Change of Meters

jack_tyler

Ok, so a few weeks ago I put a post on here regarding my electricity meter and an email I had received from EON saying that the certification date on the meter had expired and it now needed to be changed (for a smart meter). I really really didn't want one as I hear more bad things about them than good, and I prefer to do my own readings and send them in. I was told that I could still do this and ask for the meter to be put in 'dumb mode'. So today was the day, engineer turned up (on time) showed him where my electricity meter was and then he asked where my gas meter was. I told him I hadn't booked for this, it was just my electric meter because if was now out of date, he checked and said yes i'm changing both. Not happy about this because I feel like I've been duped but nothing I can do I suppose.......asked about putting it in dumb mode and he said I can't it has to be smart mode. This conversation went on for a good 10 mins or so, until he said he would put it in smart mode but if I want it changed to dumb mode, I would have to ring up but beware because they will not be happy. Has anyone had any experience of this? Can I be forced to have it 'smart mode' rather than 'dumb'. Thanks

Gerry1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80353167/#Comment_80353167

Ayr_Rage

You don't normally hear the good things because we are inherently a nation of moaners and people like to vent rather than praise.

The conspiracy theorists and those worried about EMF etc are also free to spout their nonsense.

A working smart meter is a great device and if it can't phone home you'll just have a brand new meter for free.

GingerTim

Gerry1 said:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80353167/#Comment_80353167

The campaign to make Dolor's post a sticky starts here.

Gerry1

GingerTim said:

Gerry1 said:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80353167/#Comment_80353167

The campaign to make Dolor's post a sticky starts here.

And to have him unbanned...

EssexHebridean

I second both of the above posts!

Anyhow - you can opt to change the frequency of readings that your supplier uses Jack - so if you particularly wanted to reduce your options for saving money on your energy costs, I guess you could do that. The question has to be though, why WOULD you want to do that? 

Why not wait and see how it goes - there is really no reason why your meters should give you any problems, the vast majority work absolutely fine. 

badmemory

Ayr_Rage said:

 and if it can't phone home you'll just have a brand new meter for free.

I am not sure that this is actually true.  After all the energy company is only required to fit a smart meter, they are not required to ensure it works.  I believe the figure is 10% for none working ones.

Before anyone accuses me of anything I do have a smart meter, only electric as he was unable to fit a gas one.  We will ignore for now that he also messed up my solar whilst he was fitting it.  The last time I had a new gas meter they left me with a leak & tried to charge me for fixing it.  Some of us have very real reasons for avoiding these changes which are nothing to do with conspiracy theories.

Spoonie_Turtle

badmemory said:

Ayr_Rage said:

 and if it can't phone home you'll just have a brand new meter for free.

I am not sure that this is actually true.  After all the energy company is only required to fit a smart meter, they are not required to ensure it works.  I believe the figure is 10% for none working ones.

How does that negate the previous comment?  It'll still be a brand new meter, free, just not communicating with the supplier (which their current non-smart one obviously doesn't do anyway, so no difference there).

badmemory

Sorry I obviously misunderstood I thought you were saying that they would replace a non-working one.

400ixl

Life is too short to be trying to fight the inevitable.

The vast majority of smart meters work exatly as they should and give you access to more tariffs (which will only increase over time).

If you want to also submit manual readings then do so. But maybe just check the automatic readings are accurate.

FreeBear

400ixl said: The vast majority of smart meters work exactly as they should and give you access to more tariffs (which will only increase over time).

Agreed. And this claim of 10% being faulty is misleading at best. Most of the "faults" are down to communication issues (older SMETS1 meters not yet enrolled), faulty in house displays, or incomplete registration. The number of meters that are genuinely faulty and not correctly recording usage is very, very small.