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New Smart Meter are dangerous - Budget Exceeded

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  • Alnat1 said:
    You could have taken an extra 10 minutes and googled the device you had been given and found out how to use it and adjust the settings

    Sorry, but I think you are trying to blame others for your lack of effort.
    I knew from simple maths the budget the device came with was wrong, my concern is not for myself but others.

    The issue is not with my lack of effort, I am not asking for a handout, I am asking that the energy providers put more effort in to informing the public when fitting these about the budget features and helping people to set them up correctly.

    A simple question with every fitting; would you like us to go through the budget feature with you and get it right for your house?

    That is all I am asking for, I don't want to see my family or anyone's freezing this winter, when 10 minutes of effort they could fix this. 
  • Alnat1 said:
    You could have taken an extra 10 minutes and googled the device you had been given and found out how to use it and adjust the settings

    Sorry, but I think you are trying to blame others for your lack of effort.
    I knew from simple maths the budget the device came with was wrong, my concern is not for myself but others.

    The issue is not with my lack of effort, I am not asking for a handout, I am asking that the energy providers put more effort in to informing the public when fitting these about the budget features and helping people to set them up correctly.

    A simple question with every fitting; would you like us to go through the budget feature with you and get it right for your house?

    That is all I am asking for, I don't want to see my family or anyone's freezing this winter, when 10 minutes of effort they could fix this. 
    You'll probably recall that there was a vague question along the lines of "here is your display, it will show you cost and usage, is there anything that you don't understand?"

    I'd expect the majority of people to reply to "what budget should we set for your house?" with something along the lines of "I don't know, they keep putting my bill up".  Not tremendously useful.

    If you think the installer has (or risks) breaching the installation code of practice - OFGEM monitor that (but only by random sampling) - and they would be interested in your views.  The sections you might be interested in are:

    3.3. In the case of Domestic Consumers, each Energy Supplier shall ensure that an IHD is offered at the Installation Visit and if accepted, installed in an appropriate location, taking into account Consumers with specific needs e.g. mobility issues, and set up as far as practicable to meet the needs of the household e.g. tariff and payment type.

    3.8. The Energy Supplier shall ensure that:
    (a) use of the Smart Metering System is demonstrated to the Consumer in a clear and accurate manner, which is easy to understand, including what information is available from the Smart Metering System, how this can be accessed, and use of the IHD (where provided);

    4.1. Each Energy Supplier shall ensure that:
    (a) the Consumer has the means available for providing feedback on their experience of the Installation Visit (for example, in the form of an addressed and franked feedback card, via a website, or verbally to a representative of the Energy Supplier);
  • You'll never get a fitter to spend extra time commissioning meters AND setting up an IHD, the cost of adding 10 minutes to an appointment would never be agreed

    I believe some IHDs, whilst they can connect to the HAN immediately take some time to get the required settings and tariff information sent to them by the main network, nobody is going to hang around in hope of that happening instantly.
  • You'll never get a fitter to spend extra time commissioning meters AND setting up an IHD, the cost of adding 10 minutes to an appointment would never be agreed

    The Code of Practice says that they must - as far as practicable - and that's where your point applies.  The fitting company would say it's not practicable because they would miss targets, or cost too much, or don't have enough staff.......
  • Alnat1 said:
    You could have taken an extra 10 minutes and googled the device you had been given and found out how to use it and adjust the settings

    Sorry, but I think you are trying to blame others for your lack of effort.
    I knew from simple maths the budget the device came with was wrong, my concern is not for myself but others.

    The issue is not with my lack of effort, I am not asking for a handout, I am asking that the energy providers put more effort in to informing the public when fitting these about the budget features and helping people to set them up correctly.

    A simple question with every fitting; would you like us to go through the budget feature with you and get it right for your house?

    That is all I am asking for, I don't want to see my family or anyone's freezing this winter, when 10 minutes of effort they could fix this. 
    You'll probably recall that there was a vague question along the lines of "here is your display, it will show you cost and usage, is there anything that you don't understand?"

    I'd expect the majority of people to reply to "what budget should we set for your house?" with something along the lines of "I don't know, they keep putting my bill up".  Not tremendously useful.

    If you think the installer has (or risks) breaching the installation code of practice - OFGEM monitor that (but only by random sampling) - and they would be interested in your views.  The sections you might be interested in are:

    3.3. In the case of Domestic Consumers, each Energy Supplier shall ensure that an IHD is offered at the Installation Visit and if accepted, installed in an appropriate location, taking into account Consumers with specific needs e.g. mobility issues, and set up as far as practicable to meet the needs of the household e.g. tariff and payment type.

    3.8. The Energy Supplier shall ensure that:
    (a) use of the Smart Metering System is demonstrated to the Consumer in a clear and accurate manner, which is easy to understand, including what information is available from the Smart Metering System, how this can be accessed, and use of the IHD (where provided);

    4.1. Each Energy Supplier shall ensure that:
    (a) the Consumer has the means available for providing feedback on their experience of the Installation Visit (for example, in the form of an addressed and franked feedback card, via a website, or verbally to a representative of the Energy Supplier);
    I didn't know it had a budget feature until the day after the fitting when it was exceeded.  The customer can't be expected to have intimate knowledge of a product they've not used before and to ask the right questions.

    I was only told about the daily, weekly and monthly usage screens.  I didn't expect it to have a budget, I thought I had been told everything I needed.

    Perhaps it is something for OFGEM, they should remind the energy supplies to inform customers about the budgeting features on the devices they supply.  

    They send out emails about bills going up, they could include information about updating/setting smart meter budgets.  It's a small change which will help people stay warm.  They will have to craft the email correctly so as not to create alarm.
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