Smart Meter Woes

Karlos1965

My Energy supplier wants to change my meter and instal a smart meter. I have told them I do not want a smart meter and also told them it's not a legal requirement to have one. I then asked if they could instal a smart meter with the smart function disabled at which point they told me that wasn't possible which I do not believe is correct. Nevertheless the only option they are making available to me  is to have a smart meter fitted at which point I told them i would be moving Energy supplier.

So, my question is this. Does anyone know of a reliable Energy supplier who does not insist that all their customers have smart meters?  

Thanks in advance.

sheeps68

I've finally had to accept a smart meter after years of avoiding them. I am on Econ 7 and after March 24 the old meters will no longer work to tell them time or record the Econ 7 tariff. My main thing I didn't want was the in home display as I was desperate to avoid the stress of constantly seeing it. Thankfully you don't need that and I have the little display hidden away from my stress in the depths of a cupboard where it will remain. Don't know if this helps you at all but thought I would share this with you in case it does.

GingerTim

Every energy supplier is under pressure to complete the smart meter rollout so, eventually and inevitably, you will get one.

Do you know the certification period on your meter? You can check when it expires at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1126202/schedule-4-december-2022.pdf. Once it has expired your meter will need to be replaced and the only option will be a smart meter.

[Deleted User]

Karlos1965 said:

My Energy supplier wants to change my meter and instal a smart meter. I have told them I do not want a smart meter and also told them it's not a legal requirement to have one. I then asked if they could instal a smart meter with the smart function disabled at which point they told me that wasn't possible which I do not believe is correct. Nevertheless the only option they are making available to me  is to have a smart meter fitted at which point I told them i would be moving Energy supplier.

So, my question is this. Does anyone know of a reliable Energy supplier who does not insist that all their customers have smart meters?  

Thanks in advance.

Suppliers were granted approval by the Government in 2019 to fit smart meters without the consumer’s approval when a meter reaches the end of its certified life. The decision was made because Meter Asset Providers no longer offer analogue meters.

Edit: Ofgem has also imposed this obligation on all suppliers:

Energy companies also have to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to install smart meters where they’re replacing an old meter, or installing a meter for the first time (for example in a new-build home).

Moving supplier may buy you a little time but you will get the same message from your new supplier.

Smart meters are now mandatory in France ( with naysayers paying a higher standing charge which is reviewed each year) and will be mandatory in Germany from 2025. I suspect that we are on course to do the same after the next General Election. We need a smart grid as do all developed countries.

lr1277

My energy supplier told me my meters were too old and needed to be replaced with smart meters.

They also made the point (believe it or not) that at the moment, smart meter installation is free. From later this year, there is a chance customers will be charged for smart meter installations Take that as you wish.

EssexHebridean

I'll take it with a pinch of salt, I think! 

[Deleted User]

They also made the point (believe it or not) that at the moment, smart meter installation is free. From later this year, there is a chance customers will be charged for smart meter installations

As we are already paying £13Bn at 2019 prices for this rollout, then the CS agent who said the above should be disciplined. 

mr_stripey

Karlos1965 said:

My Energy supplier wants to change my meter and instal a smart meter. I have told them I do not want a smart meter and also told them it's not a legal requirement to have one. I then asked if they could instal a smart meter with the smart function disabled at which point they told me that wasn't possible which I do not believe is correct. Nevertheless the only option they are making available to me  is to have a smart meter fitted at which point I told them i would be moving Energy supplier.

So, my question is this. Does anyone know of a reliable Energy supplier who does not insist that all their customers have smart meters?  

Thanks in advance.

Eventually, one way or the other, you'll get one.

Meter manufacturers are not making non smart meters any more and aren't going to go back to building them.

So your energy supplier, and indeed everyone's, only has access to smart meters. So when your meter needs replacing, you will end up with a smart one because that's the only option.

dunstonh

 I have told them I do not want a smart meter and also told them it's not a legal requirement to have one

If your meter is end of life and they need to replace it then you will get a smart meter bar some rare reasons otherwise.

 I then asked if they could instal a smart meter with the smart function disabled at which point they told me that wasn't possible which I do not believe is correct. 

The smart bit is the best part of the meter.  Why would you not want that?

 Does anyone know of a reliable Energy supplier who does not insist that all their customers have smart meters?  

The best you can do is delay the inevitable.    However, goodness knows what valid reason you could have for not wanting one.

[Deleted User]

It is worth pointing out that we all have the legal right to fit our own meter/s. The supplier needs to be certain that the meter being fitted is within its certified life, and that it is fitted by someone with the appropriate industry qualifications. Clearly, there are the costs of the actual meter and the installer to consider. Should the property be sold, the meter becomes the property of the deemed supplier.

Is it worth it? Personally, I won’t do it. Smart meters are as accurate as the old analogue meters that they replace, and if smart meters were to become compulsory it would just be wasted expenditure.

MrsPorridge

I was against them, but had to have one as our old meter was nearing the end of life.  We had the display plugged in and were horrified to see how much our dehumidifier was costing and also the light bulbs in our hallway.  The dehumidifier is not used any more and we are going to upgrade the hallway bulbs to low energy ones.  the display is now hidden away in its box.

I am now so glad we had one fitted.  I can check our usage online and no longer need to worry about estmated bills.

The biggest plus for me however is that our DD has dropped by £30 per month!