EDF smart meter nagging

GingerTim

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MP1995 said:

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Or when, say, a new government decides it's time to make smart meters mandatory, or to 'encourage' refuseniks start charging £1.50/day standing charge for dumb meters...

If they start charging more, they should first ensure the ones installed are working first/charge less until they work.

I agree with @gingertim but will add those with a smart meter that cannot connect for some reason can be exempt from his idea.

Those that refuse should pay more imo.

Precisely - I thought it would go without saying that those with non-working smart meters or those in areas/properties without good coverage would be exempt from any penalty.

Those with non-working smart meters, get cheaper standing charges?

Not cheaper, just not being penalised. For instance:

Households with working smart meters: 50p/ day standing charge (by way of example)

Households with non-working smart meters: 50p/ day SC (it's not their fault the meter isn't working properly, so no penalty)

Households refusing smart meters: £1.50/day SC

mmmmikey

GingerTim said:

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MP1995 said:

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Or when, say, a new government decides it's time to make smart meters mandatory, or to 'encourage' refuseniks start charging £1.50/day standing charge for dumb meters...

If they start charging more, they should first ensure the ones installed are working first/charge less until they work.

I agree with @gingertim but will add those with a smart meter that cannot connect for some reason can be exempt from his idea.

Those that refuse should pay more imo.

Precisely - I thought it would go without saying that those with non-working smart meters or those in areas/properties without good coverage would be exempt from any penalty.

Those with non-working smart meters, get cheaper standing charges?

Not cheaper, just not being penalised. For instance:

Households with working smart meters: 50p/ day standing charge (by way of example)

Households with non-working smart meters: 50p/ day SC (it's not their fault the meter isn't working properly, so no penalty)

Households refusing smart meters: £1.50/day SC

I agree with the general principle but I wouldn't make the additional costs to refuseniks arbitrary or punitive. I'd just make it reflect the long term costs of not changing, for example by loading the green levies and any costs in dealing with meter fraud onto non-smart standing charges. I'd give non-communicating meter owners a discount to reflect the fact that they can't benefit from certain tariffs. Vulnerable customers wouldn't pay the refusenik rate to cater, for example, for the elderly who are genuinely unable to cope with the change.

I'd see overall standing charges staying at their current level on average and envisage them to be roughly in the proportion 40p/day non-communicating, 50p smart and 60p refusenik. I'd present it as discounts to smarts rather than a penalty to refuseniks.

Shouldn't be too difficult for Ofgem to work out the rates or energy suppliers to implement through existing mechanisms so no great cost or complexity to implement.

PixelPound

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Disconnection would be on site, rather than smart meters that can be disconnected remotely. I'm sure they would need some court order too. 

Qyburn

I don't think we really need more than an end to this idea that the customer has any say in the type of meter their supplier uses. 

BarelySentientAI

nic_c said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Disconnection would be on site, rather than smart meters that can be disconnected remotely. I'm sure they would need some court order too. 

A very easy court order to obtain, given that the Electricity Act gives them that explicit power.

Also quite easy for there to be a "network fault" during "necessary maintenance".

It's a simple choice - go off-grid or play within the rules of the system.  It isn't optional, and mistakenly leading people to believe that it was in some attempt to look friendly was never a good idea.

casjen

nic_c said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Disconnection would be on site, rather than smart meters that can be disconnected remotely. I'm sure they would need some court order too. 

Have to laugh at the attempts to stir up fears of disconnection.....extras charges etc...but that's how forums work these days with "forum regulars" eager to pass out their "words of wisdom"  from lofty heights 

GingerTim

mmmmikey said:

GingerTim said:

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MP1995 said:

Marvel1 said:

GingerTim said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Or when, say, a new government decides it's time to make smart meters mandatory, or to 'encourage' refuseniks start charging £1.50/day standing charge for dumb meters...

If they start charging more, they should first ensure the ones installed are working first/charge less until they work.

I agree with @gingertim but will add those with a smart meter that cannot connect for some reason can be exempt from his idea.

Those that refuse should pay more imo.

Precisely - I thought it would go without saying that those with non-working smart meters or those in areas/properties without good coverage would be exempt from any penalty.

Those with non-working smart meters, get cheaper standing charges?

Not cheaper, just not being penalised. For instance:

Households with working smart meters: 50p/ day standing charge (by way of example)

Households with non-working smart meters: 50p/ day SC (it's not their fault the meter isn't working properly, so no penalty)

Households refusing smart meters: £1.50/day SC

I agree with the general principle but I wouldn't make the additional costs to refuseniks arbitrary or punitive. I'd just make it reflect the long term costs of not changing, for example by loading the green levies and any costs in dealing with meter fraud onto non-smart standing charges. I'd give non-communicating meter owners a discount to reflect the fact that they can't benefit from certain tariffs. Vulnerable customers wouldn't pay the refusenik rate to cater, for example, for the elderly who are genuinely unable to cope with the change.

I'd see overall standing charges staying at their current level on average and envisage them to be roughly in the proportion 40p/day non-communicating, 50p smart and 60p refusenik. I'd present it as discounts to smarts rather than a penalty to refuseniks.

Shouldn't be too difficult for Ofgem to work out the rates or energy suppliers to implement through existing mechanisms so no great cost or complexity to implement.

On reflection, I suspect yours is a better approach! Sign me up.

PixelPound

BarelySentientAI said:

nic_c said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Disconnection would be on site, rather than smart meters that can be disconnected remotely. I'm sure they would need some court order too. 

A very easy court order to obtain, given that the Electricity Act gives them that explicit power.

Also quite easy for there to be a "network fault" during "necessary maintenance".

It's a simple choice - go off-grid or play within the rules of the system.  It isn't optional, and mistakenly leading people to believe that it was in some attempt to look friendly was never a good idea.

You suggesting a company would cut it off on purpose and say accidental. No legal company would, and suggesting it is scaremongering.

As to the court order, they would have to show they believe the meter is faulty. If there is no change in use indicated, that could be hard. 

Bully tactics of change of go off grid won't cut it either. 

Smart meters can be a godsend for some, but the government forcing upgrades because of the fallacy of it bringing usage down needs to be exposed. It is more about business creating demand than the environment. 

BarelySentientAI

nic_c said:

BarelySentientAI said:

nic_c said:

MeteredOut said:

casjen said:

Im on fixed EDF and got all the smart meter waffle. I don't need a smart meter and see no purpose in one. With some clever add blocking I dont get any pop ups on their website and all emails from them about smart meters get auto deleted as do any texts/notifications. One excellent result of this is that if they say I've breached Tcs of my tariff so putting me on the the SVR then please go ahead.. its cheaper than my fixed and will be still be after the next cap change    

You might get a surprise a few years down the line when they've sent you a mandatory replacement email, due to their meter being out of its certification process, and you ignore it due to your auto-deletion.

Unlikely it would happen without other forms of communication, but worst case is you can be disconnected if you refuse to allow the replacement of an uncertified meter.

Out of interest, what system do you use to auto-delete text messages you receive?

Disconnection would be on site, rather than smart meters that can be disconnected remotely. I'm sure they would need some court order too. 

A very easy court order to obtain, given that the Electricity Act gives them that explicit power.

Also quite easy for there to be a "network fault" during "necessary maintenance".

It's a simple choice - go off-grid or play within the rules of the system.  It isn't optional, and mistakenly leading people to believe that it was in some attempt to look friendly was never a good idea.

As to the court order, they would have to show they believe the meter is faulty. If there is no change in use indicated, that could be hard. 

Entirely incorrect - and that's the problem.

People have been led to believe that the meter at their house is theirs, and they get to choose when it is changed and for what, and only if it is proven faulty can a change be mandated with even a customer choice in that situation.

The Act is very clear.  The supplier gets to choose what meter is fitted, when it gets changed, and even where in the house it should be put.  It also specifies that if the customer doesn't agree, then the supplier can refuse to keep the connection live until an agreement is made.

The government can make all sorts of things mandatory - whether you personally agree with them or not.  Part of the bargain of living in a society is that you play by the rules.  If you don't want to, then don't participate.  In the energy world, not participating means going off-grid.  Do that, and you can use whatever you fancy to measure your use, count it on an abacus for all we care.

Deciding what sort of meter you happen to want is no different than deciding you only want supply through paper-insulated cables.  Neither are legitimate.

BlueonBlue

I am with EDF and have no smart meter I just take no notice of the end of the world rubbish spouted ..

My gas cert/plumber said Octopus is the cheapest in my area otherwise just stay with EDF .....but dont get a smart meter not yet !!.

If I "had to listen to some random" it certainly wouldnt be the doom and gloomers online and then my plumbers advise would also have to be looked into in depth .
I have found a site that offers £50 to switch to the cheaper Octopus so will possibly switch using that sometime in the future .
No hurry at all at the moment other than the extra cost factor means Octopus may become my new provider.