Smart meters not working (not smart)

new_owner

I commissioned mine.

I downloaded the manual and just went through it figuring the worse that could happen was it was still a dumb smart meter. Mine is a secure liberty 100 and the whole process took about 5 minutes and two weeks later the energy company reported seeing my data and had requested an updated to be applied to upgrade it to a version 2. It has worked perfectly ever since.

All the information that was requested in the process was the MPAN number and select responses to yes/no questions.

Alnat1

You could try downloading the Bright app, they might be getting the information your energy supplier can't.

edcldn

As an update to anyone interested, Shell got back to me really quickly after I filed a complaint via Resolver. They say that it must be a signal issue so there is nothing to be done.

I don’t believe them. 

Andysbennett

Hi all. I had a Smart Meter installed last October and since moving to Scottish Power in August, the meter has not been sending out readings. This has only become apparent when Scottish Power contacted me recently to provide a manual reading.

The issue appears to be with my meter not speaking to the local DCC (UK network that passes on readings). The impact has been:

1) My (IDD) display has not been reflecting my new tariff with Scottish Power, so showing that I am spending a lot less than I actually am.
2) I am unable to view my usage online - the graphs displayed on Scottish Power are estimates 
3) I am unable to make use of a recently purchased Ivie Bud to more accurately manage my usage and bring my bills down.
4) Scottish Power have now slapped me with a massive bill as the estimates were previously incorrect (They have now asked that I start sending them monthly readings!). 

Scottish Power are saying it is a DCC issue, DCC are refusing to speak to have a sensible conversation with me (very aggressive person on the end of the phone) and explain the long-standing communication issue with my meter. Apparently, the communication issue could be more widespread and not just limited to my meter.

I am going to avoid a rant about how utterly pointless the Smart Meter rollout has been (see above), but this is well documented!

Has anyone experienced a similar problem and how have they dealt with it?

Cheers 

[Deleted User]

Andysbennett said:

Hi all. I had a Smart Meter installed last October and since moving to Scottish Power in August, the meter has not been sending out readings. This has only become apparent when Scottish Power contacted me recently to provide a manual reading.

The issue appears to be with my meter not speaking to the local DCC (UK network that passes on readings). The impact has been:

1) My (IDD) display has not been reflecting my new tariff with Scottish Power, so showing that I am spending a lot less than I actually am.
2) I am unable to view my usage online - the graphs displayed on Scottish Power are estimates 
3) I am unable to make use of a recently purchased Ivie Bud to more accurately manage my usage and bring my bills down.
4) Scottish Power have now slapped me with a massive bill as the estimates were previously incorrect (They have now asked that I start sending them monthly readings!). 

Scottish Power are saying it is a DCC issue, DCC are refusing to speak to have a sensible conversation with me (very aggressive person on the end of the phone) and explain the long-standing communication issue with my meter. Apparently, the communication issue could be more widespread and not just limited to my meter.

I am going to avoid a rant about how utterly pointless the Smart Meter rollout has been (see above), but this is well documented!

Has anyone experienced a similar problem and how have they dealt with it?

Cheers 

The DCC does not deal with the public.  If you want them to do something, you have to get your supplier to ask them for it.

It could well be a communications issue, these do exist.  This could be a wider signal issue, or could be a hub problem.  If you want to check whether your hub is talking to the DCC, you could try the Bright app.

Spies

edcldn said:

As an update to anyone interested, Shell got back to me really quickly after I filed a complaint via Resolver. They say that it must be a signal issue so there is nothing to be done.

I don’t believe them. 

Do any of your neighbours have smart meters?

Leon_W

My Scottish Power smart meters have never worked. Well, they work in as much as they're dumb meters but as for anything else. Nada.  Nobody wants to take ownership of the problem either.

Have complained but they take no notice.

[Deleted User]

I think that once suppliers’ priorities move away from rollout, we will see more pro-active problem solving. One solution to ‘dark’ areas is the establishment of a smart meter MESH: meters link together until a meter is found that has a direct connection to the DCC network. Other solutions include a communications hub replacement to allow the fitment of an external meter box aerial. HAN problems will be solved with dual-band communications hubs and Alt-HAN for high rise buildings.

Suppliers will also have to factor in the replacement of all communications hubs in the South and Central regions as 2G is phased out. 

johnbhoy70

They still sound like more hassle than anything else. My current Sainsbury's tariff requires me to take one if they insist but they've not pushed me on it yet. Regardless, I'll just continue to give monthly readings online even if I have to get one. It's not a great hardship.

Ps- that's me just over a year into a 2 year deal. They must have had more important issues to deal with I think

edcldn

Spies said:

edcldn said:

As an update to anyone interested, Shell got back to me really quickly after I filed a complaint via Resolver. They say that it must be a signal issue so there is nothing to be done.

I don’t believe them. 

Do any of your neighbours have smart meters?

In case anyone is interested, Shell have now sent engineers twice to look at my situation - after some persuasion.

On the first visit an engineer replaced my meters from scratch. Said he was able to set them up and that they were communicating with the network. I started getting data via Bright almost immediately - which I was impressed with because I had signed up to their service with the "old" meter details. So whatever databases linked up very quickly.

Then after a few days of geekily tracking my usage suddenly the data started getting patchy. Then out of the blue Shell called me up and said "we're going to have to replace your meters again"!

Anyway, an engineer came today, spent about ten minutes looking at the setup, got someone to send my meters a message (I don't know what this means) then came back and said everything was great. 

We shall see.

I understand these things are complicated because of data security. But it seems very convoluted and inefficient. For goodness sake we can get 5G on some sections of the tube these days!