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New smart meters but gas meter too far from electricity meter

Murmansk
Murmansk Posts: 1,037 Forumite
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edited 18 August 2022 at 11:08AM in Energy
I've had two smart meters fitted recently but only the electricity meter works with the display, the gas meter is too far away to communicate with the module on the electricity meter.

I'm told that a new module with a longer range might be available at some point in the future but currently my new gas meter won't work "smartly". 

Is there any way I can access the gas meter's readings etc via a phone app?
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  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 7,887 Ambassador
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    Murmansk said:
    I've had two smart meters fitted recently but only the electricity meter works with the display, the gas meter is too far away to communicate with the module on the electricity meter.

    I'm told that a new module with a longer range might be available at some point in the future but currently my new gas meter won't work "smartly". 

    Is there any way I can access the gas meter's readings etc via a phone app?
    Nope. If it is not able to communicate with the smart hub, the readings cannot be sent anywhere an app will have access.

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  • wazza99
    wazza99 Posts: 370 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have same issue, with Octopus, fitter new when he came straight away Gas wouldn't work but fitted it anyway. Never had a gas bill since it was fitted, when i emailed them they said they couldn't even estimate as the meter was new and had no history ? Main reason i had smart meters was due to the gas being in my neighbours drive , now i have a dumb smart meter with no history i still have to read.
  • Wes121708
    Wes121708 Posts: 166 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    We have this issue with ours and British gas so unplugged it complete waste of time. I now just have to give manual readings! 
  • Apodemus
    Apodemus Posts: 3,410 Forumite
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    Murmansk, it's not clear from your post whether your problem is only with the ability of the display itself to talk to the gas meter or with the ability of the gas meter to supply readings to the provider.  In my experience plenty of people mis-understand that the display can pack up (or not work because it needs charging or is out of range) without affecting the sending of readings to the company. 

    However, I would also observe that the smart-meter roll-out process seems to have got well away from the ability of the contractors to keep up, leading in some cases to the use of less-qualified personnel with little interest or incentive in getting the installation right.  
  • Murmansk
    Murmansk Posts: 1,037 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    When I said "only the electricity meter works with the display, the gas meter is too far away to communicate with the module on the electricity meter" I thought it was clear but to clarify, it's nothing to do with the display, it's the gas meter that's too far from the "thing" on the electricity meter that sends info to the supplier and I'm hoping to be supplied with a "thing" with greater range
  • Out of interest, what is the maximum distance between a smart gas meter and a smart electric meter for them to be able to communicate? Interested to know as my gas meter is quite far away from electric.
  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 7,887 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Murmansk said:
    When I said "only the electricity meter works with the display, the gas meter is too far away to communicate with the module on the electricity meter" I thought it was clear but to clarify, it's nothing to do with the display, it's the gas meter that's too far from the "thing" on the electricity meter that sends info to the supplier and I'm hoping to be supplied with a "thing" with greater range

    The "thing" is the communications hub. If gas meters are more than 10 metres away from the hub, or there are walls in the way, the gas meter may fail to connect to it. I wouldn't hold your breath for a hub with a longer range, just keep pestering the supplier for it every month when you provide a manual gas meter reading.

    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. 

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  • victor2 said:

    The "thing" is the communications hub. If gas meters are more than 10 metres away from the hub, or there are walls in the way, the gas meter may fail to connect to it.
    Thanks. Mine are about 7m apart, with two internal walls and an external cavity wall in between as gas meter is outside. How likely is it that mine would be able to connect to eachother?

  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 7,887 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks. Mine are about 7m apart, with two internal walls and an external cavity wall in between as gas meter is outside. How likely is it that mine would be able to connect to eachother?


    My IHD connects through 2 or 3 internal walls to the hub/meters in the attached garage over something like that distance, but did complain periodically (several times a day) that it had lost the signal and was reconnecting until I moved it a bit closer, but same number of walls. The meters themselves are on the same wall inside the garage and only a few metres apart. I really don't know how the gas meter would operate if it loses the signal. It only sends info to the hub once every 30 minutes (to preserve battery I assume), but I don't know if it can "catch up" if a time slot is missed.
    Best to see what your supplier says, or more likely book an install and see if the installation engineer believes (or cares!) it will work.

    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. 

    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

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