We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
Can a seller change the electricity supply to a smart meter, weeks before completion
Comments
-
You can purchase the old fashion mechanical meters - These are reconditioned units. You can also get basic digital meters (new). Getting a supplier to accept the readings and bill you based on a meter they don't own would be a whole new level of fun & pain.Alternatively, a smart meter could be installed without a communications hub, but a supplier is unlikely to entertain the idea.Any language construct that forces such insanity in this case should be abandoned without regrets. –
Erik Aronesty, 2014
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.1 -
Or in our case, you can have three new Smart meters fitted, none of which communicate!FreeBear said:You can purchase the old fashion mechanical meters - These are reconditioned units. You can also get basic digital meters (new). Getting a supplier to accept the readings and bill you based on a meter they don't own would be a whole new level of fun & pain.Alternatively, a smart meter could be installed without a communications hub, but a supplier is unlikely to entertain the idea.Fashion on the Ration
2024 - 43/66 coupons used, carry forward 23
2025 - 62/893 -
I’ve never had my meter read so often as since I got a smart meter!1
-
The OP hasn't returned.
Mods: I suggest this post is closed. It's going off on a proper tangent again.
3 -
Or at least move it to the energy board... that's where most of the rants/debates about smart meters take place0
-
No you cant. You need your energy providers consent before replacing a meter as they own the meter. No hope in hell that a provider would say 'yeah go ahead and rip that out'.Grizebeck said:
You can replace them. Quite easily in some cases (I speak from personal experience)GDB2222 said:Can you get a smart meter replaced with an unsmart one?
Presumably, you can disable the smartness by wrapping kitchen foil around the transmitter unit?
Pretty sure it will be legislation to have a smart meter over the next few years.1 -
You misunderstand (my fault)TheJP said:
No you cant. You need your energy providers consent before replacing a meter as they own the meter. No hope in hell that a provider would say 'yeah go ahead and rip that out'.Grizebeck said:
You can replace them. Quite easily in some cases (I speak from personal experience)GDB2222 said:Can you get a smart meter replaced with an unsmart one?
Presumably, you can disable the smartness by wrapping kitchen foil around the transmitter unit?
Pretty sure it will be legislation to have a smart meter over the next few years.
Have the smart meter replaced by a dumb meter by the energy firm1 -
Still no - pretty much no energy firms are fitting old style meters now, indeed, why would they? The SMETS2 is the most up to date version of the device in question, most people actively seek out modern technology!Grizebeck said:
You misunderstand (my fault)TheJP said:
No you cant. You need your energy providers consent before replacing a meter as they own the meter. No hope in hell that a provider would say 'yeah go ahead and rip that out'.Grizebeck said:
You can replace them. Quite easily in some cases (I speak from personal experience)GDB2222 said:Can you get a smart meter replaced with an unsmart one?
Presumably, you can disable the smartness by wrapping kitchen foil around the transmitter unit?
Pretty sure it will be legislation to have a smart meter over the next few years.
Have the smart meter replaced by a dumb meter by the energy firm🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1 -
Agreed no provider will expense the hassle of retrofitting an old meter when they have no obligation to do so. In less than 5 years all homes will have smart meters. Dont understand the negativity around them.EssexHebridean said:
Still no - pretty much no energy firms are fitting old style meters now, indeed, why would they? The SMETS2 is the most up to date version of the device in question, most people actively seek out modern technology!Grizebeck said:
You misunderstand (my fault)TheJP said:
No you cant. You need your energy providers consent before replacing a meter as they own the meter. No hope in hell that a provider would say 'yeah go ahead and rip that out'.Grizebeck said:
You can replace them. Quite easily in some cases (I speak from personal experience)GDB2222 said:Can you get a smart meter replaced with an unsmart one?
Presumably, you can disable the smartness by wrapping kitchen foil around the transmitter unit?
Pretty sure it will be legislation to have a smart meter over the next few years.
Have the smart meter replaced by a dumb meter by the energy firm1 -
Fear of the unknown, coupled with fear whipped up by those who get their kicks by scaring others - and especially if those others are vulnerable.There should have been a lot more education around them from the start. SMETS1 meters shouldn’t have been released until the glitch with them being supplier specific was ironed out, and more should have been done to counter the conspiracy theories.🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her3
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.8K Spending & Discounts
- 246K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 260K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards