Smart Meters : E-On sneaky new “end of meter life” tactic

Headscratcher14

I’ve been asked by an elderly and confused contact of mine to look into the meaning of a letter she received recently from E-On, headed “Your electric meter has reached the end of its life – we need to replace it with a new one.  (It’s free!)”.  There is no indication in the letter as to how they have decided it is at the end of its life.

The letter goes on to state that there is “a legal obligation to check and exchange the meter”.  We note that it does not say to exchange the meter if it is faulty, nor does it give any option to exchange for a non-smart meter.  This clearly gives the reader the impression that E-On legally have to exchange the meter, and it will be a smart meter they will fit.

 She has previously replied to their requests to fit a (so-called) Smart Meter by saying (by phone and by recorded delivery letter) that she is not interested in them and would not have one fitted.  This follows from advice I passed on from the MSE site about customers rights to “opt out” of the smart meter rollout. 

 The lady is particularly concerned that they may fit one without her consent, as the meter is on the outside of the house.

 Is there anyone who can suggest a way to get E-On to accept that she is not willing to have one fitted, and get them to put this in writing, to both put her at ease, and also so she has something in writing to get back at them should they simply ignore her and fit one?

EssexHebridean

Yes, this will be because the supplier DO have a legal right to change the meter, and it will be a smart meter that they will fit. I've afraid your friend doesn't have the right to demand a non-smart meter any more than anyone else can. You can decline to have a smart meter fitted if it is just being offered as part of the nationwide rollout, but not if it is being fitted as part of a time-scheduled replacement of the existing meter where that existing meter has reached end of life. 

Allowing that for the elderly and those who might for whatever reason struggle with monthly meter readings, SM's can be a complete godsend, why is she so reluctant? Have you tried to set her mind at rest, and explained all the potential benefits (including the possibility of reduced bills via TOU tariffs, as time goes on?)

[Deleted User]

An end-of-life meter should not be faulty. It has just reached the end of its certified life and it needs to be replaced.

The Government agreed in 2019 that suppliers can fit a smart meter in such circumstances WITHOUT the consumer’s approval. Under The Gas and Electricity Acts, a supplier can apply to a Court for a Warrant of Entry.

Explain to your neighbour that many suppliers no longer stock non smart meters - hence the change in the policy. Moreover, the supplier cannot bill if a meter has passed its end of certified life date.

FreeBear

Headscratcher14 said: I’ve been asked by an elderly and confused contact of mine to look into the meaning of a letter she received recently from E-On, headed “Your electric meter has reached the end of its life – we need to replace it with a new one.  (It’s free!)”.  There is no indication in the letter as to how they have decided it is at the end of its life.

All meters are calibrated and certified for installation in to a home or business. The certification lasts for (I believe) 25 years. After this time, the energy supplier is obliged to either get the meter checked and certified again or replace it with a new one. As they won't want to mess around getting the old meter removed, checked, and then reinstalled, you get a new one.

It is the BEIS and OFGEM that mandate that the meters need to be replaced. The customer has no say in the matter.

[Deleted User]

Headscratcher14 said:

I’ve been asked by an elderly and confused contact of mine to look into the meaning of a letter she received recently from E-On, headed “Your electric meter has reached the end of its life – we need to replace it with a new one.  (It’s free!)”.  There is no indication in the letter as to how they have decided it is at the end of its life.

The letter goes on to state that there is “a legal obligation to check and exchange the meter”.  We note that it does not say to exchange the meter if it is faulty, nor does it give any option to exchange for a non-smart meter.  This clearly gives the reader the impression that E-On legally have to exchange the meter, and it will be a smart meter they will fit.

 She has previously replied to their requests to fit a (so-called) Smart Meter by saying (by phone and by recorded delivery letter) that she is not interested in them and would not have one fitted.  This follows from advice I passed on from the MSE site about customers rights to “opt out” of the smart meter rollout. 

 The lady is particularly concerned that they may fit one without her consent, as the meter is on the outside of the house.

 Is there anyone who can suggest a way to get E-On to accept that she is not willing to have one fitted, and get them to put this in writing, to both put her at ease, and also so she has something in writing to get back at them should they simply ignore her and fit one?

We got one of them from EDF. We ignored it.

I'm not having a smart meter fitted. My house is only 20 years old - if they want to condemn the meter they can, but then I won't be able to pay a standing charge if I'm not capable of receiving energy. 

Of course, that doesn't help your friend as unlike us she won't be in a position to call their bluff and have gas and electricity cut off. We are capable of going off-grid if we're forced. 

Keeping in mind what the poster above has said - she's safe until they get that warrant of entry. She can safely bin the letters and leave them to do the leg work. That should put her to the end of their list? I suspect there are a LOT more people refusing these meters than they're letting on. 

[Deleted User]

Deleted_User said:

Headscratcher14 said:

I’ve been asked by an elderly and confused contact of mine to look into the meaning of a letter she received recently from E-On, headed “Your electric meter has reached the end of its life – we need to replace it with a new one.  (It’s free!)”.  There is no indication in the letter as to how they have decided it is at the end of its life.

The letter goes on to state that there is “a legal obligation to check and exchange the meter”.  We note that it does not say to exchange the meter if it is faulty, nor does it give any option to exchange for a non-smart meter.  This clearly gives the reader the impression that E-On legally have to exchange the meter, and it will be a smart meter they will fit.

 She has previously replied to their requests to fit a (so-called) Smart Meter by saying (by phone and by recorded delivery letter) that she is not interested in them and would not have one fitted.  This follows from advice I passed on from the MSE site about customers rights to “opt out” of the smart meter rollout. 

 The lady is particularly concerned that they may fit one without her consent, as the meter is on the outside of the house.

 Is there anyone who can suggest a way to get E-On to accept that she is not willing to have one fitted, and get them to put this in writing, to both put her at ease, and also so she has something in writing to get back at them should they simply ignore her and fit one?

We got one of them from EDF. We ignored it.

I'm not having a smart meter fitted. My house is only 20 years old - if they want to condemn the meter they can, but then I won't be able to pay a standing charge if I'm not capable of receiving energy. 

Of course, that doesn't help your friend as unlike us she won't be in a position to call their bluff and have gas and electricity cut off. We are capable of going off-grid if we're forced. 

Keeping in mind what the poster above has said - she's safe until they get that warrant of entry. She can safely bin the letters and leave them to do the leg work. That should put her to the end of their list? I suspect there are a LOT more people refusing these meters than they're letting on. 

Some suppliers will agree to fit a traditional meter if they still have stock; however, ….

Can my supplier charge me for a Traditional Meter?

Although you can simply refuse a Smart Meter when offered, you cannot refuse one if your existing meter is faulty or has reached the end of its certified life. In these circumstances some suppliers may have some stocks of traditional meters left which they could offer you if they wish. However, they have the right to charge you for the installation of a traditional meter as it increases their operational costs and does not help them meet their obligation to install Smart Meters.

In June 2020 BEIS stated that they considered such a charge can be reasonable, for example, if a non-standard metering service is requested by the consumer where a smart meter could be deployed.  (Updated: 2021-05-07)

Read more at: https://www.smartme.co.uk/customer-rights.html © SmartMe.co.uk

Spoonie_Turtle

As to the question about how they know, they have the meter details on her account (the meter details are also on a national database) which tells them what type of meter it is and when its certification runs out.

EssexHebridean

I'm faintly horrified at the idea that anyone could even consider encouraging  putting someone described as "elderly and confused" into a situation where a warrant of entry is gained for the replacement of a meter...

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] said:

Deleted_User said:

Headscratcher14 said:

I’ve been asked by an elderly and confused contact of mine to look into the meaning of a letter she received recently from E-On, headed “Your electric meter has reached the end of its life – we need to replace it with a new one.  (It’s free!)”.  There is no indication in the letter as to how they have decided it is at the end of its life.

The letter goes on to state that there is “a legal obligation to check and exchange the meter”.  We note that it does not say to exchange the meter if it is faulty, nor does it give any option to exchange for a non-smart meter.  This clearly gives the reader the impression that E-On legally have to exchange the meter, and it will be a smart meter they will fit.

 She has previously replied to their requests to fit a (so-called) Smart Meter by saying (by phone and by recorded delivery letter) that she is not interested in them and would not have one fitted.  This follows from advice I passed on from the MSE site about customers rights to “opt out” of the smart meter rollout. 

 The lady is particularly concerned that they may fit one without her consent, as the meter is on the outside of the house.

 Is there anyone who can suggest a way to get E-On to accept that she is not willing to have one fitted, and get them to put this in writing, to both put her at ease, and also so she has something in writing to get back at them should they simply ignore her and fit one?

We got one of them from EDF. We ignored it.

I'm not having a smart meter fitted. My house is only 20 years old - if they want to condemn the meter they can, but then I won't be able to pay a standing charge if I'm not capable of receiving energy. 

Of course, that doesn't help your friend as unlike us she won't be in a position to call their bluff and have gas and electricity cut off. We are capable of going off-grid if we're forced. 

Keeping in mind what the poster above has said - she's safe until they get that warrant of entry. She can safely bin the letters and leave them to do the leg work. That should put her to the end of their list? I suspect there are a LOT more people refusing these meters than they're letting on. 

Some suppliers will agree to fit a traditional meter if they still have stock; however, ….

Can my supplier charge me for a Traditional Meter?

Although you can simply refuse a Smart Meter when offered, you cannot refuse one if your existing meter is faulty or has reached the end of its certified life. In these circumstances some suppliers may have some stocks of traditional meters left which they could offer you if they wish. However, they have the right to charge you for the installation of a traditional meter as it increases their operational costs and does not help them meet their obligation to install Smart Meters.

In June 2020 BEIS stated that they considered such a charge can be reasonable, for example, if a non-standard metering service is requested by the consumer where a smart meter could be deployed.  (Updated: 2021-05-07)

Read more at: https://www.smartme.co.uk/customer-rights.html © SmartMe.co.uk

They can decommission the old meter - it's their property

However, my house is MY property so I don't see that they do have a legal right to fit something I don't want in my property.

It would mean I could no longer have gas or electricity - but on the positive side - I wouldn't have to pay a standing charge if I had no meters.

[Deleted User]

EssexHebridean said:

I'm faintly horrified at the idea that anyone could even consider encouraging  putting someone described as "elderly and confused" into a situation where a warrant of entry is gained for the replacement of a meter...

So am I. But that's the world we're living in - dissenters will be crushed by the energy companeies. Even if they are elderly and confused. 

GingerTim

In the current scenario the meter is outside the property, so the energy company can do what they want.