Email from EON Next

Ildhund

mime20 said:

(They made a complete mess of the Edwardian tiled pathway and even after "fixing" it it never looked as good as it was before).

The supplier will never dig up the path in order to install a new meter. It's usually an hour's job of disconnecting and removing the old meter, then mounting and connecting the new one. Most of the time goes in testing and checking that everything's working as it should. Digging up the pathway is a job for the distributor (of electricity or gas) if whatever is there isn't up to standard any more. And standards are imposed largely for reasons of safety.

Scot_39

The 5196 had 3 variants I can see reference to online - A,B and D at least - and seen pics of the A and D.

As had the perhaps later 5235 which had 4 - with 2 different Ds (A / B / D-L / D-N).  Seen an F referred to - but cannot see in a UK spec. A & B were single rate - the D dual rate - selected by pulling 5th terminal to Live D-L or Neutral D-N respectively (e.g. from a mechanical or RTS timeswitch)

But looking at the data sheet for the 5235 series - there is only one Ofgem certification certificate referenced (Ofgem 986) - which appears to apply to all.

That possibly at a guess perhaps becuase the certification is for the core accuracy of the measurement electrics / electronics - of the meter - not the variants.

So when the list says 5196 25 and 5235 20 years - I'd take that at face value - for all models.

But you'd have to be pretty brave to challenge the supplier - who says they now want to replace it.

They may even have evidence of higher failure rates on the 5196.  

Bad batches of some meter brands have seen them pulled from UK homes - in one fmaous case because as the components failed the meter would very significantly over-read.  

As such it's probably not in the OP's interest to retain a marginally aged meter - in case it follows the same over reading trend.

My first relpacement for RTS - a brand new digital meter was pulled within a few years by EOn - long before the end of it's certification.

phillw

jack_tyler said:

I have heard so many bad things about smart meters both from family & friends and on here,

I haven't heard anything bad on here about smart meters. But I'd ignore your friends and family.

jack_tyler

Swipe said:

jack_tyler said:

Swipe said:

It has a Nov 2003 date stamp so probably expired last year if single rate and 4 more years left if multi rate. The Ampy 5196 multi has a 25 year expiry.

Thank you, so basically my meter expired last year....have I got that right? 

As Gerry says, if it's a multi-rate meter (economy 7), then you still have 4 years left. 

Please could you tell me how I find out just by looking at my meter, whether its a multi rate or single. I am very very confused by all this. I will be contacting EON later today, so I want to get my information correct. Thank you 

Swipe

jack_tyler said:

Swipe said:

jack_tyler said:

Swipe said:

It has a Nov 2003 date stamp so probably expired last year if single rate and 4 more years left if multi rate. The Ampy 5196 multi has a 25 year expiry.

Thank you, so basically my meter expired last year....have I got that right? 

As Gerry says, if it's a multi-rate meter (economy 7), then you still have 4 years left. 

Please could you tell me how I find out just by looking at my meter, whether its a multi rate or single. I am very very confused by all this. I will be contacting EON later today, so I want to get my information correct. Thank you 

It will be single rate if it only has a single rate/reading on the display and on your bills. You'd likely already be aware if it were multi-rate (economy 7 or 10).

Scot_39

The slightly later 5235A was single rate meter the D dual rate - so assume the 5196A would use same convention - and be single rate.

It would need a 5th connection on the D series to select the second rate - no smart wireless meters in those days.

If you have no secondary timer module - mechanical or RTS etc - see these photo examples kindly posted in another thread by @lohr500 - in the meter cabinet / vicinity - you will be single rate.  

Even better the OP has provided a photo of his 5196D - including the thin grey 5th thinner connection from RTS to meter in the third photo - which I assume does the rate register selection.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81018510/#Comment_81018510

Your picture has no auxiliary rate switch connection.

Or as above Check your bills - if only space for one reading - or only one rate on the tariff table section - its not - it's single rate.

FreeBear

phillw said:

jack_tyler said:

I have heard so many bad things about smart meters both from family & friends and on here,

I haven't heard anything bad on here about smart meters. But I'd ignore your friends and family.

Had my first smart meter installed by Solarplicity as I recall. It worked OK, sending readings each month. Then switched supplier, and had to submit manual readings. That didn't change despite switching suppliers again a few years later. Finally got resolved by changing the SMETS1 meter for a new SMETS2. Even before the "upgrade", I could access meter readings via the IHD, so saved some of the hassle of providing readings.

Aside from SMETS1 issues, the only thing I have against smart meters is the total lack of a P1 port that they have over on the continent. Why the government didn't include it in the specification, I don't know...

Crazycat89

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 came here looking for this! It’s getting harder for me to ignore the cheaper fixed tariffs but refuse to have a smart meter (just scan the eon community forums for the constant issues!) I did wonder if I could just switch and continue to ignore them as I do now. Worst case they bump me off the tariff I’m no worse off than before!

spot1034

Crazycat89 said:

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 came here looking for this! It’s getting harder for me to ignore the cheaper fixed tariffs but refuse to have a smart meter (just scan the eon community forums for the constant issues!) I did wonder if I could just switch and continue to ignore them as I do now. Worst case they bump me off the tariff I’m no worse off than before!

Has it occurred to you that any forum which deals with problems is bound to be populated by people who have such problems, even if they are a tiny minority of the population at large?

Most people who have had smart meters installed have no issues at all. The chance of you joining those in this group, as opposed to those who post on forums because they have a problem is actually pretty high.