trying to get a double pole isolation switch fitted, no reply from EON - worth changing supplier??

ProDave

Post a picture of your current meter and supply head.

In some cases it is a simple job for an electrician to fit an DP isolator which would be much simpler than dealing with most DNO's who have delegated everything to under staffed call centres with no technical knowledge.

shaz4473

does this help?

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

[Deleted User] said:

It has always been Octopus’ policy to fit isolation switches when fitting smart meters. I had my electricity SMETS2 meter changed 14 months ago due to a Powerwall 2/meter incompatibility issue. The old SMETS2 meter along with the 18 month old isolation switch were thrown into the back of the van, and a new meter; new tails and a new isolation switch were fitted.

That is still somewhat dependent on the engineer on the day.

My first Octopus smart meter install did not get an isolator switch, I made sure it was on the work-order for the replacement when I needed a change for the same reason as yours.

It was SMS nearly 4 years ago and Energise last time around. Both installers told me that it was Octopus’ policy to fit an isolation switch. I never got an answer as to whether it was Octopus’ policy to remove a 16 month old isolation switch and fit a new one! As he was also replacing the gas meter at the same time because of a botched firmware update, the 16 month old gas regulator et al went into the same bag.

shaz4473

Is it worth me asking an electrician to install the switch?  I thought it had to be done by the utility company?

[Deleted User]

shaz4473 said:

Is it worth me asking an electrician to install the switch?  I thought it had to be done by the utility company?

You can but, in theory, your electrician will need approval from your DNO to break the security seal on your main fuse. I say, in theory, as a lot of electricians will just do it and hope that no one notices. I believe that smart meter installers are required to report broken seals as they are an indication of 'potential' energy theft.

Verdigris

I believe that smart meter installers are required to report broken seals as they are an indication of 'potential' energy theft.

And meter readers.

ProDave

shaz4473 said:

does this help?

A competent electrician would be able to pull the main fuse (some DNO's actually formally allow this)  Take the 2 tails exiting the meter and disconnect them from the consumer unit and route them into an isolator below the meter, then 2 new tails from the isolator into the consumer unit (that is not visible in this picture)

shaz4473

just got an email from EON next so they have advised £98.07 and meter tails would be free of charge.  I need to call them in the next few days as unfortunately although it comes out of a joint bank account it is not in my name so needs the account holders consent - fair enough.
Hopefully they will answer as yesterday gave up after around 40 mins on hold.
Will update when I know more

Ectophile

The trouble with pulling the main fuse, is that smart meters tell tales on you.

Back in the old days of non-smart meters, the electrician would pull the fuse, do any work that needed doing, and plug the fuse back in again.  Nobody would be any the wiser.  It was quite rare that they would have to cut the seal on the fuseholder to do that, as every past electrician had been doing the same thing.

Now, if the power goes off, the meter uses its last bit of stored power to send a "power cut" message to the DCC.  It has been known for a DNO van to turn up to investigate the fault while the electrician is still working.  The electrician is left explaining why they pulled out a fuse belonging to the DNO.

Verdigris

That's another smart meter advantage. Even a very localised power failure will be automatically reported. It might be fixed before you get home, if you happened to be out.