Can a smart meter be forced?

macman

If it doesn't work then you've still got the dumb meter that you had before, but a newer one that is within certification. Since it was installed for free, how have you been 'hoodwinked'?

GingerTim

Presumably it's the in-home device rather than the meter that doesn't work?

Chrysalis

Smart meters in my view are a good thing, the only issue that stands out to me, is when they do stop remotely reporting readings, the system in place seems to have no fault resolution.  No matter how small a number that may be, a process should be in place for this.

tightauldgit

Chrysalis said:

Smart meters in my view are a good thing, the only issue that stands out to me, is when they do stop remotely reporting readings, the system in place seems to have no fault resolution.  No matter how small a number that may be, a process should be in place for this.

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

Alnat1

tightauldgit said:

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

You and your energy company are both aware that readings need to be taken regularly if you have a dumb meter.

When a smart meter goes dumb the energy company and customer are not alerted and the computer system just starts chucking out estimated bills. If the customer doesn't notice, this can go on for a long time and cause problems.

Keep_pedalling

Alnat1 said:

tightauldgit said:

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

You and your energy company are both aware that readings need to be ntaken regularly if you have a dumb meter.

When a smart meter goes dumb the energy company and customer are not alerted and the computer system just starts chucking out estimated bills. If the customer doesn't notice, this can go on for a long time and cause problems.

The energy company are fully aware because they have to provide an estimated reading, and the estimated reading should alert the customer that is has happened. Having said that it would be better if the energy company proactively alerted you to the problem.

[Deleted User]

Alnat1 said:

tightauldgit said:

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

You and your energy company are both aware that readings need to be taken regularly if you have a dumb meter.

When a smart meter goes dumb the energy company and customer are not alerted and the computer system just starts chucking out estimated bills. If the customer doesn't notice, this can go on for a long time and cause problems.

Octopus carries out a fortnightly ‘health check’ on all its smart meters: I would surprised if other suppliers don’t have similar systems.

brewerdave

Keep_pedalling said:

Alnat1 said:

tightauldgit said:

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

You and your energy company are both aware that readings need to be ntaken regularly if you have a dumb meter.

When a smart meter goes dumb the energy company and customer are not alerted and the computer system just starts chucking out estimated bills. If the customer doesn't notice, this can go on for a long time and cause problems.

The energy company are fully aware because they have to provide an estimated reading, and the estimated reading should alert the customer that is has happened. Having said that it would be better if the energy company proactively alerted you to the problem.

You would think that, but some utility suppliers bill so infrequently that it can be a mess to sort out particularly with tariff changes. For example I haven't had a bill from EDF for gas since early November .

Scot_39

Keep_pedalling said:

Alnat1 said:

tightauldgit said:

Isn't the system just the same as dumb meters?

You and your energy company are both aware that readings need to be ntaken regularly if you have a dumb meter.

When a smart meter goes dumb the energy company and customer are not alerted and the computer system just starts chucking out estimated bills. If the customer doesn't notice, this can go on for a long time and cause problems.

The energy company are fully aware because they have to provide an estimated reading, and the estimated reading should alert the customer that is has happened. Having said that it would be better if the energy company proactively alerted you to the problem.

But for many that notification is just a tiny (E) on the end of the reading, in the middle of the usage calc - that many don't read - especially for gas - as they don't understand the m3 to kWh calorific value etc etc.

It needs to be a much clearer warning in main body.  But that would mean more calls for fixes and support.  Something that seems far too low a priority for many these days.

That Octopus ui - very impressive.

I get monthly bills - and a monthly acknowledgement they have a good reading on EOn Next on line systems.

The only time I know it is working daily is when get the bills after tariff changes - on the cap change usage split calcs.

elsien

Parent’s gas smart meter had stopped working (not showing any readings at all) for 6 months. She had got out of the habit of sending regular readings, And also hadn’t noticed that the utility company were no longer sending gas bills. They did not bothered estimating, they just stopped billing. Yes she should have noticed sooner. But I do think that they should also have alerted her, given that she’s an old customer on the vulnerable list.