Smart Meter and IHD

If_Dixon

I recently moved house which has an electricity smart meter and an in house display. Little time after we moved in BG came and fitted a gas smart meter but said the electric smart meter was older (2018 date on meter) and the gas smart meter would need separate comms system. They installed a EDMI ZigBee unit direct onto the cut-out before the meter. That I thought was strange but I'm not paying for its electrical usage but thought if they do that to every house? If it consumes just 1 watt that's 8.76kWh vampire load on the grid a year just for me but I digress.

BG after fitting smart meter the fitter would not give me an in house display saying I would have to see if the electric meter supplier/operator could upgrade the electric smart meter. So now I have gas and electric smart meters but can only view my electric on the in house display.

Any one similar problem which I think the energy suppliers are using it only for their benefit in getting automated readings when the whole idea was letting customers monitor via an in house display the energy they were consuming. I don’t know if it would be something I need to raise through OFGEM as the system is not fit for purpose.

[Deleted User]

The whole idea was getting automated readings plus enabling more complex time-of-use tariff structures.  An IDH was just a nice little side-effect but not the point of the scheme.

Gas meters don't come with IHDs usually.

[Deleted User]

You have fallen into the SMETS1 v SMETS 2 hole. That is, your electricity meter is SMETS1 and your new gas meter is SMETS2.

For security reasons, SMETS1 comms hubs connect to a different portal on the DCC Network (assuming that your meter has been enrolled onto the DCC Network): hence the need for 2 comms hubs.

With two separate comms hubs - both connected to the DCC Network and working - there is no reason why your electricity supplier should agree to fit a SMETS2 meter. That said, you can only ask your supplier for advice. 

If_Dixon

Seems so wrong not my problem they started rolling out 'smart' meters that were not backword compatible. So is it my supplier or meter operator that I would contact or are they the same?

[Deleted User]

If_Dixon said:

Seems so wrong not my problem they started rolling out 'smart' meters that were not backword compatible. So is it my supplier or meter operator that I would contact or are they the same?

You mean "not forward compatible with something that hadn't been designed yet".  It's not unusual for systems to be improved or replaced over time.

QrizB

If_Dixon said:

So is it my supplier or meter operator that I would contact or are they the same?

If you didn't get an IHD with your meter you're probably out of luck as far as free ones are concerned.

There are a few IHD manufacturers who will supply the public (and who have back-end access to let them pair the IHD to your comms hub). They will happily sell you an IHD for £60 or so.

If_Dixon

I have an IHD (badged as SSE but with OVO now) that was in the house when I moved in but it only gives electric data. Gas no IHD when installed.

OFGEM site says:

What to expect from your installer

Your smart meter installer must follow a code of practice. This sets a minimum standard for fitting a smart meter, including:

• offering you an in-home display that shows your usage simply in pounds and pence
• showing you how to work any equipment they fit
• providing energy efficiency guidance

Gas smart meter installer did not follow the code of practice.

[Deleted User]

If_Dixon said:

Gas smart meter installer did not follow the code of practice.

Gas smart meter installer doesn't have to give you an in-home display if you already have one, which you did.