British Gas - Getting a Smart Meter

hrbc

We applied over 2 years ago to have a Smart Meter fitted from BG.  Excuses in that time have been shortage of parts, have to wait until someone is in the area etc.  Now BG keep bombarding me with Peak Save and save money by using less electricity on Sundays etc - all of which dosn't apply to us.  Looking for a cheaper tariff the other day, they are all for households with Smart Meters!
I contacted them again today and the excuse was as we have a 2 rate electric meter we can't have a Smart Meter.  Googling this dosn't seem to matter and in anycase we are on a one rate tariff for electricity.
Is this correct?  Has anyone else had trouble getting a Smart meter from BG?  They seem to keep offering us something they can't supply - Peak Save and cheaper tariffs which dosn't seem fair.

la531983

I would vote with your feet and move to a new supplier, and see if they can get their act together better than BG can. 

hrbc

We did look at Octopus but the non Smart meter tariff was slightly more and we couldn't find details of the other tariffs.

la531983

hrbc said:

We did look at Octopus but the non Smart meter tariff was slightly more and we couldn't find details of the other tariffs.

The cap should be the cap. What are you being charged now and what region are you in?

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

This has often been reported in the forum.  It's unclear why it only seems to affect BG.  They are moving customers over to a new billing system so perhaps they want to do one thing at a time to avoid any complications.

Whatever the reason, ditching and switching is the simplest solution.  You could always switch back to BG later on if you really wanted to.

vic_sf49

Last week, Octopus* quoted 4-5 weeks for a new smart meter, (East Midlands region)....so give them call and ask for a rough time frame for fitting them in your area.

* other utility companies are available too. 

hrbc

We are in Derbyshire and the cap for us was non existent - we were paying over £3000 for our gas and electric last year.  We have an old property and luckily this summer have built up credit in our account to see us through the winter.

Netexporter

the cap for us was non existent 

It is a cap is on the unit price and the daily charge, not the amount you pay. The latter is determined by how much you use.

EssexHebridean

hrbc said:

We applied over 2 years ago to have a Smart Meter fitted from BG.  Excuses in that time have been shortage of parts, have to wait until someone is in the area etc.  Now BG keep bombarding me with Peak Save and save money by using less electricity on Sundays etc - all of which dosn't apply to us.  Looking for a cheaper tariff the other day, they are all for households with Smart Meters!
I contacted them again today and the excuse was as we have a 2 rate electric meter we can't have a Smart Meter.  Googling this dosn't seem to matter and in anycase we are on a one rate tariff for electricity.
Is this correct?  Has anyone else had trouble getting a Smart meter from BG?  They seem to keep offering us something they can't supply - Peak Save and cheaper tariffs which dosn't seem fair.

There is a known issue with BG, Smart meters and Economy 7 electricity - and there are probably a good many customers out there who actually with that BG HAD stalled them on having their meters changed, as they have as a result been left without heating and hot water in some cases. From what you are saying it sounds as though although your meter is a multi rate one, you use it as a single rate meter. With that in mind, a change shouldn't be an issue for you, although perhaps BG aren't acknowledging that. I'd personally look for a change of supplier first, and then get the change of meter done subsequently. 

hrbc said:

We are in Derbyshire and the cap for us was non existent - we were paying over £3000 for our gas and electric last year.  We have an old property and luckily this summer have built up credit in our account to see us through the winter.

No - the cap was the very thing that stopped you paying far far more, by limiting the unit price that you paid! 

(Edited for typo)

Alfie1983

We’ve had a nightmare for the same problem too. Moved home recently and signed up to BG there on a single rate tariff. Economy 7 meter present and was being used for storage heaters. They have since been removed hence why on single rate. Asked BG for smart meter, they said I can’t just yet because there’s a shortage of smart meters. I waited a few weeks to ask for an update to be told that I can’t because it’s an E7 meter and I have storage heaters. I told them I’m on a single rate and they have been removed. Held the line to be told the same thing. I again explained. Then told oh no, it’s because I’m in my 14 day cooling off period. 

So waited for the cooling off period. Called again to be told I can’t because it’s an E7 meter and I have storage heaters. I explained once again and told them I was told because of cooling off period. They raised a complaint because of this.

I waited a couple of weeks, got back to them to be told that the complaint was closed because I have an E7 meter. Explained again I no longer need or want an E7 meter. Just a standard smart meter. They said type I need not available yet 😤. 

Then suddenly they said it’s because there’s a shortage of smart meters (the original excuse) and no time scale for when there will be more. It’s been really frustrating but I’m stuck with BG for now on a fixed tariff.

EssexHebridean

Switch to another supplier who may be more willing to help? Octopus have a good reputation for being excellent with issues around smart metering, and you will no doubt find a friend or relative already with them who would be delighted to give you their referral code - that will earn you both £50 of bill credit.