Octopus "offer"

Virtual_Chrissy_Wissy

Hi all
I am a "traditional" billpayer as I always paid quarterly (too many people I knew were being stung with direct debit issues at the time). Octopus took over my Coop account a couple of years ago. I have been able to avoid direct debits thus far by sending meter readings monthly and settling in full. They have just got in touch to say that both my meters are past their certification dates and smart ones will have to be installed. Am I right in thinking that if I choose not to have a comms hub installed I can stick to sending my readings in for monthly bills?

many thanks 

pochase

The comms hub is part of the smart meter set up, but having a smart meter does not change the way you are paying.

Instead of you sending the meter readings every month that is done in future by the smart meter.

[Deleted User]

@pochase is absolutely right. Smart meters cannot be installed without a working communications hub. The hub connects to the DCC network. If the communications hub was omitted from the installation then the meters will not be commissioned, and you will be unable to take manual readings.

Having smart meters will have no impact on your billing. However, you might get monthly statements which is normal for most customers with Octopus: smart metered or not. Meter readings bills where a smart meter is involved are annotated with an ‘S’.

Finally, when existing meters are deemed to be end-of-life, suppliers are permitted to fit smart meters WITHOUT the consumer’s permission. In extremis, they can get an Entry Warrant from a Court. The Electricity and Gas Acts require suppliers to bill against certificated meters.