Can a Smart meter be installed flat (horizontally)?

Reaper

mmmmikey said:

Hi @Reaper bringing this discussion back into the context of your post, the significance of this is that smart meters have been designed in a way that allows the communication hub to be installed remotely without any wired connection to the electricity meter.

I may be missing something. I was under the impression when separated the meter needs a lead to the comms unit to provide it with data and power?

mmmmikey

Reaper said:

mmmmikey said:

Hi @Reaper bringing this discussion back into the context of your post, the significance of this is that smart meters have been designed in a way that allows the communication hub to be installed remotely without any wired connection to the electricity meter.

I may be missing something. I was under the impression when separated the meter needs a lead to the comms unit to provide it with data and power?

Hi, the data is transmitted wirelessly from the electricity meter to the Comms hub even though the Comms hub usually sits on top of the meter. The only connection between the meter and the Comms hub is a 12V power supply. The specification allows this to be provided by a remote cradle and adapter. Whether any of the suppliers are actually procuring and fitting this type of meter (or whether they are being manufactured yet) is another question. The point is that the need for this kind of arrangement has been identified and it seems likely that it is only a matter of time before it starts being used to fix some of the Comms issues. In the meantime, the solution that @Scot refers to (i.e. a wired connection to the meter for the 12V supply) is clearly available now as the link includes shows a picture of one installed.

Edit: sorry, didn't get the terminology right - an adaptor and cradle is what you use for connecting a bog standard comms hub of the type that usually sits on top of the meter remotely via a flying lead. The other option is to use a stand alone comms hub and hot shoe which is what you have when the power for the comms hub is taken from elsewhere and there are no wires between the electricity meter and communications hub

Note as well that the specification also defines an option that allows the comms hub to sit on top of a smart gas meter so that might be another option.

Phones4Chris

@Reaper Out of idle curiosity, did you ever resolve this or still stuck with what you've got?

Reaper

Phones4Chris said:

@Reaper Out of idle curiosity, did you ever resolve this or still stuck with what you've got?

No, but I discovered when the sun shines instead of getting export rates on my solar panels my ancient meter runs backwards! So effectively I get paid the same as the electricity company charges me (24p/unit from memory). At that point I rapidly lost interest in trying to get a Smart meter!

debitcardmayhem

Reaper said:

Phones4Chris said:

@Reaper Out of idle curiosity, did you ever resolve this or still stuck with what you've got?

No, but I discovered when the sun shines instead of getting export rates on my solar panels my ancient meter runs backwards! So effectively I get paid the same as the electricity company charges me (24p/unit from memory). At that point I rapidly lost interest in trying to get a Smart meter!

probably bordering on illegal , terms and conditions

MeteredOut

Reaper said:

Phones4Chris said:

@Reaper Out of idle curiosity, did you ever resolve this or still stuck with what you've got?

No, but I discovered when the sun shines instead of getting export rates on my solar panels my ancient meter runs backwards! So effectively I get paid the same as the electricity company charges me (24p/unit from memory). At that point I rapidly lost interest in trying to get a Smart meter!

As above, whilst unlikely, this could be regarded as fraud if they can show you knew about it. You could also be retrospectively billed for that electricity.

I'd recommend letting your supplier know, in writing "I've just noticed that....", then the onus is on them to find a solution to getting a smart meter installed.

Come the summer, when the sun is shining more, and the meter is going backwards more frequently, perhaps to the point where your usage is zero, or at least significantly outwith normal parameters, your account might get systematically flagged by your supplier and you might end up with a letter dropping on your mat, or a meter reader knocking at your door (eg, it might look like you've bypassed the meter). 

Reaper

I wrote to the energy company and explicitly told them the meter could run backwards 6 months ago, however since their Smart meter people had already been and failed to install one they have done nothing since. As I informed them there is no question of me ever being held liable for fraud.
In theory they are legally allowed to back charge me up to a maximum of a year if they think they can work out what the correct amount should be.

MeteredOut

Reaper said:

I wrote to the energy company and explicitly told them the meter could run backwards 6 months ago, however since their Smart meter people had already been and failed to install one they have done nothing since. As I informed them there is no question of me ever being held liable for fraud.
In theory they are legally allowed to back charge me up to a maximum of a year if they think they can work out what the correct amount should be.

Have you written to them to tell them it IS running backwards?

As for only back charge for 1 year, assuming you are referring to back billing rules, there are exemptions where suppliers can go back more than 12 months. I'd suggest its 50/50 whether not informing the supplier about a meter going backwards would be one of them.

Reaper

MeteredOut said:

Reaper said:

I wrote to the energy company and explicitly told them the meter could run backwards 6 months ago, however since their Smart meter people had already been and failed to install one they have done nothing since. As I informed them there is no question of me ever being held liable for fraud.
In theory they are legally allowed to back charge me up to a maximum of a year if they think they can work out what the correct amount should be.

Have you written to them to tell them it IS running backwards?

As for only back charge for 1 year, assuming you are referring to back billing rules, there are exemptions where suppliers can go back more than 12 months. I'd suggest its 50/50 whether not informing the supplier about a meter going backwards would be one of them.

I told them I had seen it going backwards so I feel completely in the clear.