British Gas Trying To Pull A Fast One?

gandalftheking

The reason I say 'fast one' is that in the email it JUST refers to meters (not smart meters), so wondering if it is a crafty ploy / scare mongering - - when I click on the link it's for smart meter installation, and yet in their email:

We Urgently need to replace your electricity meter:
Like anything mechanical that's getting old, an electricity meter can stop working properly. Occasionally, old electricity meters can cause serious problems – they can overheat, causing a risk of fire. We don't want this to happen, so please get in touch with us to book an appointment.

Are they trying to force people into smart meters here? they also indicate that if an appt. was not booked that they would turn up to do the work anyway!

Astria

They just want to get everyone onto a smart meter for their quotas. It's a little scare mongering for sure, but you are free to ignore it.

Saying that I would never click on a link in an email, far too many scams going around - how do you know the email is even from BG for example?

markin

The Gov have told them to fit them, They get fined when they don't.

Meters do have around a 30 year life span.

gandalftheking

Astria said:

They just want to get everyone onto a smart meter for their quotas. It's a little scare mongering for sure, but you are free to ignore it.

Saying that I would never click on a link in an email, far too many scams going around - how do you know the email is even from BG for example?

When I hover over the links it displays BG website links

Stompa

Hmmm, I've just had one of these emails from BG. I see that it also says "If we don’t hear back, we may book an install for you – we’ll be in touch and you can just let us know if you’d like to rearrange or cancel".

EssexHebridean

What is the issue about having the meter changed though, particularly if it IS getting on a bit in years? (And assuming that the email genuinely is from BG of course!)

FreeBear

All meters, both gas and electricity, have a lifespan. They are calibrated and certified when manufactured, and once the calibration certificate expires, the energy company is obliged to replace the meter.

Smart meters are the default for replacement, so you won't get a choice in the matter.

[Deleted User]

FreeBear said:

All meters, both gas and electricity, have a lifespan. They are calibrated and certified when manufactured, and once the calibration certificate expires, the energy company is obliged to replace the meter.

Smart meters are the default for replacement, so you won't get a choice in the matter.

Correct. BEIS agreed a change of policy in 2019. Suppliers have a legal obligation to provide consumers with a certified working meter. As suppliers already have a legal right of entry into a property to change a meter deemed to be end-of-life, and not all suppliers have access to analogue meters, the policy change was pragmatic.

We will all end up with smart meters: resistance in my opinion is futile.

400ixl

It may be that they are doing others in the area and want to make best use of the resources, it could be it is genuinely due for replacement.

BG have a huge backlog of people who have requested a Smart Meter that they have yet to service, so I doubt it is a fast one just to meet numbers. Far more likely one of the first two.

delia

FreeBear said:

All meters, both gas and electricity, have a lifespan. They are calibrated and certified when manufactured, and once the calibration certificate expires, the energy company is obliged to replace the meter.

Smart meters are the default for replacement, so you won't get a choice in the matter.

My 86 year old mum recently had her gas meter replaced as it had "reached the end of its life." Suprisingly, they fitted an "old fashioned" non smart gas meter. It measures cubic metres rather than cubic feet but it's definitely not smart.

MWT

delia said:

FreeBear said:

All meters, both gas and electricity, have a lifespan. They are calibrated and certified when manufactured, and once the calibration certificate expires, the energy company is obliged to replace the meter.

Smart meters are the default for replacement, so you won't get a choice in the matter.

My 86 year old mum recently had her gas meter replaced as it had "reached the end of its life." Suprisingly, they fitted an "old fashioned" non smart gas meter. It measures cubic metres rather than cubic feet but it's definitely not smart.

Do make sure that her first bill using the new meter correctly shows the calculation for a metric meter, as the conversion from units on the meter to kWh changes of course with the new meter.

As a rough guide if you multiply the units recorded on the meter by 11.2 you should be close to the kWh figure that you will see on her bill. If the number they are using looks to be about 3x what it should be (to be accurate, x2.83), they are using the old calculation..