Are EON no longer pushing Smart Meters? 9 January at 1:56PM in Energy 20 replies 912 views

UKSBD

I moved to a fixed EON Contract in March last year

One of the conditions of moving to the fixed contract was I have a smart meter installed.

Nearly10 months later and I still have no smart meter and not a peep from EON

3 or 4 years ago I was constantly getting pressured in to having one, are they no longer pushing for people to have them?

brewerdave

Currently there is a UK wide shortage of smart meters to install

Lorian

I suspect energy shift will have driven up demand too. I.know someone having eon fit them this week - but we're booked in about 6 weeks ago. At that point the 0erson was still being nagged regularly.

markin

Also seemingly a UK wide shortage of smart meter installers.

Astria

I think the rise of energy prices, solar panel installations, battery installations, and TOU tariffs such as ones from Octopus are actually pushing people to ask for them to be fitted, to the point where it can now take several months to get one fitted. Pointless pressuring people to have one and then saying "Well we are fully booked up for the next 6 months anyway".

molerat

Had a letter on Saturday from them.

rosepink

I had a letter today to say my meter needs replacing due to its age and I will be getting a new EON smart meter. I do not want a smart meter so can I refuse or ask for a non smart meter instead. I understand that the Govt want us to have them but cannot force us to have one. I am not sure how old my existing meter is and don't know how to check its age. Can anyone advise please? 

EssexHebridean

rosepink said:

I had a letter today to say my meter needs replacing due to its age and I will be getting a new EON smart meter. I do not want a smart meter so can I refuse or ask for a non smart meter instead. I understand that the Govt want us to have them but cannot force us to have one. I am not sure how old my existing meter is and don't know how to check its age. Can anyone advise please? 

If you meter has reached end of life them it will require replacement, and you will have to accept the meter that is offered. In most cases now this will be a smart meter as that is the current technology. In these circumstances you cannot refuse a SM as far as I know. 

Perhaps if you explain your reservations about SM's we'll be able to set your mind at rest by providing some facts about them?

Swipe

rosepink said:

I had a letter today to say my meter needs replacing due to its age and I will be getting a new EON smart meter. I do not want a smart meter so can I refuse or ask for a non smart meter instead. I understand that the Govt want us to have them but cannot force us to have one. I am not sure how old my existing meter is and don't know how to check its age. Can anyone advise please? 

If you don't want one just ignore the letter. If it needs replacing due to age they'll kick up a stink and at that point you may have to cave in and allow then to fit one.

Brie

You might manage to add to the delay if you are never available when they want to book someone to fit the meter(s).  Unless your meters are some where accessible to the general public you'll have to be at home to let them in.  So you're at work, on holiday, whatever....

(personally I find having one much easier though I do understand why some are reluctant.)  

Dolor

rosepink said:

I had a letter today to say my meter needs replacing due to its age and I will be getting a new EON smart meter. I do not want a smart meter so can I refuse or ask for a non smart meter instead. I understand that the Govt want us to have them but cannot force us to have one. I am not sure how old my existing meter is and don't know how to check its age. Can anyone advise please? 

All meters have a certified life. Suppliers would be in breach of The Gas and Electricity Acts if they billed using readings from a meter that has passed its end-of-life date.

BEIS agreed in 2019 that suppliers can fit smart meters in end-of-life situations without the consumer’s approval. This was a pragmatic solution as many of the new supplier entrants have no access to analogue meters. BEIS also agreed that in circumstances where stock of analogue meters was still held, suppliers could continue to fit them but at cost to the consumer: that is, they can raise a meter change charge.

FWiW, meter certified life is based on an initial certification period. Meter manufacturers can then apply to the Government for a certificate extension period based on in use experience, and further independent testing of meters at the end of the initial certified period. Given that we are fast becoming a smart metered market, I doubt that many meter manufacturers are bothering to go to the expense of re-certifying existing meter analogue stock for the UK market.