Smart Meter still not connected.

Biscitt

I transferred to Octopus Energy in 2020 to move onto their Octopus Go tariff. They installed the required Smart Meter (SMETS 2) in July 2020 in the cellar. Nearly 3 years on, 2 visits from the commissioning tech and attempts at remote commissioning it has still not been connected. I have even made suggestions based on my own internet research on adding an aerial to the comms unit. A friend has exactly the same meter and comms unit and lives in the area and his meter is connected so I know the network is available.

Given the only reason for me transferring to Octopus was to take advantage of their Go tariff could I go to Ofgem and complain about Octopus Energy lack of effort to connect the meter? 

[Deleted User]

Biscitt said:

I transferred to Octopus Energy in 2020 to move onto their Octopus Go tariff. They installed the required Smart Meter (SMETS 2) in July 2020 in the cellar. Nearly 3 years on, 2 visits from the commissioning tech and attempts at remote commissioning it has still not been connected. I have even made suggestions based on my own internet research on adding an aerial to the comms unit. A friend has exactly the same meter and comms unit and lives in the area and his meter is connected so I know the network is available.

Given the only reason for me transferring to Octopus was to take advantage of their Go tariff could I go to Ofgem and complain about Octopus Energy lack of effort to connect the meter? 

Octopus Energy, or any other supplier for that matter, cannot overcome basic physics. The fact that your SMETS2 electricity meter AND comms hub have been installed in a cellar could well be the issue. Aerials cannot be added to SKU1 comms hubs based on your research in the internet. My understanding is that anyone tries to do this it will result in a tampering alert.

The installer has the option of fitting a SKU2 comms hub with a T1 or T2 aerial. (Graphic source: EDF Energy)


Whether this would work in your particular situation is a matter for the smart team at Octopus Energy (smart@octopus.energy). What feedback has Octopus Energy provided you with?

ToomanyPies

We are in the same boat. Signed up for Go and requested a smart meter. One was installed last year but it hasn't worked even after a second visit. It has a special comms hub fitted due to being in Whitby N.Yorks (nearish to Fylingdales radar site). I bet if they installed one using the cellular network it would work perfectly.

RegularShopper

Biscitt said:

I transferred to Octopus Energy in 2020 to move onto their Octopus Go tariff. They installed the required Smart Meter (SMETS 2) in July 2020 in the cellar. Nearly 3 years on, 2 visits from the commissioning tech and attempts at remote commissioning it has still not been connected. I have even made suggestions based on my own internet research on adding an aerial to the comms unit. A friend has exactly the same meter and comms unit and lives in the area and his meter is connected so I know the network is available.

Given the only reason for me transferring to Octopus was to take advantage of their Go tariff could I go to Ofgem and complain about Octopus Energy lack of effort to connect the meter? 

Hi, mine has not worked for 10 months, Octopus finally replied last week to say its a firmware problem and they are waiting for the manufacturer to find a solution so I have to wait, I do not understand why they are still advertising to fit the meters if they do not work and are on TV extolling the virtues of fucus money back if you save energy today for smart meter customers.  Which we can't use if they don't work.  

diystarter7

Hi

Do you guys regret going smart meters or just putting it down to bad luck and it will soon be sorted?

Is there any partuclar suppier that is better than others ie, installation and then ensuring all is well from the outset? What benefits did you feel you were going to get from the Smart meters?

Given a choice, would you go back to the old meters?
I'm asking as the edf supplier for myself keep on pushing these meters but I am reluctant.

Thnaks

[Deleted User]

RegularShopper said:

Biscitt said:

I transferred to Octopus Energy in 2020 to move onto their Octopus Go tariff. They installed the required Smart Meter (SMETS 2) in July 2020 in the cellar. Nearly 3 years on, 2 visits from the commissioning tech and attempts at remote commissioning it has still not been connected. I have even made suggestions based on my own internet research on adding an aerial to the comms unit. A friend has exactly the same meter and comms unit and lives in the area and his meter is connected so I know the network is available.

Given the only reason for me transferring to Octopus was to take advantage of their Go tariff could I go to Ofgem and complain about Octopus Energy lack of effort to connect the meter? 

Hi, mine has not worked for 10 months, Octopus finally replied last week to say its a firmware problem and they are waiting for the manufacturer to find a solution so I have to wait, I do not understand why they are still advertising to fit the meters if they do not work and are on TV extolling the virtues of fucus money back if you save energy today for smart meter customers.  Which we can't use if they don't work.  

Meter and device manufacturers are responsible for getting DCC clearance for suppliers to use their meters and devices on the network. Manufacturers also produce the quarterly firmware updates. I share your frustration that there seems to be a lack of urgency in resolving these issues. Consumers get mad at their supplier but there is little they can do other than lean on the DCC and others.

matelodave

diystarter7 said:

Hi

Do you guys regret going smart meters or just putting it down to bad luck and it will soon be sorted?

Is there any partuclar suppier that is better than others ie, installation and then ensuring all is well from the outset? What benefits did you feel you were going to get from the Smart meters?

Given a choice, would you go back to the old meters?
I'm asking as the edf supplier for myself keep on pushing these meters but I am reluctant.

Thnaks

TBH I dont really care what sort  or colour of meter that I've got so long as it's accurate and I can read it without too much effort.

That said, I do have a smart meter which I requested six years ago, it does send my meter readings back to the supplier who bill me in accordance with the data.

The IHD makes it easy for me to read the meter remotely rather than having to go outside and it does have the benefit that I can use the Bright app to get data going back over the past 2 years or so which is handy to see what effect my energy saving measures are having. So I am more than happy to have a smart meter and ideally would want another if this one failed

I do however, still check my bill every month and read the meter myself, the same as I've done for the past 40 odd years, just to check that my bills are accurate and based on actual readings and not estimates.

RegularShopper

My smart meter didn't send the data as it has the firmware problem I mentioned, I have to submit meter readings manually still. So if you have one installed then you are no worse off if it fails except, in my case,  Octopus are offering a credit if you reduce Energy at a certain time but I can't do this scheme as my smart meter has to work to join in.