Utilita Electric Key

royd76

Hi,  My parents who are in their 70's are having a problem with their energy company (Utilita) as they're on an electric key meter.  They went to get a top up in the past week but every single shop they went to was having an issue with not being able to read the key.  They've had the key working fine since they got it, but even after the shops even tried cleaning the key the machines wont read it.  The meter at home is reading it fine, but Utilita are refusing to replace the key stating 'We are a smart meter company and no longer issuing the keys'.  They've now been told that they have GOT to have a smart meter installed, the last time something like this happened the engineer came out had a look at the key meter and said there was no need for a smart meter and his advise was don't have one as they're more trouble than they're worth.  With people having issues with their smart meters by not being able to top up & their grand daughter who also is having issues with hers, they were reluctant to have one installed.  But Utilita are forcing them to have one.  At the moment they're trying to keep an eye on the meter as they've only got £2 left on the meter, but were told if it gets down too far to ask for an emergency engineer to come out.

I'm mainly asking for advice for my parents as they dont know what to do.

Thank you

MattMattMattUK

royd76 said:

Hi,  My parents who are in their 70's are having a problem with their energy company (Utilita) as they're on an electric key meter.  They went to get a top up in the past week but every single shop they went to was having an issue with not being able to read the key.  They've had the key working fine since they got it, but even after the shops even tried cleaning the key the machines wont read it.  The meter at home is reading it fine, but Utilita are refusing to replace the key stating 'We are a smart meter company and no longer issuing the keys'.  They've now been told that they have GOT to have a smart meter installed, the last time something like this happened the engineer came out had a look at the key meter and said there was no need for a smart meter and his advise was don't have one as they're more trouble than they're worth.  With people having issues with their smart meters by not being able to top up & their grand daughter who also is having issues with hers, they were reluctant to have one installed.  But Utilita are forcing them to have one.  At the moment they're trying to keep an eye on the meter as they've only got £2 left on the meter, but were told if it gets down too far to ask for an emergency engineer to come out.

I'm mainly asking for advice for my parents as they dont know what to do.

Thank you

It seems that they have no choice but to have a smart meter installed, as that is the one choice available to them then that is the one that they have to take. Whilst there are a lot of scare stories around the reality is that of the millions of smart meters installed only a tiny percentage have issues. For your parents will will be much easier, they will be able to top up online or using a phone, they will not need to leave home in inclement weather etc. 

[Deleted User]

...and also, should the need ever arise you will be able to top up the meter for them. I help an old lady in the village that way and it's much better for both of us than faffing around with a key. Really nothing to be concerned about. Smart meters do sometimes go wrong just like any other type of meter but on the whole they are reliable and make life much easier.