Lets talk SMART meters . . .

EssexHebridean

But they were providing meter readings previously with their “thick” meter, so in real terms, nothing has changed for them? 

Do bear in mind that as has been established here previously, the figures you might see quoting X percentage of smart meters “not working properly” are wildly inflated by the number of people who conflate the meter and the IHD - so a non working IHD gets reported as a non working smart meter… if you drill down into the breakdown of the figures that confirms this, but on a purely anecdotal basis, the sheer number of folk we see arriving here with apparently non working meters where it then transpires that the IHD is the issue gives you an idea of the scale. 

On the plus side, this morning’s very cold weather encouraged me to discover how to take my gas meter reading from the IHD not the meter - so that’s another advantage right there! 😁

MattMattMattUK

brewerdave said:

IMHO, rather than the Utility Cos. just having smart meter install targets ,they should have targets based on the % of smart meters actually working as smarts.
Another tale in my village this week ,of an install carried out but not commissioned correctly so the Utility Company concerned ,are requesting the householder to provide meter readings until ?? whenever they can be bothered !

Smart meters should not be down to the suppliers to sort, as in reality they only function as booking agents anyway. They are mostly installed by third party installers, they are beholden to the DNO for connection to the network, software updates, troubleshooting etc. They should have been rolled out road by road until complete on a national level, no choice and refusal have one fitted should have resulted in disconnection, just like the transition from town gas to natural gas. 

Qyburn

MikeJXE said:

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

Effectively yes, not solely for the good reasons given by others. I think the whole "smart meters are optional" idea is a nonsense because a householder shouldn't expect to be able to dictate what sort of gear is installed in the supply network.

Maybe another view would be that they're optional in that a householder can choose not to have a supply at all.

GingerTim

Qyburn said:

MikeJXE said:

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

Effectively yes, not solely for the good reasons given by others. I think the whole "smart meters are optional" idea is a nonsense because a householder shouldn't expect to be able to dictate what sort of gear is installed in the supply network.

Maybe another view would be that they're optional in that a householder can choose not to have a supply at all.

There should have been a mandatory, universal roll-out rather than the inefficient, fudged half-measure we got.

MultiFuelBurner

Something we can agree on is the rollout has been a shambles.

MikeJXE

What is the life span of a dumb meter and how strict are the rules ? 

My rented flat was built 2006/07 so then meters are 16/17 years old if they were brand new when fitted 

I'm in a block of 7 and only one is smart 

So when can I expect to be required to have a smart meter (not that I'm bothered) I have been in smart before this 

MultiFuelBurner

MikeJXE said:

What is the life span of a dumb meter and how strict are the rules ? 

My rented flat was built 2006/07 so then meters are 16/17 years old if they were brand new when fitted 

I'm in a block of 7 and only one is smart 

So when can I expect to be required to have a smart meter (not that I'm bothered) I have been in smart before this 

There is a spreadsheet of type and lifespan somewhere in the forum. Someone will pop it up soon.

Netexporter

MikeJXE said:

What is the life span of a dumb meter and how strict are the rules ? 

My rented flat was built 2006/07 so then meters are 16/17 years old if they were brand new when fitted 

I'm in a block of 7 and only one is smart 

So when can I expect to be required to have a smart meter (not that I'm bothered) I have been in smart before this 

In the Olden Days meters were suppose to be changed every 12 years. They were then refurbished, re-calibrated, and used again. They usually have an orange sticker, with a date on, if they've been re-used.

MikeJXE

Netexporter said:

MikeJXE said:

What is the life span of a dumb meter and how strict are the rules ? 

My rented flat was built 2006/07 so then meters are 16/17 years old if they were brand new when fitted 

I'm in a block of 7 and only one is smart 

So when can I expect to be required to have a smart meter (not that I'm bothered) I have been in smart before this 

In the Olden Days meters were suppose to be changed every 12 years. They were then refurbished, re-calibrated, and used again. They usually have an orange sticker, with a date on, if they've been re-used.

Now you have me wondering 

The meter is outside round the other side of the block in a ground box

The photos I have are a dirty meter and hard to read what's on it except for the glass front 

Do I go out in my pj's to check in this cold weather or can I leave it till tomorrow and perhaps not sleep tonight mmmm 

GingerTim

MikeJXE said:

What is the life span of a dumb meter and how strict are the rules ? 

My rented flat was built 2006/07 so then meters are 16/17 years old if they were brand new when fitted 

I'm in a block of 7 and only one is smart 

So when can I expect to be required to have a smart meter (not that I'm bothered) I have been in smart before this 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1126202/schedule-4-december-2022.pdf

Here you go, check your electricity meter model on there.