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Smart meter required after certificaton period

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  • Anyway - apart from my meter woes.......
    Can I wish you all a very happy 2025 and thank you for your posts re my meter.

    Still thinks its a stinker but I'll think about it next year - in the meantime - HAPPY NEW YEAR!
  • 400ixl
    400ixl Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Happy new year to you too.

    The tales of wrong readings are in the main, tales. Yes, smart meters don't connect and are dumb, therefore the supplier uses estimated readings. This is exactly the same as they would do if you didn't supply monthly readings, but the owners in these cases do not and equally do not check the estimates are accurate either.

    Check that the bills are showing provided numbers and check those are accurate and there is no wrong readings issue for you to worry about. Submit your own numbers and there is no reading accuracy to worry about.

    As for changing your heating and the usage going up is nothing to do with the meter, that is correctly showing the change in usage.

    If you change nothing but the meter, then the amount it reads and the trends will all remain the same. Not sure why this isn't resonating with you.

    If your usage stays the same (quantity) and your tariff stays the same (price) then the bill will be the same, even if the meter is changed. No obviously you have to take into account the change in rates from Jan 1st if you are on the capped tariff) and that your usage will never be exactly the same from month to month, but you have your trends to check it is in the right ballpark.

    If they said they wanted to replace your current meter with another dumb meter, would you have an issue?
  • badmemory
    badmemory Posts: 9,549 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I had a new smart meter fitted a few months ago.  Make sure they explain how to get the best out of the IHD & leave the instruction booklet.  If you keep records it is quite easy to check what your meter reading is at any given time.  I found the person fitting my meter was a bit condescending & when I asked how to read the actual meter said I wouldn't be able to, so wouldn't show me.  I assume that was him being ageist as I am older than you.  It is harder to read but I can read it.
  • Octopus have a guide that should cover all types of smart meter, in case it's useful for anyone:
    https://octopus.energy/blog/how-to-read-your-meter/
  • Scot_39
    Scot_39 Posts: 3,458 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 31 December 2024 at 11:25PM
    I have a flat in London for work purposes as I live in Devon.

    My London flat is abt 10 yo - but Octopus have told me my electricity meter "has now reached the end of its certification period" and they are obliged to change it to a smart meter. What meter becomes obsolete after 10 yrs??


    Do I have to change my meter - period? Can I refuse it?


    Do I have to have a smart meter?
    Can I insist on the smart meter being a "dumb meter"? How would I know?
    Can I install a meter in my flat ( they are in communal areas on each floor at present) to have a check on what they record?
    Lastly I absolutely don't want dynamic pricing of electricity - I need to know what tariff I am on and what I am using / owe?. HELP!!!

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

    Look down column C and you will see many with 10 or 15 years.

    It's not your meter it's the supplier - and they are obliged to replace it - and the rules were changed by Ofgem to make it almost inevitable it will be smart at EOL.


    Changing the meter in many case has no impact on standard tariffs - although multirate electric has potential caveats to that.

    But if your flat is empty a lot of the time - smart metering may give you options - such as lower SC or more SC free tariffs in future.

    As long as you know what meter is yours in the cabinet - you will be no worse off.  

    If the smart signal works from the cabinet - you may actually be better off - as can then just periodically check data on an app and on many suppliers these days - to varying extent - the suppliers your account pages once logged in - or that statements show they are getting regular smart data.  No need to make a special trip to flat meter cabinet just to read meter.
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,421 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    This is just a meter change - the only difference the “smart” bit will make to you is that when you are not in your London flat and the end of billing period comes along, rather than getting an estimated bill you will instead get an accurate one thanks to the comms unit sending the reading. When you return to the London flat, you check the reading as usual, record that for your own records, check against the bill that it is accurate and there you go - job done. 

    Once you take out all the scaremongering (and I’m afraid that in a lot of cases that is specifically designed to scare those in an older demographic, as unpleasant as that seems) it really is just a meter change. Technology has moved on a bit over the last 50 years as you will be aware - if anything it’s possible that your new meter in London will be even more accurate than that 50 year old relic down in Devon - which for some reason has undoubtedly slipped through the net for replacement. If I were you I’d get on to having that one changed too! 
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  • mmmmikey
    mmmmikey Posts: 2,316 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    This is just a meter change - the only difference the “smart” bit will make to you is that when you are not in your London flat and the end of billing period comes along, rather than getting an estimated bill you will instead get an accurate one thanks to the comms unit sending the reading. When you return to the London flat, you check the reading as usual, record that for your own records, check against the bill that it is accurate and there you go - job done. 

    Once you take out all the scaremongering (and I’m afraid that in a lot of cases that is specifically designed to scare those in an older demographic, as unpleasant as that seems) it really is just a meter change. Technology has moved on a bit over the last 50 years as you will be aware - if anything it’s possible that your new meter in London will be even more accurate than that 50 year old relic down in Devon - which for some reason has undoubtedly slipped through the net for replacement. If I were you I’d get on to having that one changed too! 
    Good advice as always @EssexHebridian , Happy New Year :-)
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