Electric Meter Replacement (EON)

Brammers456

Hello to all

I have just a received a letter from my energy supplier EON, stating that my electric meter has reached the end of its' life and they need to replace it with a new one (Smart Meter)  Which I am disinclined to get.  EON has been pestering me for a while to get a smart meter for a while now, despite my having stating it to them quite explicitly that I do not want one (multiple times - Ranging from advisers on the phone, to e-mail etc)

My electric meter has been with the house since it was purchased in the mid-1990s, and there have been no issues with it (Unlike smart meters - from what I hear)  My meter was installed by East Midlands Electricity, its' model number is S81FQ 28525.  It was made by Sangamo Electric Metering, Felixstowe, Suffolk.  I am unsure if it is 25 years old or not, or where the certification is.

Could someone please advise me as to what my legal options are; Do I have to get a smart meter? Can they come into my property to install it, without my consent?  Can I keep my meter if there are no issues with it? and so on.

Please help!

pochase

If the certification has expired the supplier must change the meter, it is not a matter if you have a problem or not.

The supplier also has the right to replace your meter with a smart meter, you have no say in it. Apart from the fact that there are hardly any non smart meters still available.

Yor are saying you don't have a problem with the meter. Should the meter develop a problem in 2 months would you be fine if you are told that it is your problem that the meter is suddenly increasing at a higher rate? 

[Deleted User]

Under The Gas and Electricity Acts, it is illegal for a supplier to raise energy charges when a meter has passed its certified date. Suppliers have a legal right to replace end-of-life meters, and BEIS agreed in 2019 that consumer approval was not needed for them to fit smart meters.

Smart meters are also certified for accuracy under the same regulations as analogue meters. 

All meters have an initial certified life. The manufacturer can apply to have the certification life extended based on in life failures and further Government accuracy testing of meters that have passed their certified life. Given that the UK is moving to smart meters, I doubt that any manufacturer is going to go to the expense/trouble of meter recertification for the UK market. 

Postik

I'm afraid I don't know the answer from a legal prespective, but at my old property EON were constantly badgering me to get a smart meter and I declined every time for several years.  I've now moved to a house that does have a smart meter and it is hopeless (far from smart).

I suspect you might get away with it for sometime to come by simply ignoring them or way laying them for a while, but if they say there is a chance the meter isn't safe, then the law will be on their side in terms of allowing them to replace it.

As an aside I think my old meters were over 40 years old and EON never said anything about them being at the end of their life.

Astria

Where is your meter?

Their right of access stops at the first locked gate or door, but they can request a warrant to replace your meter if it's past it's certified date and you constantly refuse access.

diystarter7

Brammers456 said:

Hello to all

I have just a received a letter from my energy supplier EON, stating that my electric meter has reached the end of its' life and they need to replace it with a new one (Smart Meter)  Which I am disinclined to get.  EON has been pestering me for a while to get a smart meter for a while now, despite my having stating it to them quite explicitly that I do not want one (multiple times - Ranging from advisers on the phone, to e-mail etc)

My electric meter has been with the house since it was purchased in the mid-1990s, and there have been no issues with it (Unlike smart meters - from what I hear)  My meter was installed by East Midlands Electricity, its' model number is S81FQ 28525.  It was made by Sangamo Electric Metering, Felixstowe, Suffolk.  I am unsure if it is 25 years old or not, or where the certification is.

Could someone please advise me as to what my legal options are; Do I have to get a smart meter? Can they come into my property to install it, without my consent?  Can I keep my meter if there are no issues with it? and so on.

Please help!

Hi

I made an official complaint to my supplier about being hounded by them and incorrect info ie making it sound as though it was mandatory when clearly not. Their first response was acut and paste that contradicted itself and theen asked me for wanting the new meter. Ithen got a propery apology and cited they would look into training - posted a copy of their email with sensitive bits detracted o this site recently

The new trick is to use the excuse they gave you. This argument is almost impossible to win but the link below you may find helpful 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/getting-a-smart-meter-installed/#:~:text=You don't have to,hard to access all tariffs.


Thanks

 ..

EssexHebridean

diystarter7 said:

Brammers456 said:

Hello to all

I have just a received a letter from my energy supplier EON, stating that my electric meter has reached the end of its' life and they need to replace it with a new one (Smart Meter)  Which I am disinclined to get.  EON has been pestering me for a while to get a smart meter for a while now, despite my having stating it to them quite explicitly that I do not want one (multiple times - Ranging from advisers on the phone, to e-mail etc)

My electric meter has been with the house since it was purchased in the mid-1990s, and there have been no issues with it (Unlike smart meters - from what I hear)  My meter was installed by East Midlands Electricity, its' model number is S81FQ 28525.  It was made by Sangamo Electric Metering, Felixstowe, Suffolk.  I am unsure if it is 25 years old or not, or where the certification is.

Could someone please advise me as to what my legal options are; Do I have to get a smart meter? Can they come into my property to install it, without my consent?  Can I keep my meter if there are no issues with it? and so on.

Please help!

Hi

I made an official complaint to my supplier about being hounded by them and incorrect info ie making it sound as though it was mandatory when clearly not. Their first response was acut and paste that contradicted itself and theen asked me for wanting the new meter. Ithen got a propery apology and cited they would look into training - posted a copy of their email with sensitive bits detracted o this site recently

The new trick is to use the excuse they gave you. This argument is almost impossible to win but the link below you may find helpful 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/getting-a-smart-meter-installed/#:~:text=You don't have to,hard to access all tariffs.


Thanks

 ..

It’s not a “new trick” at all - it is a fact. Meters have always had certification periods - my electricity meter was replaced some years back as its predecessor was end of life. 

diystarter7

Astria said:

Where is your meter?

Their right of access stops at the first locked gate or door, but they can request a warrant to replace your meter if it's past it's certified date and you constantly refuse access.

Hi

Read the link I posted earlier. When they use this excuse, the smart meter may be delayed but little chance of outright refusing it indefinitely

Hopefully I'put a stop to my suppliers pestering me.

Thanks

 ..

diystarter7

Postik said:

I'm afraid I don't know the answer from a legal prespective, but at my old property EON were constantly badgering me to get a smart meter and I declined every time for several years.  I've now moved to a house that does have a smart meter and it is hopeless (far from smart).

I suspect you might get away with it for sometime to come by simply ignoring them or way laying them for a while, but if they say there is a chance the meter isn't safe, then the law will be on their side in terms of allowing them to replace it.

As an aside I think my old meters were over 40 years old and EON never said anything about them being at the end of their life.

Hi

Sorry to hear about that.
I fixed them with an offical complaint as above.

As I said, you can delay but not ignore it. I am guessing with all this pestering etc they are moving their guidelines re end of life for meters as this often varies and they must be bringing froward the claim that the meter needs to be replaced.

I was reading up on the so-called end of life as claimed by suppliers for their meters and from what I read it varies on who made the meter. - end of the meter can vary i think i read and is anything up to 40 years depending on the make/certification etc

Thanks

 ..

Spoonie_Turtle

diystarter7 said:

Postik said:

I'm afraid I don't know the answer from a legal prespective, but at my old property EON were constantly badgering me to get a smart meter and I declined every time for several years.  I've now moved to a house that does have a smart meter and it is hopeless (far from smart).

I suspect you might get away with it for sometime to come by simply ignoring them or way laying them for a while, but if they say there is a chance the meter isn't safe, then the law will be on their side in terms of allowing them to replace it.

As an aside I think my old meters were over 40 years old and EON never said anything about them being at the end of their life.

As I said, you can delay but not ignore it. I am guessing with all this pestering etc they are moving their guidelines re end of life for meters as this often varies and they must be bringing froward the claim that the meter needs to be replaced.

This is pure speculation, founded in your own personal bias not fact.  It is not constructive to stoke suspicion like this for no reason. 

Perhaps people who are not sure their suppliers are being honest with them could simply ASK when the certification runs out for their own meter(s), to find out the actual facts.

GingerTim

diystarter7 said:

Brammers456 said:

Hello to all

I have just a received a letter from my energy supplier EON, stating that my electric meter has reached the end of its' life and they need to replace it with a new one (Smart Meter)  Which I am disinclined to get.  EON has been pestering me for a while to get a smart meter for a while now, despite my having stating it to them quite explicitly that I do not want one (multiple times - Ranging from advisers on the phone, to e-mail etc)

My electric meter has been with the house since it was purchased in the mid-1990s, and there have been no issues with it (Unlike smart meters - from what I hear)  My meter was installed by East Midlands Electricity, its' model number is S81FQ 28525.  It was made by Sangamo Electric Metering, Felixstowe, Suffolk.  I am unsure if it is 25 years old or not, or where the certification is.

Could someone please advise me as to what my legal options are; Do I have to get a smart meter? Can they come into my property to install it, without my consent?  Can I keep my meter if there are no issues with it? and so on.

Please help!

Hi

I made an official complaint to my supplier about being hounded by them and incorrect info ie making it sound as though it was mandatory when clearly not. Their first response was acut and paste that contradicted itself and theen asked me for wanting the new meter. Ithen got a propery apology and cited they would look into training - posted a copy of their email with sensitive bits detracted o this site recently

The new trick is to use the excuse they gave you. This argument is almost impossible to win but the link below you may find helpful 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/getting-a-smart-meter-installed/#:~:text=You don't have to,hard to access all tariffs.


Thanks

 ..

Meanwhile, if you read a couple of paragraphs further into your Citizens' Advice link:

'If you refuse a smart meter, you might find it hard to access all tariffs. This is because in future the cheaper tariffs offered by suppliers might only be available to customers with smart meters

If you need to replace your old-style meter because it’s unsafe, you might not be able to refuse a smart meter. This is because not many old-style meters are made now - your supplier might not have any in stock.'