Energy company reluctant to upgrade Smart Meter

[Deleted User]

Raxiel said:

[Deleted User] said:

workingboy said:

Yes the meters are submitting readings, albeit some days one or the is not submitted till next day etc.
As said, cannot use a IHD for reatilme monitor also their app is lagging 48hrs with usage display

Normally, suppliers 'pull' data (index readings and an XML usage file) from each smart meter once every 24 hours (depending on the meter profile). They do this with a bespoke secure piece of software known as an Adapter.

I am with Octopus. My import and export electricity data for the previous day gets updated mid- morning: gas follows on later in the day.

The fact that your supplier's app is not updating is down to their systems.

Try the App BRIGHT. It 'pulls' data from your meter in the same way as your supplier.

Octopus show me the data for the previous day at the same times as you. When I tried Bright, they updated the electric at the same time, or very close to it (no gas). I assumed it was the network that did the pull, and then it was simultaneously available to all parties with permission to access it.

Do you actually see your data on Bright earlier than Octopus?

Yes, but it is a lot later than it was a year ago. I suspect that this is down to the amount of data passing through the DCC network.

Codger70

I to have a problem with 1st gen smart meters.  I moved to  another property with 1st gen meters but the previous occupant got rid of the energy monitor. I spoke with my provider and they say they cannot provide a monitor because of the age of the meters.  I requested that they upgrade to 2nd gen but they say they will not. Anybody have the same problems and if so do Ofgem have rules on this?

workingboy

Nothing changed for me, still cant use a IHD unit. 

Have to depend on the Providers hub albeit 24/48 hrs behind for accurate displays

QrizB

Codger70 said:

I to have a problem with 1st gen smart meters.  I moved to  another property with 1st gen meters but the previous occupant got rid of the energy monitor. I spoke with my provider and they say they cannot provide a monitor because of the age of the meters.  I requested that they upgrade to 2nd gen but they say they will not. Anybody have the same problems and if so do Ofgem have rules on this?

Yes, Ofgem has rules.

There is no requirement for your supplier to provide an in-home device, and there is no current requirement to replace working 1st-gen smart meters.

Ectophile

Codger70 said:

I to have a problem with 1st gen smart meters.  I moved to  another property with 1st gen meters but the previous occupant got rid of the energy monitor. I spoke with my provider and they say they cannot provide a monitor because of the age of the meters.  I requested that they upgrade to 2nd gen but they say they will not. Anybody have the same problems and if so do Ofgem have rules on this?

The meter must work, and be within its calibration period.  If both of those are true, the meter is fine.

The IHDs come with a 1 year warranty.  If they break, or someone throws them away, then it's not the supplier's problem.  Some suppliers keep spares, but only for meters they installed, and the spares will eventually run out.

workingboy

QrizB said:

Codger70 said:

I to have a problem with 1st gen smart meters.  I moved to  another property with 1st gen meters but the previous occupant got rid of the energy monitor. I spoke with my provider and they say they cannot provide a monitor because of the age of the meters.  I requested that they upgrade to 2nd gen but they say they will not. Anybody have the same problems and if so do Ofgem have rules on this?

Yes, Ofgem has rules.

There is no requirement for your supplier to provide an in-home device, and there is no current requirement to replace working 1st-gen smart meters.

The original IHD was supplied by BG who installed the meters some 12/15yrs ago and used a transmitter that clamped around the supply, supplying info to a IHD in the home.
The current IHD was supplied by the energy supplier plugged into the mains, they tried calibration changes on the meters which gave the display showing the energy used but was intermittently. Their online hub showing energy used for both gas and electric over daily/weekly/month also is intermittent showing estimates of energy used.
They said 2mths ago they were sending another IHD, still waiting......

EssexHebridean

workingboy said:

QrizB said:

Codger70 said:

I to have a problem with 1st gen smart meters.  I moved to  another property with 1st gen meters but the previous occupant got rid of the energy monitor. I spoke with my provider and they say they cannot provide a monitor because of the age of the meters.  I requested that they upgrade to 2nd gen but they say they will not. Anybody have the same problems and if so do Ofgem have rules on this?

Yes, Ofgem has rules.

There is no requirement for your supplier to provide an in-home device, and there is no current requirement to replace working 1st-gen smart meters.

The original IHD was supplied by BG who installed the meters some 12/15yrs ago and used a transmitter that clamped around the supply, supplying info to a IHD in the home.
The current IHD was supplied by the energy supplier plugged into the mains, they tried calibration changes on the meters which gave the display showing the energy used but was intermittently. Their online hub showing energy used for both gas and electric over daily/weekly/month also is intermittent showing estimates of energy used.
They said 2mths ago they were sending another IHD, still waiting......

Must have been less than 15 years ago as smart meters weren't a thing before 2011 were they? I do recall that around that time BG were using a clamp style monitor for their regular meters as well, and were supplying them to customers free of charge so it would be logical that they would have used something like that as a giveaway when fitting new meters as well - these were always far less data-heavy than the IHD we now get with smart meters though. Indeed, until recently I've still been using mine as it was what I monitored our use with when we lived in our previous home!  very good, but not compliant with any apps etc. 

I have to say that I would have my suspicions around whether any current model IHDs would work with your meters. It might be worth you tracking down something like one of the Owl monitors - again a clamp on type - which would at least give you the "how much energy am I using right now" capability. Could be worth an ask on freecycle for one of those as I suspect a lot of folk have them kicking around in a drawer! 

workingboy

Just checked my hub data of energy used on the suppliers website.
No data has been submitted from the Electric meter since 9th Oct to show amount used daily.
This is the same problem with the IHD.
They say with their online info, the meter may have lost its connection like mobile phones or interference.
Something must be wrong…..

Bark01

I can give you some background on why suppliers will be reticent to change any meters; its down to cost. Supplier are renting the smart meters from third party companies and are committed to paying the rental for X amount of years, if they remove the meter early they have to pay a premature removal charge to the actual owners of the meters. That charge will be a bit lower than the rental left on the meter but not much

If they remove a meter early and replace it they are effectively paying 2 rental charges for the meter at your property. 

On the flip side of that most contracts have a rental charge for x number of years and then the charge drops to a peppercorn rate so they have an incentive to keep your meter on the wall for as long as possible. 

There's a ton of different meter suppliers and contracts but in general smart meter rental contracts are 10-15 years long and £20-£40 per year. So if your supplier removes your meter they could be facing an £80 year rental if they keep it on for another few years they could be paying just 50p a year rental.

workingboy

Here again,
Despite contacting EDF regarding my Smets1 meters not in ‘Smart Mode’ and asking if they have any update from DCC as to when this to be sorted.
They saying they are working closely with DCC to have the meters migrated by end of the year.
Also as in 2022 with the same issue of migration/upgrade, I was told that we had been registered for meter upgrades.
Today they virtually washing theirs of the issue saying the Smet1 meters cannot be replaced and wait for DCC to migrate the Smets1 meters onto their network and closed my complaint correspondence on their email customers service. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

Is it any good referring it to the Energy Ombudsman   ?