Smart meter - half hourly readings

ScubaMike

Hello all,
I recently had a smart meter fitted (SMES2?).

I have solar panels and battery storage.  I want to be able to charge batteries at a cheap overnight rate and use during the day instead of higher priced units.

I enquired about these and have been told that my meter does not support half-hourly readings and I would need to have a different meter fitted at my expense of £157.

Is this normal?  why have all these different deals that require half-hourly readings when they do not fit them as standard?

Does anyone know if domestic half-hourly meters have a different standing charge (or other associated costs) over standard smart meters?  - I would need to do the calculation to see if it's worthwhile to pay for the switch.

debitcardmayhem

Who installed your meter? I thought all SMETs 2s hd that capability.

Keep_pedalling

Who told you this? 

ScubaMike

SSE representative (agent) in online chat.

Will contact them again for clarification.

May move over to Octopus if they offer an overnight cheap charging rate.

MattMattMattUK

debitcardmayhem said:

Who installed your meter? I thought all SMETs 2s hd that capability.

My understanding is that all SMETS2 meters must support 30 minute readings, as far as I am aware it is part of the specification. 

debitcardmayhem

I am on octopus flux , rates 0200-0500 15.13 1600-1900 35.29 rest 25.21
Export 4.92 27.05 and 13.44.

ScubaMike

Been back in touch with SSE.
Apparently my meter DOES send readings every half hour, but needs to be changed from single rate to dual rate mode.  Perhaps this was my misunderstanding, but they say it requires a mode change, this would be free of charge.

Given that suppliers want to level out grid load, it seems strange that suppliers do not enable this as default..

Scot_39

Is your smart meter currently reliably reporting your daily readings to your suppliers - or are you still having to submit monthly readings to avoid estimated bills ?

(Check for S, E or M against readings on bills / statements or online accounts)

Unless the supplier can reliably access the readings - daily is the default - they wont be able to access the 1/2 hrly - and it will be pointless you moving onto a tariff that requires that option.   

As most will then revert to some default fixed TOU or flat rate billing.

Do you know what model of meter you have - make / model ?

Which supplier are you with ?

And although there are tariffs that use dynamic pricing based on 1/2 hrly data - for import and export - there are other options that should work for fixed TOU banded pricing - like standard economy 7 type deals.

debitcardmayhem

ScubaMike said:

Been back in touch with SSE.
Apparently my meter DOES send readings every half hour, but needs to be changed from single rate to dual rate mode.  Perhaps this was my misunderstanding, but they say it requires a mode change, this would be free of charge.

Given that suppliers want to level out grid load, it seems strange that suppliers do not enable this as default..

Surely they are talking E7 then if it needs a mode change?

Qyburn

Which doesn't require H/H readings

ScubaMike

debitcardmayhem said:

I am on octopus flux , rates 0200-0500 15.13 1600-1900 35.29 rest 25.21
Export 4.92 27.05 and 13.44.

Thanks for the figures, useful to calculate potential savings.

I wouldn't be on export as I am getting FIT payments and don't want to mess with them until payments expire (in another 10 years or so).