Smart meter functionality

EssexHebridean

Sterlingtimes said:

Octopus does not want to suffer the cost of smart meter maintenance and repair: Octopus has told me this. Mine worked across all suppliers from 15/06/2015 to 14/07/2023.

The IHD work perfectly. Gas works perfectly. Electricity will not work for half-hourly readings.

Octopus will replace the meter for £400, but otherwise states that the meter is insufficiently broken to warrant an engineering visit.

I was a great supporter of smart metering. I wonder how many broken smart meters there are in the field.

I appreciate the quandary you are in - so it is sending readings for the purposes of metering on a standard tariff, but presumably rules you out of being able to opt for Agile or similar? 

Scot_39

Sterlingtimes said:

Octopus does not want to suffer the cost of smart meter maintenance and repair: Octopus has told me this. Mine worked across all suppliers from 15/06/2015 to 14/07/2023.

The IHD work perfectly. Gas works perfectly. Electricity will not work for half-hourly readings.

Octopus will replace the meter for £400, but otherwise states that the meter is insufficiently broken to warrant an engineering visit.

I was a great supporter of smart metering. I wonder how many broken smart meters there are in the field.

Does it give half hourly readings via one of the apps ?

It could be a firmware issue with a particular brand of meter - they do happen.

Have you searched by your meter type to see if others having issues ?

Frustrating if went to Octopus for agile or smart EV / solar export rate tariffs though.

Sterlingtimes

EssexHebridean said:

I appreciate the quandary you are in - so it is sending readings for the purposes of metering on a standard tariff, but presumably rules you out of being able to opt for Agile or similar? 

Thank you. This is exactly the case. The system as a whole (Octopus, DCC, my smart meter) delivers spot readings for electricity that are adequate for billing purposes. I could not join an electricity smart tariff scheme. The Octopus mini collects day readings that are unacceptable for smart tariff purposes.  

Sterlingtimes

Scot_39 said:

Does it give half hourly readings via one of the apps ?

It could be a firmware issue with a particular brand of meter - they do happen.

Have you searched by your meter type to see if others having issues ?

Frustrating if went to Octopus for agile or smart EV / solar export rate tariffs though.

Yes, Bright and Octopus Mini collect half-hourly readings correctly. The "DCC thing" fails.

Octopus will only rectify if the system is "well and truly broken", not just a little bit broken.

I decided not to accept their £400 offer.

I wonder whether OFGEM knows how many smart meters in the field are fully broken or partially broken.

Hoenir

Switched the IHD off very quickly. Didn't tell me anything I already knew. As a child brought up to switch things off and close doors. Energy was once far more expensive in relative terms. 

EssexHebridean

Those who have voted for the “smart meter doesn’t work, nor does the IHD” option - would you be willing to give us a bit more info if you haven’t already? 

stripling

EssexHebridean said:

This is trying to establish whether in fact the oft repeated "40% of smart meters don't work" statistic is in any way true, or whether in fact it arises from misunderstandings. Please read ALL the options and the information below before making your choice!

IMPORTANT: For avoidance of doubt - the "Smart meter" is the box fixed to the wall at the point where your incoming electric / gas supplies are. The In House Display is the little digital display that people often have sitting out so they can see their use at a glance. 

If you were never given an IHD, select the option for it not working for your particular circumstance. 

According to the Public Accounts Committee 2023: "around 3 million (9%) of smart meters were not working properly at March 2023" [I have been told by industry experts it is more likely at least 12-14%]  

"the report highlights concerns about built-in obsolescence in those smart meters already installed. Components for an estimated seven million smart meters (out of around 32.4 million installed at March 2023) will need to be replaced because they will lose functionality when the 2G and 3G mobile communications networks are closed. Billpayers will ultimately bear the likely significant costs of these required upgrades." 

"We are concerned that smart meters are not achieving the consumer benefits they are supposed to and are benefitting certain, often wealthier, consumers more than others."

Basically, the smart meter roll out has been/is a totally messed up, pigs ear.  Gosh, what a surprise. 😏

cannugec5

My smart meter never worked since install. As such the installer never gave us an IHD ( but that wasn’t an available option in your poll).

Octopus have invited me to select a date for a new installation as they are unable to communicate with my meter. However when I click the link there are no appointments available in my area…

TheElectricCow

stripling said:

EssexHebridean said:

This is trying to establish whether in fact the oft repeated "40% of smart meters don't work" statistic is in any way true, or whether in fact it arises from misunderstandings. Please read ALL the options and the information below before making your choice!

IMPORTANT: For avoidance of doubt - the "Smart meter" is the box fixed to the wall at the point where your incoming electric / gas supplies are. The In House Display is the little digital display that people often have sitting out so they can see their use at a glance. 

If you were never given an IHD, select the option for it not working for your particular circumstance. 

According to the Public Accounts Committee 2023: "around 3 million (9%) of smart meters were not working properly at March 2023" [I have been told by industry experts it is more likely at least 12-14%]  

For clarity, that 9% figure is later specified to include issues with “either or both” the IHD and the meter, and disappointingly doesn’t separate out the data on the two points in any way (which is in part what the poll is trying to achieve here, albeit with a far smaller and unavoidably biased sample with this being a moneysaving energy forum).

Spoonie_Turtle

TheElectricCow said:

stripling said:

EssexHebridean said:

This is trying to establish whether in fact the oft repeated "40% of smart meters don't work" statistic is in any way true, or whether in fact it arises from misunderstandings. Please read ALL the options and the information below before making your choice!

IMPORTANT: For avoidance of doubt - the "Smart meter" is the box fixed to the wall at the point where your incoming electric / gas supplies are. The In House Display is the little digital display that people often have sitting out so they can see their use at a glance. 

If you were never given an IHD, select the option for it not working for your particular circumstance. 

According to the Public Accounts Committee 2023: "around 3 million (9%) of smart meters were not working properly at March 2023" [I have been told by industry experts it is more likely at least 12-14%]  

For clarity, that 9% figure is later specified to include issues with “either or both” the IHD and the meter, and disappointingly doesn’t separate out the data on the two points in any way (which is in part what the poll is trying to achieve here, albeit with a far smaller and unavoidably biased sample with this being a moneysaving energy forum).

Biased which way, do you think, just out of interest?

(Genuine, neutral question, just to see if your perception might be the same as mine or different.)