Why does it take so long for a smart meter to connect to a new supplier?

Bungle73

Moved to a new supplier recently. The gas meter happened straight away, but the electricity is still showing as connected to my old supplier. Apparently it can take up to 6 weeks. Why??

Rodders53

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/what-happens-to-my-smart-meter-when-i-change-supplier/

Suggests it is five working days. So where is the 6 weeks from?

It may be relevant as to who the suppliers are/were and what model of meter you have (Smets1 or 2 etc.,.) ?

Bungle73

So Energy to Outfox the Market. They told me, and a Google search confirmed it. I'm pretty sure it's the latest version.

Scot_39

Showing where though ?

Surely the only thing that matters in the short term is is the new supplier getting the smart readings for billing ? 

But I grant you you would worry why one has updated and the other not as you would have thought the supplier would request or register both at same time on any relevant databases.

Bungle73

On my IHD for a start, and in my online account.

I wanted to move from the E7 version of my tariff to the flat rate, and apparently the change can't be done until it's fully connected.

mmmmikey

Hi @Bungle73 when I switched to Octopus everything happened in a few days, at least everything that was visible to me as a customer, there might have been other admin updating databases in the background but nothing that affected me. So it sounds to me like either there's some irregularity with the existing records relating to your smart meter or your supplier are just being "a bit crap" for want of a better expression and fobbing you off with an excuse.

Be good if someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's normal for everything to happen quite quickly now, although of course things can and do go wrong sometimes.

housebuyer143

When I attempted to move to outfox the market they were so incompetent that I ended up cancelling the switch. Why? 
Because despite signing up for dual fuel they only applied to change over my electric and not my gas and then they refused to accept that I had requested both. 

Are you sure they are actually supplying your electric?

Bungle73

It's showing up now, now I just need them to do the second part.

Bungle73

Not on the IHD though.........

Scot_39

What isn't on the IHD - the new OFTM electric unit rate / standing charge ?

You do realise at least on a credit meter - they are only for information.

It's the rates on the suppliers billing system and so bills that determine your actual price.

Some never got their ihd prices updated regularly for years.
For a while my rates were set ex vat - and at one stage the totals excluded standing charge.  So not always accurate.

I now get the updates every cap change - within days of change.

But last year my supllier EOn Next sent standard credit payment higher rates not DD rates to 1000s and took over 3m to beyond next cap change to fix.
So for that period costs displayed on ihd were c8% too high. 

I track both price and kWh use on mine - but only as need those and meter rates to work out peak off peak unit use out of the total available on ihd in spreadsheets

And in terms of tracking use long term - kWh etc  more helpful too.

Bungle73

Scot_39 said:

What isn't on the IHD - the new OFTM electric unit rate / standing charge ?

Yes, and it still says "So Energy".