Octopus insisting we change old meter for smart meters - can we insist they put meter outside?

DeeCxx

Hi, we’ve just been contacted by Octopus to tell us we have old meters and they have to be changed.  Reading other threads it seems we will be forced into having a smart metre at some point (reluctantly). We have always been of the perhaps old fashioned view - don’t fix what ain’t broke!  However, the meters are currently very inconveniently placed in our living room so my question is, as it’s not our choice to have a new meter installed, can we insist that Octopus place the smart outside and remove the bulky old meters from our living room?  How much control do we have over the process?  I don’t know much about the process, but I know it would cost us a lot of money to have the current old meters relocated outside.  

MattMattMattUK

DeeCxx said:

Hi, we’ve just been contacted by Octopus to tell us we have old meters and they have to be changed.  Reading other threads it seems we will be forced into having a smart metre at some point (reluctantly). We have always been of the perhaps old fashioned view - don’t fix what ain’t broke!  However, the meters are currently very inconveniently placed in our living room so my question is, as it’s not our choice to have a new meter installed, can we insist that Octopus place the smart outside and remove the bulky old meters from our living room?  How much control do we have over the process?  I don’t know much about the process, but I know it would cost us a lot of money to have the current old meters relocated outside.  

No, the new meters will be placed in the same position as the existing ones. If you want them moved to a new location then you need to commission and pay for the work required.

QrizB

Further to MattCubed's reply above, you can contact your DNO to have your meter location moved.

My DNO is SSEN; their webpage on moving meters is here:
https://www.ssen.co.uk/our-services/existing-electricity-supplies/moving-your-meter/

SSEN are suggesting a cost of roughly £300-£500 for a simple move.

If you're not served by SSEN, I would expect your DNO to provide similar information.

YBR

DeeCxx said:

Hi, we’ve just been contacted by Octopus to tell us we have old meters and they have to be changed.  Reading other threads it seems we will be forced into having a smart metre at some point (reluctantly). We have always been of the perhaps old fashioned view - don’t fix what ain’t broke!  However, the meters are currently very inconveniently placed in our living room so my question is, as it’s not our choice to have a new meter installed, can we insist that Octopus place the smart outside and remove the bulky old meters from our living room?  How much control do we have over the process?  I don’t know much about the process, but I know it would cost us a lot of money to have the current old meters relocated outside.  

Your old meters my not seem broken, but they are only certified accurate and safe until a certain date. In the power industry "not proven" safe is enough to trigger replacement. They don't wait for a meter to break or degrade because that might have significant consequences to people and property.

Veteransaver

A smart meter will be quite a bit smaller than an old style meter.
You also can't move a meter more than a few metres from the consumer unit as there is a limit to how long the thick meter tails (cables) can be (got a feeling they can only be 2m long maximum?), otherwise you'd need to move the consumer unit too and then it starts getting expensive!
If you do get a smart meter fitted, it is also useful to get them to fit an isolator between the meter and the consumer unit, they often don't for free but it's very useful to have if you need to change the consumer unit or fit an EV charger etc.

Netexporter

If you do get a smart meter fitted, it is also useful to get them to fit an isolator between the meter and the consumer unit, they often don't for free but it's very useful to have if you need to change the consumer unit or fit an EV charger etc.

Octopus fitted my 2-pole isolator for free with my smart meter.

SAC2334

Get a quote from Cadent for gas and your local DNO for the electric meter move . Can be very expensive .Some people were paying around £1500 when I was on the job and thats 7 years ago. Depends on how many metres the move is . 

Mobtr

Netexporter said:

If you do get a smart meter fitted, it is also useful to get them to fit an isolator between the meter and the consumer unit, they often don't for free but it's very useful to have if you need to change the consumer unit or fit an EV charger etc.

Octopus fitted my 2-pole isolator for free with my smart meter.

I think most companies do as long as they know beforehand so they can send a suitably qualified engineer 

Veteransaver

Netexporter said:

If you do get a smart meter fitted, it is also useful to get them to fit an isolator between the meter and the consumer unit, they often don't for free but it's very useful to have if you need to change the consumer unit or fit an EV charger etc.

Octopus fitted my 2-pole isolator for free with my smart meter.

Yes, blame autocorrect, should have said "do it" for free, and not "don't"!

dunstonh

Hi, we’ve just been contacted by Octopus to tell us we have old meters and they have to be changed.  Reading other threads it seems we will be forced into having a smart metre at some point (reluctantly).

Why reluctantly?  Especially with Octopus and their TOU tariffs and specials.

We have always been of the perhaps old fashioned view - don’t fix what ain’t broke! 

So, you never get your car serviced or other items that degrade over time?

With something as important as this, you don't wait until it breaks.  

How much control do we have over the process? 

Limited control, but some things they will do.  When our meter was replaced, they upgraded the meter tails and put in an isolator switch as we said we were moving to 100amp as we were getting an EV charging point installed and self generation at some point.

BellaBlondykeTheThird

dunstonh said:

Hi, we’ve just been contacted by Octopus to tell us we have old meters and they have to be changed.  Reading other threads it seems we will be forced into having a smart metre at some point (reluctantly).

Why reluctantly?  Especially with Octopus and their TOU tariffs and specials.

We have always been of the perhaps old fashioned view - don’t fix what ain’t broke! 

So, you never get your car serviced or other items that degrade over time?

With something as important as this, you don't wait until it breaks.  

How much control do we have over the process? 

Limited control, but some things they will do.  When our meter was replaced, they upgraded the meter tails and put in an isolator switch as we said we were moving to 100amp as we were getting an EV charging point installed and self generation at some point.

The car analogy isn't really relevant as by law you will after 3 years old  you have to present for an MOT (Broken things flagged up there have to be fixed) You don't have to do that with a gas boiler for example unless renting in which your landlord has to service and have the boiler certified every year.

I suspect many don't bother getting their boilers serviced. Not just boilers a neighbour in our road had his ASHP 10 years and first service was when it went wrong.