Email from EON Next

jack_tyler

Hello.

I received an email from EON Next saying that my electricity meter had reached the end of its life and the certification date had expired, so they need to change it for a smart meter. I really really do not want a smart meter, I have heard so many bad things about smart meters both from family & friends and on here, I much prefer doing my own readings and sending them in every month. Do I have to have a smart meter? and if so I have heard that you can ask for it to be put in 'dumb mode' so that it doesn't send readings and I can still do them. Is this 'dumb mode' correct? Also I don't pay via Direct Debit (personal reasons) so if do have to have a smart meter can I still pay my bills the way I do now. 

Thank you 

Scot_39

The options to refuse a smart meter were and have become increasingly pretty slim.

End of life of old even slimmer since Ofgem specific guidance changed for it.

Basically if your in an area where smart external WAN network signal is generally good, your next meter will almost certainly be smart.

It shouldnt change your billing in the slightest.

[And nothing to stop you taking own readings and submitting - if in dumb mode or grt signal issues you will / may need to for accurate bills and always a good idea to keep track in any case.]

But you might want to use it to.

Paying standard credit rates the most expensive cap pricing currently.

But - ironically smart prepay - prepay is now well July rates on average across UK for Dual fuel the  cheapest cap price - might be a good solution for you.

Some switched to it when cap rates dropped - and pay upfront e.g. on line weekly etc to avoid big bills..

Also would monthly variable direct debit rather than annualised DD  if credit / debit cycle or suspiciously large payment demands - was your issue.

If paying on receipt chances are you can afford or having to afford large seasonal (winter heating) bill variation.

pearb34

We have a smart meter but the connection is terrible so we have to update the readings on the website like before, so there is nothing stopping you from sending meter reading in manually like you have always been doing if the smart meter does not work properly.

Rodders53

I took EoN's £50 credit offer to have a smart meter fitted after they'd missed the opportunity with a faulty meter needing replacement.

Assuming you are in a location where the smart meter will be smart and collect and send readings, then EoN will simply take a monthly meter reading via it and bill you in the same way as they currently do... Even when the tariff changes they use the reading from the smart meter to be accurate rather than estimating.

I'm on variable DD with them and they read around this date monthly and the DD is taken in the middle of next month so I'm always in debt to them (rather than the other way around).  A fixed monthly DD tariff may work out slightly cheaper for me but then I know how difficult EoN were in giving me a credit refund after the Covid support payments so don't want to go that route at present!

The DD guarantee ensures I can reclaim any big mistakes EoN might make (but since the smart meter they've been spot on with my Bills).

sheslookinhot

I’ve had the same email over the last few months. I told them to come and recertify the existing meter. It’s only 34 years old. End of life is nonsense. 

Every time I change my tariff, they say it’s conditional on having a smart meter installed, fed up with the emails asking me to book an appointment. No smart meter for me.

jack_tyler

sheslookinhot said:

I’ve had the same email over the last few months. I told them to come and recertify the existing meter. It’s only 34 years old. End of life is nonsense. 

Every time I change my tariff, they say it’s conditional on having a smart meter installed, fed up with the emails asking me to book an appointment. No smart meter for me.

I didn't know I could ask them to do this, thank you. I will certainly put that to them when I contact them on Monday. Did they come and recertify your meter? My property was built in 1986, so I'm presuming the meter is the original one. Do you know how I can check or find where this certification date is? 

Ayr_Rage

Why on earth is there so much reluctance to embrace technology when it comes to humble meters when the average UK punter wants to upgrade their mobile phone every few years?

Come on people, get with it.

PS. I'm 65 so no spring chicken.

spot1034

sheslookinhot said:

I’ve had the same email over the last few months. I told them to come and recertify the existing meter. It’s only 34 years old. End of life is nonsense. 

Every time I change my tariff, they say it’s conditional on having a smart meter installed, fed up with the emails asking me to book an appointment. No smart meter for me.

I'm reluctant to respond seriously to your comment about the age of your meter in case you wrote in jest and are expecting people to share your joke. Seriously though, what age would you regard as too old for a meter and what expertise in this field do you have which leads you to your conclusion? 

What I can see happening that tariffs for non-smart meters will be increased, with no option to move off them until a new smart meter is installed. 

I had a 33 year old meter replaced last year. I was sad to see it go, but the fact was that it didn't belong to me anyway (neither does yours belong to you) and I have no regrets. 

Rodders53

Only way to re-certify a meter is to remove it and take it away to a specialist Laboratory to do that and then bring it back.  So no leccy for weeks or months...

Or they could swap the meter for a new (smart) one and no need to do any of that removal and refitting process
 
Meters will become less accurate over time and that's what the meter certification process is all about, ensuring the metering is within acceptable tolerances for accuracy.  Back in the day they did swap meters, take them away and rebuild / recertify to be fitted again elsewhere.  Cost of doing that is now prohibitive and it is simply cheaper to fit a new one.

Scot_39

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters

wrf12345

I have a smart meter and think it is great for TOU but I suspect some people are worried that once the roll-put is near complete TOU may become mandatory to help out the grid. Loading old meters with high standing charges will probably force people off them and be justified by the loading on the grid from using at peak times.