Refusing a smart meter installation

GingerTim

BrixtonDave said:

I have had 3 calls in thee days from SMS Meters claiming to be acting on behalf of my supplier Shell.

...

Can I sue?

Possibly the funniest thing I've read on this forum - nearly choked on my cornflakes!

[Deleted User]

BrixtonDave said:

I have had 3 calls in thee days from SMS Meters claiming to be acting on behalf of my supplier Shell.
I told them I paid £3-4 thousand last year in gas and electricity charges and submit monthly meter readings.
And I don't want a new electricity and gas meter.
And I considered their repeated calls a form of harassment.

Can I sue?

No - you cannot. Suppliers are required by Ofgem to use all reasonable endeavours to persuade consumers to agree to have a smart meter fitted.  Your meters are owned by a Meter Asset Provider and managed by your supplier. Increasingly, we are seeing tariffs that are only available to consumers who have or agree to have a smart meter fitted. Suppliers now have a legal right to replace end-of-life meters with smart meters without the consumer’s approval.

Automatic meter readings is not why smart meters are needed. As we move to more infinitely variable renewable energy, grid operators need to have up to date information on the profile of your energy usage to know when, for example, to buy more electricity and gas from Europe.

France gas now made smart metering a legal obligation. Consumers that refuse are now ‘fined’ by having to pay a much higher standing charge. Germany is making smart meters mandatory from 2025. The UK Government will undoubtedly do the same.

[Deleted User]

Zandoni said:

I've hung out as long as possible but I think I'll have to accept them soon as my meters are getting on a bit. My main reason for resisting was that I feel it's such a shame to discard equipment that is working perfectly. At least the technology has improved now so I'm hoping to have a more positive experience.

How do you know that they are working perfectly? When were your meters last calibrated for accuracy? This is why all meters have a certified life based on initial and in use testing. Please read my post above, suppliers around the World are not fitting smart meters because the technology now exists. They are being fitted as part of a Smart Grid.

QrizB

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

I've hung out as long as possible but I think I'll have to accept them soon as my meters are getting on a bit. My main reason for resisting was that I feel it's such a shame to discard equipment that is working perfectly. At least the technology has improved now so I'm hoping to have a more positive experience.

How do you know that they are working perfectly? When were your meters last calibrated for accuracy? This is why all meters have a certified life based on initial and in use testing.

You might like to take a moment and look at who you are replying to - I'm pretty sure Zandoni is fully aware of this, being a former meter tester!

[Deleted User]

QrizB said:

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

I've hung out as long as possible but I think I'll have to accept them soon as my meters are getting on a bit. My main reason for resisting was that I feel it's such a shame to discard equipment that is working perfectly. At least the technology has improved now so I'm hoping to have a more positive experience.

How do you know that they are working perfectly? When were your meters last calibrated for accuracy? This is why all meters have a certified life based on initial and in use testing.

You might like to take a moment and look at who you are replying to - I'm pretty sure Zandoni is fully aware of this, being a former meter tester!

Fair enough but I am sure that he will understand why the UK desperately needs a Smart Grid that works - as indeed do most developed countries.

powerful_Rogue

BrixtonDave said:

I have had 3 calls in thee days from SMS Meters claiming to be acting on behalf of my supplier Shell.
I told them I paid £3-4 thousand last year in gas and electricity charges and submit monthly meter readings.
And I don't want a new electricity and gas meter.
And I considered their repeated calls a form of harassment.

Can I sue?

Of course you can, you can sue anyone you like. Whether you'd win or not is another matter.