EDF: End of Life Meter and Providing My Own New Meter (non-smart)

Hegelworm

born_again said:

Have you looked at how much a new meter will cost?

Yes, the new physical unit itself is only about £45, but it looks like I might be fighting a losing battle here and it's probably not worth the hassle.  As a couple of folks have already mentioned, there's nothing to guarantee that policies won't change and that smart meters will become mandatory in the future.  I've always subscribed to the "if it ain't broke..." approach, but I'm going to have to concede with this one.

EDF's own correspondence has mentioned having the meter fitted in 'dumb mode' (i.e. it doesn't phone home), so I may go for that option.  I'm aware that the UK gov is penalising companies that don't reach their smart-meter quota, so yes, I suspect they'd use that in their defence if I were to present the idea of providing my own meter.

Thanks for the input and suggestions. Like many, I've been put off by the horror stories about software glitches resulting in astronomical bills (and reports from a couple of energy executives stating that they're not yet fit for purpose).  I'm probably just being over-cautious, but EDF have tried it on with me in the past.

Smart meters won't save money or the planet, reducing our usage will, so pushing them as a green solution does seem like a bit of a ruse.  I suppose awareness of how much we're using might prompt better habits, but lest we forget, these companies serve their shareholders, not the consumer, and I can't see that changing.

mr_stripey

Hegelworm said:

born_again said:

Have you looked at how much a new meter will cost?

Yes, the new physical unit itself is only about £45, but it looks like I might be fighting a losing battle here and it's probably not worth the hassle.  As a couple of folks have already mentioned, there's nothing to guarantee that policies won't change and that smart meters will become mandatory in the future.  I've always subscribed to the "if it ain't broke..." approach, but I'm going to have to concede with this one.

EDF's own correspondence has mentioned having the meter fitted in 'dumb mode' (i.e. it doesn't phone home), so I may go for that option.  I'm aware that the UK gov is penalising companies that don't reach their smart-meter quota, so yes, I suspect they'd use that in their defence if I were to present the idea of providing my own meter.

Thanks for the input and suggestions. Like many, I've been put off by the horror stories about software glitches resulting in astronomical bills (and reports from a couple of energy executives stating that they're not yet fit for purpose).  I'm probably just being over-cautious, but EDF have tried it on with me in the past.

Smart meters won't save money or the planet, reducing our usage will, so pushing them as a green solution does seem like a bit of a ruse.  I suppose awareness of how much we're using might prompt better habits, but lest we forget, these companies serve their shareholders, not the consumer, and I can't see that changing.

That seems like a pretty balance and reasonable response to me. You're probably correct that the drive to smart is more financially motivated than environmental, but ultimately I don't think this is the hill for you to die on.

la531983

Hegelworm said:

Thanks for the input and suggestions. Like many, I've been put off by the horror stories about software glitches resulting in astronomical bills

This happens to normal meters too, btw. And are quite clearly easily rectified, if you are on about the article on the BBC News website today.

dunstonh

Thanks for the input and suggestions. Like many, I've been put off by the horror stories about software glitches resulting in astronomical bills (and reports from a couple of energy executives stating that they're not yet fit for purpose).  I'm probably just being over-cautious, but EDF have tried it on with me in the past.

cause or causation.   Smart meters are more reliable than conventional meters.   SMETS1 certainly had issues but we are well into SMETS2 now.

Many of the stories come from people moaning about the IHD and not the meter.

Smart meters won't save money or the planet, reducing our usage will, so pushing them as a green solution does seem like a bit of a ruse.  I suppose awareness of how much we're using might prompt better habits, but lest we forget, these companies serve their shareholders, not the consumer, and I can't see that changing. 

Actually, they do save money. EDF beat the peak for example, can only be offered to those with smart meters.

IHDs, whilst not a smart meter, can be used to help understand energy use and that can also lead to reducing energy use.

Slinky

EDF offered me, by email, a £100 incentive to have my smart meter installed. I said thanks very much and switched to Octopus a few months later.

You could ask if they will pay you to have one installed!

ETA, looking back it was 6th March 2023 they emailed me, and I had to have booked (not installed) an installation by 20th March. Maybe there was an end of year target they needed to hit?

born_again

Hegelworm said:

Smart meters won't save money

Once before, I would go with that statement.

Now having a Smart Meter means that with my EV I can move from standard tariff to Intelligent Octopus (other tariff's are available which will also save) which gives me cheap off peak charging (22:30 to 05:30) but also cheap daytime charging when available (but only had 2 periods since Sept when not) & whole house usage at the same off peak rate, while car is charging. So with planning, I can push all heavy use to this period which save me 22.06P per kWh.
So having a Smart Meter can save you money 👍

GingerTim

Hegelworm said:

born_again said:

Have you looked at how much a new meter will cost?

Yes, the new physical unit itself is only about £45, but it looks like I might be fighting a losing battle here and it's probably not worth the hassle.  As a couple of folks have already mentioned, there's nothing to guarantee that policies won't change and that smart meters will become mandatory in the future.  I've always subscribed to the "if it ain't broke..." approach, but I'm going to have to concede with this one.

EDF's own correspondence has mentioned having the meter fitted in 'dumb mode' (i.e. it doesn't phone home), so I may go for that option.  I'm aware that the UK gov is penalising companies that don't reach their smart-meter quota, so yes, I suspect they'd use that in their defence if I were to present the idea of providing my own meter.

Thanks for the input and suggestions. Like many, I've been put off by the horror stories about software glitches resulting in astronomical bills (and reports from a couple of energy executives stating that they're not yet fit for purpose).  I'm probably just being over-cautious, but EDF have tried it on with me in the past.

Smart meters won't save money or the planet, reducing our usage will, so pushing them as a green solution does seem like a bit of a ruse.  I suppose awareness of how much we're using might prompt better habits, but lest we forget, these companies serve their shareholders, not the consumer, and I can't see that changing.

On the 'dumb mode', this isn't really a thing and they are always connected, as our much missed former forum member @Dolor would point out:

Dolor said:

When I was last in discussion with someone who knows about smart metering, he told me that there is no such thing as a dumb smart meter: it is simply, a supplier not using smart meter readings for billing.  Installers need to fit a comms hub to install and commission a smart metering system, and it is self evident from the OP’s post that the comms hub was linked to a network - otherwise it could not be updated OTA.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80320924/#Comment_80320924

Chrysalis

The only logical reason I can think of is not wanting accurate usage data on the account.

Rodders53

EoN Next have just credited me with £50 for fitting a smart electric meter (no mains gas here).

No ask, no get as me old Mum used to say.

Spoonie_Turtle

Hegelworm said:

born_again said:

Have you looked at how much a new meter will cost?

… I've always subscribed to the "if it ain't broke..." approach, but I'm going to have to concede with this one.

The thing is, it is 'broke' as in your meter is at the end of its life and needs to be replaced. 

Not very moneysaving to want to pay to install a non-smart meter that won't give you access to potentially cheaper tariffs, or periods where you're paid to cut down electricity use, or periods of free electricity if they come to your area.

I was also of the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mind, especially as we have had problems with an electricity supplier before and after that we had a nice new, simple meter that was easy to read and did the job just fine.  Then we went onto a cheaper tariff, one of the terms of which was that we agreed to have a smart meter fitted if required.  Well they didn't do it within the first year, but the terms of the tariff changed so at the end of our fixed term the tariff version at the time required having a smart meter.  So at that point it did count as 'broke', to us (in that if we didn't have a smart meter we'd have to go onto the more expensive standard tariff), and we got a smart meter put it. 
And I'm glad we did, because not only have we continued to save money on that tariff and become better informed about our energy usage, we've been paid for cutting energy usage during savings sessions - not a huge amount, but for basically just turning the heating off for an hour each time, no £ are to be sniffed at.