How to force utility company to install a working smart meter

Paul_Sparrow

Thanks everyone for taking time in answering. The meters has perfect coverage; I can even see the signal on the screen. However, the issue is that it was never registered properly. I have a small EV that I purchased to cut down on fuel costs, but I was never able to access the EV tariffs despite having a smart meter. Additionally, I cannot access the tracker or agile tariffs because the meter doesn't send the readings—not due to any fault, but because it was never registered. This is what the EDF engineer told me. It is a generation 1.

Scot_39

There were a limited number of smets1 meters that were not able to be enrolled into the DCC network.

Have you checked yours ?

See the CAB link integration checker - from their website

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/current-programmes/smets1-enrolment-and-adoption/

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

But the integration and replacement program for that - I thought both - started a couple of years ago.

 

From the DCC 2023 annual report

"At the end of this financial year we had migrated 11.3m SMETS1, up from 8.9m in March 2022"

I suspect for now - you will have to wait for Octopus to find a slot - swapping and restarting the queue at another supplier - is likely only to prolong the delay.

Qyburn

DE_612183 said:

badmemory said:

This is the problem with smart meters.  Well the requirements for fitting them really.  Their only requirement appears to be to fit them & not that they should actually work properly.

Depends what you mean by "work properly" - the vast majority record energy consumption - which is their primary objective.

If you just mean "record consumption and have to be read manually" then that's not fulfilling their objective.

BarelySentientAI

Qyburn said:

DE_612183 said:

badmemory said:

This is the problem with smart meters.  Well the requirements for fitting them really.  Their only requirement appears to be to fit them & not that they should actually work properly.

Depends what you mean by "work properly" - the vast majority record energy consumption - which is their primary objective.

If you just mean "record consumption and have to be read manually" then that's not fulfilling their objective.

But it does fulfil the requirements to be classed as a working meter, at the moment.

Paul_Sparrow

Scot_39 said:

There were a limited number of smets1 meters that were not able to be enrolled into the DCC network.

Have you checked yours ?

See the CAB link integration checker - from their website

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/current-programmes/smets1-enrolment-and-adoption/

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

But the integration and replacement program for that - I thought both - started a couple of years ago.

 

From the DCC 2023 annual report

"At the end of this financial year we had migrated 11.3m SMETS1, up from 8.9m in March 2022"

I suspect for now - you will have to wait for Octopus to find a slot - swapping and restarting the queue at another supplier - is likely only to prolong the delay.

I tried and this is the result of the query:

We can’t find your meter

This could be because:

• there was something wrong with your details - try entering them again.
• your meter isn’t on the smart meter data network, which connects your smart meter to energy suppliers
• you don’t have a smart meter - ask your supplier if you’re not sure

Now I have left octopus after waiting 4 months for a meter upgrade.

Paul_Sparrow

DE_612183 said:

Is it the smart meter that won't work or the in house display?

smart meter

Kid_Icarus

Scot_39 said:

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

As long as the metering component of the SMETS1 meter is correctly doing its thing - accurately recording usage - I reckon suppliers will be more focused on getting non-smart meters replaced with smarts, to reduce their liability for fines from OFGEM.

One thing the OP should bear in mind is that all Smart meters have a certification life of 10 years, unless the manufacturer has done a component reliability study and obtained approval for a longer certification period.  The SMETS1 standard was defined in 2012 with the first meters put on the wall a year or two later - so the first SMETS1’s will soon be coming to the end of their certification - I suspect these are the ones which will be replaced first.

So depending on when the OPs SMETS1 meter was installed, they might be due for a replacement soon anyway.

List of meters and their certification period available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6647412a4f29e1d07fadca26/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240516.pdf

Paul_Sparrow

Kid_Icarus said:

Scot_39 said:

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

As long as the metering component of the SMETS1 meter is correctly doing its thing - accurately recording usage - I reckon suppliers will be more focused on getting non-smart meters replaced with smarts, to reduce their liability for fines from OFGEM.

One thing the OP should bear in mind is that all Smart meters have a certification life of 10 years, unless the manufacturer has done a component reliability study and obtained approval for a longer certification period.  The SMETS1 standard was defined in 2012 with the first meters put on the wall a year or two later - so the first SMETS1’s will soon be coming to the end of their certification - I suspect these are the ones which will be replaced first.

So depending on when the OPs SMETS1 meter was installed, they might be due for a replacement soon anyway.

List of meters and their certification period available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6647412a4f29e1d07fadca26/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240516.pdf

The technician from Data Morrison, working on behalf of EDF, was here a couple of days ago. I live in a remote area of the UK, and he made quite a journey. He phoned EDF, and they told him not to exchange the meter since it could be read manually. He had a Gen 2 meter in his van and was ready to install it, but they did not authorize him. I am due to install solar panels, have already signed a contract with EDF, and am awaiting installation. I cannot export without a smart meter, but they do not seem to care.

mmmmikey

Paul_Sparrow said:

Kid_Icarus said:

Scot_39 said:

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

As long as the metering component of the SMETS1 meter is correctly doing its thing - accurately recording usage - I reckon suppliers will be more focused on getting non-smart meters replaced with smarts, to reduce their liability for fines from OFGEM.

One thing the OP should bear in mind is that all Smart meters have a certification life of 10 years, unless the manufacturer has done a component reliability study and obtained approval for a longer certification period.  The SMETS1 standard was defined in 2012 with the first meters put on the wall a year or two later - so the first SMETS1’s will soon be coming to the end of their certification - I suspect these are the ones which will be replaced first.

So depending on when the OPs SMETS1 meter was installed, they might be due for a replacement soon anyway.

List of meters and their certification period available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6647412a4f29e1d07fadca26/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240516.pdf

The technician from Data Morrison, working on behalf of EDF, was here a couple of days ago. I live in a remote area of the UK, and he made quite a journey. He phoned EDF, and they told him not to exchange the meter since it could be read manually. He had a Gen 2 meter in his van and was ready to install it, but they did not authorize him. I am due to install solar panels, have already signed a contract with EDF, and am awaiting installation. I cannot export without a smart meter, but they do not seem to care.

Groan, I think I would have gone into full Victor Meldrew mode at that point. So I guess this does come down to priorities and "computer says no".

I'm wondering if you could approach a different supplier and tell them you're planning to move to Economy 7 and need a new meter and see if that works? You'll need to tell them you're going to install night storage heaters. Once you have a new meter you can easily enough switch tariffs - although Economy 7 might be a good option anyway. Obviously not very honest but although I'm usually a rule-follower in your circumstances I'd be quite comfortable trying to find a way round the rules.

Paul_Sparrow

mmmmikey said:

Paul_Sparrow said:

Kid_Icarus said:

Scot_39 said:

There is meant to be a plan in place to upgrade those that cannot be modified - to smets2 - but as DCC states - it's not only up to them - but your supplier.

As long as the metering component of the SMETS1 meter is correctly doing its thing - accurately recording usage - I reckon suppliers will be more focused on getting non-smart meters replaced with smarts, to reduce their liability for fines from OFGEM.

One thing the OP should bear in mind is that all Smart meters have a certification life of 10 years, unless the manufacturer has done a component reliability study and obtained approval for a longer certification period.  The SMETS1 standard was defined in 2012 with the first meters put on the wall a year or two later - so the first SMETS1’s will soon be coming to the end of their certification - I suspect these are the ones which will be replaced first.

So depending on when the OPs SMETS1 meter was installed, they might be due for a replacement soon anyway.

List of meters and their certification period available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6647412a4f29e1d07fadca26/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240516.pdf

The technician from Data Morrison, working on behalf of EDF, was here a couple of days ago. I live in a remote area of the UK, and he made quite a journey. He phoned EDF, and they told him not to exchange the meter since it could be read manually. He had a Gen 2 meter in his van and was ready to install it, but they did not authorize him. I am due to install solar panels, have already signed a contract with EDF, and am awaiting installation. I cannot export without a smart meter, but they do not seem to care.

Groan, I think I would have gone into full Victor Meldrew mode at that point. So I guess this does come down to priorities and "computer says no".

I'm wondering if you could approach a different supplier and tell them you're planning to move to Economy 7 and need a new meter and see if that works? You'll need to tell them you're going to install night storage heaters. Once you have a new meter you can easily enough switch tariffs - although Economy 7 might be a good option anyway. Obviously not very honest but although I'm usually a rule-follower in your circumstances I'd be quite comfortable trying to find a way round the rules.

I complained to EDF. They gave me £30 as compensation, and the engineer is coming back next Thursday. Let's see if he does nothing again. EDF are the best currently, Octopus doesn't have engineers available at the moment in west wales and I was waiting months. Eon directly told me that they would send out no one despite their sales person telling me the opposite and pretending she could see available appointments in my area...