EDF/ Economy 7 Smart Meter

Fairzo

Received an email from EDF requesting an appointment to install a smart meter (current tariff contract requires it).

I'm not averse in principle to it but I have some recollections of previous references to E7 readings being adversely affected by smart meters.

Can anyone put my mind at ease with regard to any E7 / smart meter conflicts, particularly with EDF?

Mobtr

In what way are the reading being affected? 

pochase

Only one I am aware of is problems with BG, they cannot do E7 and smart meters, nothing about EDF

Fairzo

Mobtr said:

In what way are the reading being affected? 

I can't recall specifically and couldn't find the posts on a search. Think it was either transposing night and day rate readings or combining them to a single rate. Use about 70% on night rate so can do without any related hassle.

littleteapot

EDF certainly can do E7 tarrifs on a smart meter. My parents had one fitted a couple of years ago and their bills are still correct.

I did read a post on here where someone had their day/night rate transposed in error after having a smart meter fitted by one of the firms (might have been SP or SSE if memory serves).

littleteapot

Also regarding the 'tariff requires a smart meter'; An 'fixed online exclusive' tariff from EDF that I had from 2018 to 2020 had that clause in it, but they never enforced it. Still have a conventional electronic meter to this day.

I stopped the harassment by putting my landline as the account contact (only used for FTTC, no handset connected). Was still getting the letters every 3 months or so asking me to contact them to arrange a smart meter installation but just ignored them. Recently an option appeared somewhere in my account to select 'not interested in a smart meter' so I selected that and not had any more letters.

However the existing meter will be 20 years old soon after my current tarriff expires so no doubt it will be replaced with a smart meter at that point, as suppliers are supposed to replace them every 20 years and are no longer fitting conventional meters. At that point I don't mind if they replace it with a smart meter.

pochase

With the current prices a supplier might get the idea to enforce the T&C you signed.

They can only win. Either they install an additional smart meter, or they can charge you expensive SVT rates instead of a cheaper fix when they change your tariff by you don't comply with the conditions of the fix.

Fairzo

pochase said:

With the current prices a supplier might get the idea to enforce the T&C you signed.

They can only win. Either they install an additional smart meter, or they can charge you expensive SVT rates instead of a cheaper fix when they change your tariff by you don't comply with the conditions of the fix.

Yep, not really concerned about having one, just as long as it's right. I was transferred from GNE to EDF and had problems getting the direct debit sorted out with them. 

Fairzo

littleteapot said:

Also regarding the 'tariff requires a smart meter'; An 'fixed online exclusive' tariff from EDF that I had from 2018 to 2020 had that clause in it, but they never enforced it. Still have a conventional electronic meter to this day.

I stopped the harassment by putting my landline as the account contact (only used for FTTC, no handset connected). Was still getting the letters every 3 months or so asking me to contact them to arrange a smart meter installation but just ignored them. Recently an option appeared somewhere in my account to select 'not interested in a smart meter' so I selected that and not had any more letters.

However the existing meter will be 20 years old soon after my current tarriff expires so no doubt it will be replaced with a smart meter at that point, as suppliers are supposed to replace them every 20 years and are no longer fitting conventional meters. At that point I don't mind if they replace it with a smart meter.

Our meter only about 3 years old (that resulted in an enforced change from E10 to E7) so that will be good for a while yet.

Dannii75

I'm an 80% user on Eco7 with Octopus. I've been with them for a year & not had a bill because my meter readings keep getting confused between the day/ night & despite me doing space tests I still don't have a bill! Luckily, I've kept the meter readings & the other day I worked out that I've very slightly overpaid so when the bill does eventually land I'll be OK! I don't like to think this is a standard problem but you never know! 

littleteapot

pochase said:

With the current prices a supplier might get the idea to enforce the T&C you signed.

They can only win. Either they install an additional smart meter, or they can charge you expensive SVT rates instead of a cheaper fix when they change your tariff by you don't comply with the conditions of the fix.

Indeed that was always my stance. If they threatened loss of a cost effective tariff if I didn't have one installed by <date> then I would accept it. But I know how often things get f***ed up by utility companies so didn't want to change until financially disadvantaged by not changing.

The tariffs that I have had from March 2020 to now haven't had that clause. But I know the writing is on the wall by 2025 and accept that. I'm not stubborn or paranoid, but over the years have learned though many a mistake have learned not to fix or replace something that isn't broken, unless it is financially disadvantagous to carry on regardless.