Electricity Meter Certification - duration, accuracy of readings

General_Grant

I was moved from SSE to Ovo who are harassing me to have a smart meter installed.
Their current method is to say that my "meter's certification will run out soon" and that when it expires the meter may no longer measure accurately.
They have been saying that for many months now but will not say when the certification began (I have a dated note on my meter though) or when it will "expire".

The phone number given in their recent letter to book an appointment for a free smart meter to be installed is answered as being SSE - but they don't work on Sundays.

Can anyone explain what this certification is and the duration of its validity?

Thanks

GG

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

here's what GOV.UK SAYS.

Dolor

All meters have a certified life. (Search OPSS and meter certification). When a meter is approaching the end of its certified life, it has to be replaced. The Government took the pragmatic decision in 2019 that suppliers can fit smart meters in end-of-life situations WITHOUT the homeowner’s approval.

If you search this forum, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

Jonboy_1984

In my last property I didn’t want a smart meter as there was no phone signal in the meter cupboard area (middle of a block of flats).

I raised a a complaint to SSE that I had previously opted out of marketing and viewed their smart meter campaign as just that and therefore such communication was a misuse of my data under GDPR. They apologised and suppressed me from their database.

When ovo took over I got another letter trying to pressure me into it. I contacted them regarding my previous stance to SSE and they suppressed me off their list. 

(I sold the property 7 months later so no idea how long it would ultimately have been effective for)

debitcardmayhem

Jonboy_1984 said:

In my last property I didn’t want a smart meter as there was no phone signal in the meter cupboard area (middle of a block of flats).

I raised a a complaint to SSE that I had previously opted out of marketing and viewed their smart meter campaign as just that and therefore such communication was a misuse of my data under GDPR. They apologised and suppressed me from their database.

When ovo took over I got another letter trying to pressure me into it. I contacted them regarding my previous stance to SSE and they suppressed me off their list. 

(I sold the property 7 months later so no idea how long it would ultimately have been effective for)

So how did you get your bills ? Just a question really

Spoonie_Turtle

As you have the date of certification on your electricity meter you can find out its expiry date using the list found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters

molerat

debitcardmayhem said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

In my last property I didn’t want a smart meter as there was no phone signal in the meter cupboard area (middle of a block of flats).

I raised a a complaint to SSE that I had previously opted out of marketing and viewed their smart meter campaign as just that and therefore such communication was a misuse of my data under GDPR. They apologised and suppressed me from their database.

When ovo took over I got another letter trying to pressure me into it. I contacted them regarding my previous stance to SSE and they suppressed me off their list. 

(I sold the property 7 months later so no idea how long it would ultimately have been effective for)

So how did you get your bills ? Just a question really

Bills are not marketing. 

debitcardmayhem

molerat said:

debitcardmayhem said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

In my last property I didn’t want a smart meter as there was no phone signal in the meter cupboard area (middle of a block of flats).

I raised a a complaint to SSE that I had previously opted out of marketing and viewed their smart meter campaign as just that and therefore such communication was a misuse of my data under GDPR. They apologised and suppressed me from their database.

When ovo took over I got another letter trying to pressure me into it. I contacted them regarding my previous stance to SSE and they suppressed me off their list. 

(I sold the property 7 months later so no idea how long it would ultimately have been effective for)

So how did you get your bills ? Just a question really

nBills are not marketing. 

Nor is an email relating to their meter, it's a government requirement

Jonboy_1984

debitcardmayhem said:

molerat said:

debitcardmayhem said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

In my last property I didn’t want a smart meter as there was no phone signal in the meter cupboard area (middle of a block of flats).

I raised a a complaint to SSE that I had previously opted out of marketing and viewed their smart meter campaign as just that and therefore such communication was a misuse of my data under GDPR. They apologised and suppressed me from their database.

When ovo took over I got another letter trying to pressure me into it. I contacted them regarding my previous stance to SSE and they suppressed me off their list. 

(I sold the property 7 months later so no idea how long it would ultimately have been effective for)

So how did you get your bills ? Just a question really

nBills are not marketing. 

Nor is an email relating to their meter, it's a government requirement

Bills were fine as not marketing.

It wasn't a government requirement at the time they collected my details. So no consent for that purpose - not sure how it really stacks up under the regulations, but it worked for me at the time so I have shared it. I would have been less bullish but they had started texting at random times, which I always find particularly irritating...

General_Grant

Spoonie_Turtle said:

As you have the date of certification on your electricity meter you can find out its expiry date using the list found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters

Thank you so much for that link.

My meter is first on the list - 25 years.
I don't think that a date almost six years hence qualifies as "soon".

CSI_Yorkshire

General_Grant said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

As you have the date of certification on your electricity meter you can find out its expiry date using the list found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters

Thank you so much for that link.

My meter is first on the list - 25 years.
I don't think that a date almost six years hence qualifies as "soon".

It does when people spend 5 1/2 years complaining about the prospect of a meter change.