Energy company refuses to change tariff without a smart meter?

Tiger_greeneyes

I've been speaking with my electricity company, Outfox The Market who I've been with for a few years. I'm currently on an Economy 7 tariff but that's more expensive for me than their Standard tariff. I've asked to be changed to the Standard tariff but they won't do it unless I agree to a smart meter, which we don't want.

Can they continue to charge me over the top for my electricity when I've requested to change tariff? Do I have any rights to refuse the smart meter while insisting they switch my tariff without leaving them? They're by far the cheapest supplier for me and that's really important to me, more than ever.

I can't understand how people changed tariff prior to smart meters being invented...

pochase

They can limit your access to certain tariffs by insisting that you need to install a smart meter, that is within their rights.

But I don't think they can do this for the SVT. Also you are not really changing tariff, you just will be changing from E7 SVT to single rate SVT as I understand your post.

[Deleted User]

OFTM, like all suppliers, has been set a smart meter rollout target by Ofgem. Ofgem is happy for suppliers to restrict tariff offers to customers who have, or agree to have a smart meter fitted. If you sign up to the tariff, then you will also agree to a contract term which allows the supplier to fit a smart meter. All suppliers will state in their terms and conditions what will happen if a smart meter fitting appointment Is subsequently declined.

Tiger_greeneyes

pochase said:

They can limit your access to certain tariffs by insisting that you need to install a smart meter, that is within their rights.

But I don't think they can do this for the SVT. Also you are not really changing tariff, you just will be changing from E7 SVT to single rate SVT as I understand your post.

Thank you for your reply - just so I have this straight, they can't force me to have a smart meter just for switching from E7 to their Standard Variable Tariff? This is good news if I got it right! How could I go about asserting this to them, do you have any ideas?

I really don't like the idea of any kind of smart meter, I'm still resisting a water meter - my bills would definitely increase with one.

Thanks again

stewie_griffin

How would your bills increase with a Smart meter?

pochase

As  @[Deleted User] is saying suppliers have to meet quota for smart meter installing and one measure they are using is limiting access to certain deals to users with smart meter, respectively you have to agree to the installation of a smart meter.  This is completely legal to do that.

I just don't think they can do this if you are not even changing your tariff. Also not sure if they can even do that for SVT, which is the most basic tariff.

I personally don't understand your aversion against a smart meter or a water meter, but that is up to you.

Why are you sure you will be paying more with a water meter? If it really turns out to be more expensive most water companies allow you to go back to unmetered, but many people are benefitting from a metered supply. We have saved a lot of money with a water meter.

RogerBareford

Tiger_greeneyes said:

pochase said:

They can limit your access to certain tariffs by insisting that you need to install a smart meter, that is within their rights.

But I don't think they can do this for the SVT. Also you are not really changing tariff, you just will be changing from E7 SVT to single rate SVT as I understand your post.

Thank you for your reply - just so I have this straight, they can't force me to have a smart meter just for switching from E7 to their Standard Variable Tariff? This is good news if I got it right! How could I go about asserting this to them, do you have any ideas?

I really don't like the idea of any kind of smart meter, I'm still resisting a water meter - my bills would definitely increase with one.

Thanks again

It would be silly to stay on a more expensive tariff just because you don't like the idea of a smart meter.

A smart meter is just a newer type of meter. When they changed from analog meters to digital meters were you also resistant and didn't like them for some reason?

I just don't understand why people would care what type of meter their electricity is measured with.

Do you also not go to certain fuel stations because you don't like the type of pump they use or avoid certain supermarkets because you don't like the types of tills

[Deleted User]

Hi,

as above, are you also against a smart tv, smart phone?

MattMattMattUK

Tiger_greeneyes said:

I've been speaking with my electricity company, Outfox The Market who I've been with for a few years. I'm currently on an Economy 7 tariff but that's more expensive for me than their Standard tariff. I've asked to be changed to the Standard tariff but they won't do it unless I agree to a smart meter, which we don't want.

Can they continue to charge me over the top for my electricity when I've requested to change tariff? Do I have any rights to refuse the smart meter while insisting they switch my tariff without leaving them? They're by far the cheapest supplier for me and that's really important to me, more than ever.

I can't understand how people changed tariff prior to smart meters being invented...

By changing tariff in agreement with their energy provider...

Tiger_greeneyes said:

I really don't like the idea of any kind of smart meter, I'm still resisting a water meter - my bills would definitely increase with one.

So when it comes to water meters, you do not like paying for what you use, and when it comes to energy you are scared of smart meters because? Something you listened to on YouTube?

Section62

RogerBareford said:

A smart meter is just a newer type of meter. When they changed from analog meters to digital meters were you also resistant and didn't like them for some reason?

Given a choice I'd be quite happy to keep a mechanical meter rather than have a digital one.

If you need to read the meter the mechanical ones are easier for many people, and if a mechanical meter goes wrong it is very unlikely to reset itself to "00000" or "        ".... leaving the energy company to come up with a random guess at what the current reading(s) should be.

RogerBareford said:

I just don't understand why people would care what type of meter their electricity is measured with.

Some of them perhaps understand the technical workings of different meter types and have a rational reason for preferring one over another?

I also find it quite worrying that forums like this one allow people to be belittled for making a choice, which may be entirely rational.

Uxb1

RogerBareford said:

I just don't understand why people would care what type of meter their electricity is measured with.

Possibly because they are aware of all sorts of things and tarrifs re possible with smart meters and they have no intention of being trapped into using one with no way out.
We could have peak time of use tarrifs introduced - only possible with smart meters.
We could have what Norway is introducing which is penal rates if the consumer uses more than a certain amount of energy over some preceeding measuring period applied for the rest of the measuring period.
Some countries use a peak demand limiter such that if you go over than limit the supply cuts out  - easy to do with a smart meter.