Can't change energy tariff unless accept smart meter

bluecatman9

Hi. I am with E.on Next on a variable rate for gas and electricity. I would like to change to a different tariff but every tariff states that I MUST agree to have a smart meter. As it is not compulsory to have a smart meter, are E.on (and other companies) allowed to insist upon me having one in order to save cost on my energy supplies? Or can I challenge them under consumer legislation? Any advice would be very helpful. Thank you.

la531983

bluecatman9 said:

As it is not compulsory to have a smart meter, are E.on (and other companies) allowed to insist upon me having one in order to save cost on my energy supplies? Or can I challenge them under consumer legislation? 

1 - Yes
2 - No

Keep_pedalling

Many tariffs require a smart meter and yes they can insist you get one and frankly there are no good reason not too.

Mark_d

Whilst energy companies can't force you to have a smart meter, they can offer tariffs which are only for customers with a smart meter.  Smart meters allow the energy system to be managed more accurately and efficiently - ultimately meaning lower costs and allowing a higher proportion of renewable energy.

Personally I wouldn't hesitate to get a smart meter if/when it allows me to get a cheaper tariff

Hoenir

bluecatman9 said:

 As it is not compulsory to have a smart meter, are E.on (and other companies) allowed to insist upon me having one in order to save cost on my energy supplies?

Also saves the energy supplier money. Which allows them to offer more attractive rates. 

TELLIT01

Hoenir said:

bluecatman9 said:

 As it is not compulsory to have a smart meter, are E.on (and other companies) allowed to insist upon me having one in order to save cost on my energy supplies?

Also saves the energy supplier money. Which allows them to offer more attractive rates. 

How do smart meters save the supplier money?  They never send anybody to read my meters.

mr_stripey

you'll end up with a smart meter one day anyway, so might as well just accept it now and get the better tarriff. Despite what you may have read, there's really no good reason not to get one anyway.

photome

Is there a good reason not to have a smart meter

bluecatman9

Thanks for all the replies. Apart from not particularly wanting a smart meter, there is another possible problem. We live in an area which has poor mobile signal reception (basically our house sits in a dip in the landscape and the signals go over our head). The only way we can use our mobile phones at home is via the broadband router. Isn't that going to cause a problem for the smart meters to connect?

Aylesbury_Duck

Yes, but so what?  You can simply send meter readings as you do with your current meters.

Hoenir

TELLIT01 said:

Hoenir said:

bluecatman9 said:

 As it is not compulsory to have a smart meter, are E.on (and other companies) allowed to insist upon me having one in order to save cost on my energy supplies?

Also saves the energy supplier money. Which allows them to offer more attractive rates. 

How do smart meters save the supplier money?  They never send anybody to read my meters.

Accurate meter readings.