EDF Poteential Problems with New Smart Meters

JayMNa

Mobtr said:

JayMNa said:

JayMNa said:

Some minor developments in my smart meter escapades, my account at EDF now showing that both meters are working (but that seems to be intermittent, they could fall off the cliff any day) and that my next bill will be before 14th September (previous bill was 13th Feb).

Major hurdle will be if EDF realise my meters changed and thus meter numbers readings started from 0, also that the new gas meter is not imperial anymore. I'm not confident.

I have to confess I messed up yesterday. A schoolboy error. I went and as a lark gave EDF my meter readings online manually and they went and generated my bill overnight using my readings - so I am none of the wiser if my smart meters work.

IF my smart meters work then giving readings manually overwrite the automated smart meter functionality. 

At least you can see the meters have updated correctly. Think you’ll be a bit disappointed if they have as you’re expecting EDF to be wrong so you can moan a bit more aren’t you 

No need to be a !!!!!!.

Swipe

Largs said:

Hi.  Inbetween posting here yesterday I had sent EDF a text using the out-of-hours service asking if they are receiving meter readings from the smart meter or not.  I have copied their reply in-case it helps others.....

"Thank you for contacting EDF Energy Messaging Services.  We are aware of a firmware issue affecting a number of customers with a specific type of communications hub and our best people are on it and should find a resolution soon.  There is nothing further you need to do at the present time and if needed, someone would contact you at a later date if an appointment is required.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with a timescale for a fix to be implemented.  There is an industry wide error with a specific type of communications hub, and we hope a fix will soon be implemented in order to solve the issue.  As we are relying on third party data, we are unfortunately unable to offer a timescale for resolution and I am sorry I can not be more specific with the information we have provided to you.  Your meters, however are recording accurately and the meter readings will need to be taken manually until such time we are able to reconnect to your smart meters."

I wouldn't pay too much attention to that message. It's just their boiler plate message they send to people who complain about smart meter issues. I've had that pasted to me in live chat before now.

Swipe

Looks like I must have upset them. Just woke up to a message on the IHD saying "Welcome to EDF" and now my tariff info and standing charge rates are set to zero.

Largs

Swipe said:

Looks like I must have upset them. Just woke up to a message on the IHD saying "Welcome to EDF" and now my tariff info and standing charge rates are set to zero.

Big Brother is watching you!

Gerry1

Swipe said:

Just woke up to a message on the IHD saying "Welcome to EDF" and now my tariff info and standing charge rates are set to zero.

Congratulations on your new contract.

Accept it immediately !  🆓😃

Swipe

Gerry1 said:

Swipe said:

Just woke up to a message on the IHD saying "Welcome to EDF" and now my tariff info and standing charge rates are set to zero.

Congratulations on your new contract.

Accept it immediately !  🆓😃

To be fair to EDF. I emailed them this morning and they got back to me within an hour and have now fixed the missing tariff and SC info. Can't grumble at that.

[Deleted User]

Largs said:

Hi.  Inbetween posting here yesterday I had sent EDF a text using the out-of-hours service asking if they are receiving meter readings from the smart meter or not.  I have copied their reply in-case it helps others.....

"Thank you for contacting EDF Energy Messaging Services.  We are aware of a firmware issue affecting a number of customers with a specific type of communications hub and our best people are on it and should find a resolution soon.  There is nothing further you need to do at the present time and if needed, someone would contact you at a later date if an appointment is required.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with a timescale for a fix to be implemented.  There is an industry wide error with a specific type of communications hub, and we hope a fix will soon be implemented in order to solve the issue.  As we are relying on third party data, we are unfortunately unable to offer a timescale for resolution and I am sorry I can not be more specific with the information we have provided to you.  Your meters, however are recording accurately and the meter readings will need to be taken manually until such time we are able to reconnect to your smart meters."

The above is yet another indication of how poor our smart meter system design has been. Suppliers are NOT responsible for communications hubs. The responsibility rests solely with The Data Communications Company (DCC)  which, in turn, relies on the communications hub manufacturer to produce the necessary firmware update.

Similarly, whilst suppliers are responsible for their customers’ smart meters these assets are owned by Meter Asset Providers. Meter manufacturers also build and DCC-certify all firmware updates which suppliers then deploy in tranches.

It follows that, when things go wrong, all that suppliers can do is ask their industry ‘friends’ for help.

By the sound of it, the DCC has deployed a firmware update in good faith and it has adversely affected some communications hubs. The DCC can only wait for the hub manufacturer to come up with a fix. FWiW, I had a Kaifa smart meter firmware problem a couple of years ago and it took Kaifa 7 months and 3 firmware updates to restore full functionality to the meter.