless if the supplier refuses to test the meter.

It may show you do not need a meter test, but if you are happy with what you've done so far then we can just leave it for you to cancel the smart meter install and chase Octopus for a meter test...

Chrysalis

MWT said:

Chrysalis said:

Its a flashing meter, so not so easy to quickly eyeball to see if usage.

They are actually one of the easier ones to work with, with most of them if there is no use at all the red light stays on solid.

... and assuming it is 1000/kWh you only have to watch for a minute and count the flashes to properly record even small loads.

Chrysalis said:

I can do the immersion test as well, but its all meaningless if the supplier refuses to test the meter.

It may show you do not need a meter test, but if you are happy with what you've done so far then we can just leave it for you to cancel the smart meter install and chase Octopus for a meter test...

Why are you trying to determine if I need a meter test when I have already decided I need one?

The problem I raised in this thread isnt do I need a meter test, but rather how do I get Octopus to do what I asked.

An update, there is no response to the email that was given to me in this thread.

Octopus are still dragging their feet.  I sent photos, I also did the immersion test, it was on for 2 hours with all trips off except immersion (has its own trip), fridge was off as the socket trip was off, and 9 units were measured in 3 hours on the meter.

Photos were sent but still no response, I rang again, and I am still been given the run around.

I have now filled in the form listed here, as it seems on official guidance Octopus should have booked it once I agreed to pay the £80.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electricity-meter-accuracy-disputes

MWT

Chrysalis said:

MWT said:

Chrysalis said:

Its a flashing meter, so not so easy to quickly eyeball to see if usage.

They are actually one of the easier ones to work with, with most of them if there is no use at all the red light stays on solid.

... and assuming it is 1000/kWh you only have to watch for a minute and count the flashes to properly record even small loads.

Chrysalis said:

I can do the immersion test as well, but its all meaningless if the supplier refuses to test the meter.

It may show you do not need a meter test, but if you are happy with what you've done so far then we can just leave it for you to cancel the smart meter install and chase Octopus for a meter test...

Why are you trying to determine if I need a meter test when I have already decided I need one?

OK, happy to stop trying to help you run a definitive meter check yourself.

If you want to get the meter check done then I hope you have now cancelled the smart meter appointment?

Petriix

9kWh for 3 hours of a 3kW immersion heater seems correct, unless I missed something?

It does seem odd that Octopus are refusing to do the test. I'd suggest using some form of social media to contact them. 

MWT

Petriix said:

It does seem odd that Octopus are refusing to do the test. I'd suggest using some form of social media to contact them. 

Originally there was a smart meter replacement booked for next week, there wouldn't have been time to do the check meter install and test period, but if the smart meter install is cancelled now there is no reason why the meter check couldn't go ahead regardless of the actual need.

Chrysalis

So after I had an engineer here who himself did his own tests, we called Octopus together and also informed Octopus I had been advised by the government support page I could raise it with the ombudsman if they didnt cooperate.

I then got an apology and an effort was made to contact the meter company to change the appointment to a check and replace.  I was told this might be possible, and today I waited all day for the meter company to ring back, however I got an email 10 minutes ago from a billing team at Octopus informing me that I can go ahead with the smart meter change, and the bill is on hold, its not been treated as a debt, and is effectively under review, they said if the smart meter starts spitting out significantly lower usage the bill will be adjusted, I accepted that compromise, so the swap is going to go ahead still.

If all is well and there is no change to the readings I will still tell you guys, it is what it is, I just want peace of mind its reasonably accurate.

Chrysalis

New meter is in, old meter is still there below it turned off.  The guy coming was aware about the issue, so maybe that's why its still there, don't know.

Seems I need to wait two weeks to start getting readings though, is there a chance it will be quicker?