Do I HAVE to have a smart meter?

mr_stripey

[Deleted User] said:

BrainDrained said:

EssexHebridean said:

OP - what you could do is establish what the end of life date on your meter actually is to inform yourself as to whether it actually HAS reached end of life, or whether this is a supplier getting ahead of themselves, or simply an error.  Try here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1126202/schedule-4-december-2022.pdf
Although your meter was installed in 2015 I think you said, it could well have been a couple of years old by that time, and there are an awful lot of 10 year certified meters! 

 

Thank you.  The manufacturer is in the list but the actual model isn't.
However, I've just noticed a certification stamp on it that says May 2014, so they are getting slightly ahead of themselves.  I suppose I'll just have to grit my teeth and let them change it

There has been some debate about this, but the meters are the supplier’s responsibility and ultimately we all have to accept what the supplier is telling us. It is in a supplier’s interest to extend meter certification whenever possible but I doubt that manufacturers are interested in taking this work forward given that analogue meters have had their day.

as someone who works for a company who manufacture gas and electric meters, I can confirm that the analogue meters are not being manufactured any longer. Even if a supplier wanted to buy them it is not possible. The factories which used to make the "old" meters are sold, closed or mothballed. The "new" type meters are manufactured in different factories.

[Deleted User]

matt_drummer said:

Dolor said:

matt_drummer said:

BrainDrained said:

However, I've just noticed a certification stamp on it that says May 2014, so they are getting slightly ahead of themselves. 

May 2014 is nine years ago.

How are they getting ahead of themselves?

You would expect some months lead time? ‘Your meter certificate lapsed yesterday’ is hardly a good position for the supplier and customer to be in.

May 2014

It's nine years ago - what lead time time?

Some meters are only certificated for 10 years. As the meter is 9 years old (May 2014), then suggesting a replacement now is probably a responsible thing to do. Suppliers presumably need to build in some time for customers that choose not to respond to the first email that they receive. 

matt_drummer

[Deleted User] said:

matt_drummer said:

Dolor said:

matt_drummer said:

BrainDrained said:

However, I've just noticed a certification stamp on it that says May 2014, so they are getting slightly ahead of themselves. 

May 2014 is nine years ago.

How are they getting ahead of themselves?

You would expect some months lead time? ‘Your meter certificate lapsed yesterday’ is hardly a good position for the supplier and customer to be in.

May 2014

It's nine years ago - what lead time time?

Some meters are only certificated for 10 years. As the meter is 9 years old (May 2014), then suggesting a replacement now is probably a responsible thing to do. Suppliers presumably need to build in some time for customers that choose not to respond to the first email that they receive. 

I explained earlier, I thought that was the expiry date of his meter.

Maybe it's different with these meters but lots of things have an expiry date on them, it would probably be useful on these meters.

But, I also  thought they were talking about their 52 year old gas meter which I thought was the reason that smart meters were required.

MattMattMattUK

matt_drummer said:

[Deleted User] said:

matt_drummer said:

Dolor said:

matt_drummer said:

BrainDrained said:

However, I've just noticed a certification stamp on it that says May 2014, so they are getting slightly ahead of themselves. 

May 2014 is nine years ago.

How are they getting ahead of themselves?

You would expect some months lead time? ‘Your meter certificate lapsed yesterday’ is hardly a good position for the supplier and customer to be in.

May 2014

It's nine years ago - what lead time time?

Some meters are only certificated for 10 years. As the meter is 9 years old (May 2014), then suggesting a replacement now is probably a responsible thing to do. Suppliers presumably need to build in some time for customers that choose not to respond to the first email that they receive. 

I explained earlier, I thought that was the expiry date of his meter.

Maybe it's different with these meters but lots of things have an expiry date on them, it would probably be useful on these meters.

But, I also  thought they were talking about their 52 year old gas meter which I thought was the reason that smart meters were required.

Meters do not have a standardised life in that way, they might nominally be certified for ten years but they are monitored on a per-model and per-batch basis. If there is an increased failure rate, or the drift between reported and actual becomes an issue with a certain model or batch the certified life can be reduced, on the other side it can also be extended based on lack of issues and continued accuracy. 

matt_drummer

MattMattMattUK said:

Meters do not have a standardised life in that way, they might nominally be certified for ten years but they are monitored on a per-model and per-batch basis. If there is an increased failure rate, or the drift between reported and actual becomes an issue with a certain model or batch the certified life can be reduced, on the other side it can also be extended based on lack of issues and continued accuracy. 

I know, thanks for pointing it out though. My opinion is though, that it would be useful if they just had a fixed expiry date on them somewhere, if they need changing earlier, then so be it, but at least an expiry date on them would remove any confusion for those that wonder whether their supplier is being honest with them about the reason the meter needs replacing.

I am more interested in a gas meter from 1971, when should that be replaced?

MattMattMattUK

matt_drummer said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Meters do not have a standardised life in that way, they might nominally be certified for ten years but they are monitored on a per-model and per-batch basis. If there is an increased failure rate, or the drift between reported and actual becomes an issue with a certain model or batch the certified life can be reduced, on the other side it can also be extended based on lack of issues and continued accuracy. 

I know, thanks for pointing it out though. My opinion is though, that it would be useful if they just had a fixed expiry date on them somewhere, if they need changing earlier, then so be it, but at least an expiry date on them would remove any confusion for those that wonder whether their supplier is being honest with them about the reason the meter needs replacing.

It might cause problems with the crazies though, if a meter needed to be replaced ahead of the sticker date then the crazy would complain it was a smart meter conspiracy theory thing.

matt_drummer said:

I am more interested in a gas meter from 1971, when should that be replaced?

Absolutely I think it should be replaced immediately, I think from that period it could either be a bellows or a rotary meter but I doubt either of them would be accurate fifty years later, both would be likely to significantly underreport. On top of that I would question how intact the seals would be, risks of leaks, catastrophic failure etc.

matt_drummer

MattMattMattUK said:

It might cause problems with the crazies though, if a meter needed to be replaced ahead of the sticker date then the crazy would complain it was a smart meter conspiracy theory thing.

People who don't want smart meters and do not listen to reason will still complain and find reasons why they are being conned or cheated.

For most consumers, an expiry date would be useful, the date it was made or commissioned is of little use if they all have varying certification periods that can be changed at any time.

MikeJXE

matt_drummer said:

MattMattMattUK said:

It might cause problems with the crazies though, if a meter needed to be replaced ahead of the sticker date then the crazy would complain it was a smart meter conspiracy theory thing.

People who don't want smart meters and do not listen to reason will still complain and find reasons why they are being conned or cheated.

For most consumers, an expiry date would be useful, the date it was made or commissioned is of little use if they all have varying certification periods that can be changed at any time.

Previous to where I live now I had a smart meter for 2 years with OVO and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, I could follow my usage and agree with my bills 

Now I have moved back in time to an old fashioned none smart meter. I log my usage every week on a spreadsheet 

I'm with flexible Octopus and send them readings every month, my bills are exactly what I expect them to be

Having read lots of threads on here about smart meters not working, not being read by the energy companies for one reason or another.

I don't see the same problems with none smart meters and rarely see thread complaining about them 

So here's me also don't want a smart meter, I will listen to reason why they are better and probably agree but I don't want the hassle of it may not work properly as many on here seem to say 

matt_drummer

MikeJXE said:

matt_drummer said:

MattMattMattUK said:

It might cause problems with the crazies though, if a meter needed to be replaced ahead of the sticker date then the crazy would complain it was a smart meter conspiracy theory thing.

People who don't want smart meters and do not listen to reason will still complain and find reasons why they are being conned or cheated.

For most consumers, an expiry date would be useful, the date it was made or commissioned is of little use if they all have varying certification periods that can be changed at any time.

Previous to where I live now I had a smart meter for 2 years with OVO and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, I could follow my usage and agree with my bills 

Now I have moved back in time to an old fashioned none smart meter. I log my usage every week on a spreadsheet 

I'm with flexible Octopus and send them readings every month, my bills are exactly what I expect them to be

Having read lots of threads on here about smart meters not working, not being read by the energy companies for one reason or another.

I don't see the same problems with none smart meters and rarely see thread complaining about them 

So here's me also don't want a smart meter, I will listen to reason why they are better and probably agree but I don't want the hassle of it may not work properly as many on here seem to say 

The point being made was that a sticker with a meter expiry date on it would cause issues with consumers who did nnot want smart meters.

I see nothing in your response indicating that a sticker with an expiry date would have any influence over whether you want a smart meter or not.

You have your reasons, and although many would not agree with you (and they would be right), whether you want a smart meter or not is entirely between you and your supplier.

I completely respect your position and would never do anything to try and persuade you otherwise.

And finally, to clarify, I didn't use the word `crazies' and never would although I do think that not having smart meters when offered is a foolish decision to make.

MikeJXE

matt_drummer said:

MikeJXE said:

matt_drummer said:

MattMattMattUK said:

It might cause problems with the crazies though, if a meter needed to be replaced ahead of the sticker date then the crazy would complain it was a smart meter conspiracy theory thing.

People who don't want smart meters and do not listen to reason will still complain and find reasons why they are being conned or cheated.

For most consumers, an expiry date would be useful, the date it was made or commissioned is of little use if they all have varying certification periods that can be changed at any time.

Previous to where I live now I had a smart meter for 2 years with OVO and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, I could follow my usage and agree with my bills 

Now I have moved back in time to an old fashioned none smart meter. I log my usage every week on a spreadsheet 

I'm with flexible Octopus and send them readings every month, my bills are exactly what I expect them to be

Having read lots of threads on here about smart meters not working, not being read by the energy companies for one reason or another.

I don't see the same problems with none smart meters and rarely see thread complaining about them 

So here's me also don't want a smart meter, I will listen to reason why they are better and probably agree but I don't want the hassle of it may not work properly as many on here seem to say 

The point being made was that a sticker with a meter expiry date on it would cause issues with consumers who did nnot want smart meters.

I see nothing in your response indicating that a sticker with an expiry date would have any influence over whether you want a smart meter or not.

You have your reasons, and although many would not agree with you (and they would be right), whether you want a smart meter or not is entirely between you and your supplier.

I completely respect your position and would never do anything to try and persuade you otherwise.

And finally, to clarify, I didn't use the word `crazies' and never would although I do think that not having smart meters when offered is a foolish decision to make.

Your point regarding expiry date was not what I was getting at. Plus an expiry date would not push me to moving to a smart meter 

If it ain't broke don't try to fix it 

My point was numerous threads on here are mostly about smart meter problems and rarely any problems with none smart meters so why change ?

I have searched google trying to find my expiry dates and found nothing so I have no idea when mine expire so that I can check if my supplier is telling the truth or pushing smart meters 

If the clue is in the id number it doesn't jump out at me U6S01097481302 other than 01/09/74