Which Energy Suppliers (if any) Will Supply to Customer Using Own Meters

Bernard_Nurse

Before I begin, I can see there have been plenty of opinions on here for and against smart meters.  Not looking for a debate along those lines, just advice on the following please:

I currently have a traditional meter that is defective.

The supplier is refusing to swap it out for anything other than a smart meter. I have since established that I can source and have my own traditional meters fitted, something that has also been confirmed by the Energy Ombudsman, but the supplier is refusing (reasons unstated as of yet) to allow me to do this either.  

So my current thinking is terminate supply contract, get my own meter installed and then sign up elsewhere - has anyone else done this and if so, can they recommend suppliers who will entertain it.

TIA

ecraig

Have you obtained a quote to supply and for an installer to fit the replacement dumb meter?
i would say you should figure out step 1 and 2 first..

400ixl

I doubt any domestic supplier will. They can't ensure it is calibrated and the MPAN will not match anything in the system for the property.

Why not just let them fit a smart meter in dumb mode which is essentially the same as a traditional meter.

Gerry1

No such thing as a dumb smart meter !

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

Bernard_Nurse

400ixl said:

I doubt any domestic supplier will. They can't ensure it is calibrated and the MPAN will not match anything in the system for the property.

Why not just let them fit a smart meter in dumb mode which is essentially the same as a traditional meter.

Supplier (who has been extremely bullish throughout) is refusing to do that as well - it wasn't an option I wanted to consider really but the Energy Ombudsman suggested it.

At one point the supplier suggested I move to another supplier but no one will take me without a working meter... hence I'm effectively being 'held to ransom' due to all the obstacles the supplier keeps putting in the way.

Bernard_Nurse

Gerry1 said:

No such thing as a dumb smart meter !

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80642813/#Comment_80642813

This 

It's exactly why I didn't really want to entertain the idea myself, but having the option would have been a step in the right direction.

Bernard_Nurse

ecraig said:

Have you obtained a quote to supply and for an installer to fit the replacement dumb meter?
i would say you should figure out step 1 and 2 first..

Not a definitive quote as of yet but as with the tariffs, it's not always about the money is it(!)

mmmmikey

You're asking a question that several others have asked before. AFAIK nobody has reported back to the effect that they have successfully gone down the fit your own meter route so I think it's a fair bet that they've failed and given up trying.

Staying out of the rights and wrongs of it all, the difficulty is that at the same time Ofgem are telling you that you can get your own meter they're giving the suppliers grief about not rolling out smart meters quickly enough and effectively forcing them down the route of making what you want as difficult as possible.

If this is a matter of principle then so be it but it's worth asking yourself if this is really a battle worth fighting. It seems inevitable that smart meters will become compulsory before very long and you run the risk of burning up a considerable amount of time, energy and money in support of a principle that at best will give you a short lived victory.

In summary as far as I can ascertain the right to fit your own meter might be their in principle but in practical terms it seems to be a non starter and I can't bring to mind an example of anyone actually doing it.

Be good if you could update this post with your own experience if you decide to pursue this.

Spoonie_Turtle

mmmmikey said:

Be good if you could update this post with your own experience if you decide to pursue this.

I seem to recall that's said on all the threads where people ask about this, and they never do.  I guess the silence itself is the answer.

GingerTim

I tend to agree with @mmmmikey that you are going to struggle here - while the ombudsman might say this is possible it can't force a supplier to do it/agree to it. I can't see any supplier will want to take the commercial decision to install and commission a customer's own dumb meter, particularly as the pressures to meet smart meter installation targets increase. 

ecraig

Bernard_Nurse said:

ecraig said:

Have you obtained a quote to supply and for an installer to fit the replacement dumb meter?
i would say you should figure out step 1 and 2 first..

Not a definitive quote as of yet but as with the tariffs, it's not always about the money is it(!)

No, it’s not about the money. It’s about whether or not you can actually get a meter, and if you can actually find an installer to fit it!

I don’t know the legalities on this, but I do know the existing meter doesn’t belong to you, so you need to find an installer who is independent and not working for one of the energy companies.