Scottish Power Smart Meter

QrizB

I'm glad that your mum is happy there.

If she doesn't have Economy 7, it makes it much less likely that the smart meter installation is to blame. With a single-rate supply, there's no clever switching going on at the meter and all circuits are permanently live.

Can we still have a photo of the meter, just so we can eliminate it?

Gerry1

Bolt1234 said:

It’s really not helpful to make snide comments about M and S.

Righto, I've left the thread as my contributions aren't considered helpful.  👣

Qyburn

I wonder if it used to be an E7 installation, but being billed at single rate. So they've now just added a single rate meter, and presumed the off peak circuit was no longer used. If so a timer on the immersion heater would do the trick.

MattMattMattUK

Could it just be that the controller unit for the water heating has been knocked to the "off" position rather than the "timed" position? As others have said it could be a legacy E7 installation, but unlikely if it was not built with storage heaters. I live in an all electric flat, the control unit for the hot water has "off" and "timed" if switched to off, the boost still works, but it will not heat by default, alternatively it could be that the backup battery in the unit has failed and when the power was turned off to fit the new meter the timer settings were wiped.

Bolt1234

Hi All,  So the complex has told me that their boiler engineer says that the Smart Meter is not talking to the Gledhill System in the building and is sending me a report that I can give to SP.  This is all getting too technical for me.  Any advice as it who is at fault?

Who would be the best person to fix this?  I dont mind spending some money to get to the bottom of it.  The building is only 4 years old and as far as I know NEVER had storage heaters.  It would be very unusual if over the last few years they upgraded to wall heaters wouldnt it.

[Deleted User]

Bolt1234 said:

Hi All,  So the complex has told me that their boiler engineer says that the Smart Meter is not talking to the Gledhill System in the building and is sending me a report that I can give to SP.  This is all getting too technical for me.  Any advice as it who is at fault?

Who would be the best person to fix this?  I dont mind spending some money to get to the bottom of it.  The building is only 4 years old and as far as I know NEVER had storage heaters.  It would be very unusual if over the last few years they upgraded to wall heaters wouldnt it.

To my knowledge it was never envisaged that smart meter communications hubs would 'talk' to third-party devices. The DCC and GCHQ take smart meter security very seriously.

The issue might be that the new electricity meter is not configured in the same way as the one that it replaced. It might be worth taking and posting two photos: one of an analogue meter with the existing connections, and one of your Mother's meter. I suspect that this is an issue that only the supplier can address. 

QrizB

Gledhill make hot water tanks. If you are at the property taking photos, could we also have one of your mother's hot water tank?

Bolt1234

I am not at the property sadly.  Working today.  Having said that I think what others are saying is definitely on the right lines.  Meter has not been configured correctly hence the problem.  SP have completely washed their hands of this.  Says there is nothing wrong with the installation (how a call centre agent is able to guarantee this is beyond me!).

I am getting a report from the boiler engineer which I will attach to my complaint.  Whether that will make any difference is not clear.  SP are adamant that they installed correctly.  Mistakes happen all the time.  The enginner might have made a mistake, it might have been their first day.  All these things are possible.

I am also wondering whether I can actually pay for SP to go out and check the installation for a fee which is refundable back should the fault be an installation issue?

Bolt1234

There is another resident with exactly the same issue with SP after a meter installation from them.  I told SP that during a rather heated call with them on Friday to be told to get another boiler enginner out or call 105!

Bolt1234

Look at what I have got from Gledhill!  Apparently its not just Scottish Power but I am wondering now whether its actually the engineer's skill and experience during installation.  That would make sense

Good afternoon,

 

Unfortunately this is something we have encountered before.

 

Apparently the smart meters have to be set up to recognise the cheap rate economy electric and when it is available.

If this is not done correctly, it appears that either:

• The Pulsacoils only use the full price power all the time; or
• The off peak main immersion does not work, and as with your Mum, only the boost works. 

 

 

I can only recommend highlighting to Scottish Power that there are multiple people in the same block that have this issue and it only happened after the smart meter(s) were installed. 

As the smart meters are classed as the property of the energy supplier our engineers cannot work on them, and the power company need to reattend to correct this. 

You may also flag that (if so) Gledhill Response have attended and confirmed there is no fault with the appliance – it is a power issue. 

 

I wish you well. 

Kind regards