How often does someone turn up to read your SMETS2 meters?

OhhLongJohnson

Our meters were changed in 2021 and so far we've been lucky enough for them to not have any issues, even the IHD has been working fine!

With Octopus they take readings every 30mins and also not seen any gaps in any bills or online checking our data daily...

So, Why if there is no issue would Octopus send a meter reader to the house every 6 months? (3 in the last 18 months)

Do other people in this situation have this happening to them and if that's the case then fair enough as I'd prefer everything to be fine. Seems excessive though especially with locations with no problems when plenty of other customers need help. I feel sorry for Meter readers having time wasted at more and more places.

I couldn't see other people on here saying they get their meters read physically this often so wanted to compare experiences.

Also if you have Smart meters do you still log into the website and submit readings manually? I don't but I'm happy to if needed.

Wasn't one of the reasons for getting a smart meter is no longer needing to go to your meter boxes outside and read them. Oh well.

[Deleted User]

All suppliers are required by Ofgem to carry out meter safety checks. This will include checking the meters for potential energy theft. An unusual usage pattern can often trigger a visit. Are you on the PSR, and were you getting a meter reader every 6 months for your old meters?

Smart meters do not send readings every 30 minutes. The supplier initiates a data pull once a day to recover index readings and the previous day’s 30 minute usage data.

If your meters are working in smart mode, there is no need to submit manual meter readings.

imeach

All depends on supplier really
We don't currently read for Octopus but for some suppliers we will still go and physically read some smart meters every 3 months.
In theory the read is just to confirm our visit and that we have visibly inspected the meters.

A lot of people question why we read smart meters, but with smart meters some people may never go anywhere near them any longer. Eg a chap was getting a bit short with me wanting to see his smart meters which were outside but behind a locked gate.
Eventually he went to open the gate and as I got near the boxes I said 'thats why we read smart meters' and he looked at me funnily, he obviously couldn't smell the gas !!!!
That happens quite often

OhhLongJohnson

[Deleted User] said:

All suppliers are required by Ofgem to carry out meter safety checks. This will include checking the meters for potential energy theft. An unusual usage pattern can often trigger a visit. Are you on the PSR, and were you getting a meter reader every 6 months for your old meters?

Smart meters do not send readings every 30 minutes. The supplier initiates a data pull once a day to recover index readings and the previous day’s 30 minute usage data.

If your meters are working in smart mode, there is no need to submit manual meter readings.

So do most (if not everyone) get their SMETS2 meters read every six months for safety checks when their meters have no reported problems and report readings daily without fail since installation? If this actually is normal then it's missing from the Octopus website.

You haven't described your situation which was the reason I posted this topic.

I'll answer yours which are - No we are not on the Priority Services Register and no our old meters were read rarely (once maybe every 2 years sorry was a while ago now). Before smart meters I submitted my readings monthly to get regular accurate billings and I'm happy to do it again if it saves someone else job.

Being on Agile means I check the readings all the time with the IHD updating constantly and correctly, also available via Bright app.

Again, I'm looking to hear from others on their experiences when living with no issues but getting unlucky meter readers coming round more frequently than they ever did before having a smart meter.

OhhLongJohnson

imeach said:

All depends on supplier really
We don't currently read for Octopus but for some suppliers we will still go and physically read some smart meters every 3 months.
In theory the read is just to confirm our visit and that we have visibly inspected the meters.

A lot of people question why we read smart meters, but with smart meters some people may never go anywhere near them any longer. Eg a chap was getting a bit short with me wanting to see his smart meters which were outside but behind a locked gate.
Eventually he went to open the gate and as I got near the boxes I said 'thats why we read smart meters' and he looked at me funnily, he obviously couldn't smell the gas !!!!
That happens quite often

Thank you @imeach for that as it's handy to know for the future. TMA do our area and they are decent people from the great chats I've had. Our electric meter is outside and easy access but gas meter round the side behind a locked gate.

I can imagine various situations where you're needed and helpful. Gas leaks I hope are your rarer ones!

littleteapot

I've got an old fashioned digital electricity meter which is located inside the house  and nobody has been to read or inspect it since 2017. That was supposedly a safety inspection. For some reason they seem to just trust the readings si submit online. This does seem a bit odd to me though

KxMx

I've lived here since June with SMETS1 meters (recently migrated onto the wider smart network), British Gas have never sent anyone to do a single read. 

Alnat1

Lived in this house for 4 years, never had a meter reader round. 

[Deleted User]

OhhLongJohnson said:

[Deleted User] said:

All suppliers are required by Ofgem to carry out meter safety checks. This will include checking the meters for potential energy theft. An unusual usage pattern can often trigger a visit. Are you on the PSR, and were you getting a meter reader every 6 months for your old meters?

Smart meters do not send readings every 30 minutes. The supplier initiates a data pull once a day to recover index readings and the previous day’s 30 minute usage data.

If your meters are working in smart mode, there is no need to submit manual meter readings.

So do most (if not everyone) get their SMETS2 meters read every six months for safety checks when their meters have no reported problems and report readings daily without fail since installation? If this actually is normal then it's missing from the Octopus website.

You haven't described your situation which was the reason I posted this topic.

I'll answer yours which are - No we are not on the Priority Services Register and no our old meters were read rarely (once maybe every 2 years sorry was a while ago now). Before smart meters I submitted my readings monthly to get regular accurate billings and I'm happy to do it again if it saves someone else job.

Being on Agile means I check the readings all the time with the IHD updating constantly and correctly, also available via Bright app.

Again, I'm looking to hear from others on their experiences when living with no issues but getting unlucky meter readers coming round more frequently than they ever did before having a smart meter.

One of the things offered to those on the PSR is regular meter reading: hence the question.

Have you asked Octopus (hello@octopus.energy) why you are getting regular visits from a meter reader? Under the terms of its Supply Licence, Octopus only requires a single meter reading per year. The manner in which this is obtained is not subscribed  - so one smart or customer reading would satisfy this obligation.

That said, the Agile tariff is NOT billed on meter index readings. It is billed on 30 minute usage data pulled from your smart meter once a day. If you submit meter readings they should be ignored by Octopus given the tariff that you are on.

BrainDrained

Interesting reading here.  I haven't had a meter inspection for over 2 years.  I'm with Octopus too, and the meters are in the house, so they couldn't access the meters without me knowing.  

I don't have a smart meters and the gas meter appears to be the old analogue mechanical meter from when the house was built in 1971. (I think I would be able to smell a gas leak if it was leaking) I submit monthly readings myself.

imeach

BrainDrained said:

Interesting reading here.  I haven't had a meter inspection for over 2 years.  I'm with Octopus too, and the meters are in the house, so they couldn't access the meters without me knowing.  

I don't have a smart meters and the gas meter appears to be the old analogue mechanical meter from when the house was built in 1971. (I think I would be able to smell a gas leak if it was leaking) I submit monthly readings myself.

And hopefully you would know what to do if you do smell gas.
Quite often walked in a house to smell gas and the owner says 'yes, I've smelt that for a couple of weeks' !!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with Octopus too and have been for quite some years.
My electric meter hasn't been read by them or any previous suppliers in the last 13 years