Smart meter advice

JSL2003

Hello.  I note previous threads re. smart meters, but would appreciate some advice on the following please.

Our electricity meter was changed in around 2017/18 by SolarPlicity, from a traditional meter to a smart meter (Lanis/Gyr+ SM1 model, if that means anything to anyone).  It has never been active as a smart meter though, due to an issue at installation.  We are quite happy with that, and would prefer to maintain a 'dumb' meter going forwards.

Our current supplier, OutFox the Market, along with their partner SMS Plc, has been continually badgering us to have a smart meter installed. Each time we have politely said 'No thanks'. This week, we have received an email from them with the heading in big bold red type 'Action Required: Your meter needs replacing.'  They then go on to tell us that our meter has 'passed' (sure they mean 'past') its certification period and requires urgent replacement. They then go on to reference the Electricity Act 1989.

They 'require' us to contact their trusted meter installation partner SMS Plc 'as soon as possible'.

1) we do not want another smart meter
2) we are quite happy that our current 'smart' meter is 'dumb', so we can continue to provide our own, manual readings on a monthly basis
3) we do not appreciate being near bullied

Any helpful advice would be warmly welcomed.

Best regards.

QrizB

Ofgem has set mandatory targets for smart meter installations and suppliers are fined if they don't meet them.

Let them change your meter. It's their property not yours.

Grumpy_chap

JSL2003 said:

Hello.  I note previous threads re. smart meters, but would appreciate some advice on the following please.

Our electricity meter was changed in around 2017/18 by SolarPlicity, from a traditional meter to a smart meter (Lanis/Gyr+ SM1 model, if that means anything to anyone).  It has never been active as a smart meter though, due to an issue at installation.  We are quite happy with that, and would prefer to maintain a 'dumb' meter going forwards.

Our current supplier, OutFox the Market, along with their partner SMS Plc, has been continually badgering us to have a smart meter installed. Each time we have politely said 'No thanks'. This week, we have received an email from them with the heading in big bold red type 'Action Required: Your meter needs replacing.'  They then go on to tell us that our meter has 'passed' (sure they mean 'past') its certification period and requires urgent replacement. They then go on to reference the Electricity Act 1989.

They 'require' us to contact their trusted meter installation partner SMS Plc 'as soon as possible'.

1) we do not want another smart meter
2) we are quite happy that our current 'smart' meter is 'dumb', so we can continue to provide our own, manual readings on a monthly basis
3) we do not appreciate being near bullied

Any helpful advice would be warmly welcomed.

Best regards.

You could possibly advice OtM that the meter is only 10 years old and ask for clarification that this means it is past life.

You could possibly reset the clock by change of supplier, depending on any minimum term you may have agreed to.  Also, I understand not all suppliers are taking new customers unless they have smart meter.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Just ignore them if you don’t want the meter. 

Worth a note a working smart meter will open up options for time of use tariffs which could save you a lot on your energy bills.

sheramber

SM1 would indicate that it is a smet 1 meter which were all due to be replaced by 2022. 

Aylesbury_Duck

If it is past its certification date then I don't think you have a choice.  If it's still within date, then as others have advised, you can ignore them.

TELLIT01

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Just ignore them if you don’t want the meter. 

Worth a note a working smart meter will open up options for time of use tariffs which could save you a lot on your energy bills.

I wonder just how much/little these offpeak tariffs could save in reality.  Given the the fire brigade advises against having washing machines and tumble driers in particular left to run unattended, ie overnight, where is the saving coming from for most people? 

QrizB

TELLIT01 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Worth a note a working smart meter will open up options for time of use tariffs which could save you a lot on your energy bills.

I wonder just how much/little these offpeak tariffs could save in reality.

If you have electric heating, they can save hundreds. There's a link in my signature to some calculations.

MSE_ForumTeam5

we've moved this to the energy board

GingerTim

TELLIT01 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Just ignore them if you don’t want the meter. 

Worth a note a working smart meter will open up options for time of use tariffs which could save you a lot on your energy bills.

I wonder just how much/little these offpeak tariffs could save in reality.  Given the the fire brigade advises against having washing machines and tumble driers in particular left to run unattended, ie overnight, where is the saving coming from for most people? 

I will save about £80 on my electricity bill this year on Octopus Agile just by avoiding the evening peak for cooking etc. I run my washing and dryer during the weekend in the day.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Aylesbury_Duck said:

If it is past its certification date then I don't think you have a choice.  If it's still within date, then as others have advised, you can ignore them.

Energy regulars will know more but I think they need a warrant to forcefully change the meter and with the pool of customers who don't have smart meters still being relatively large there is probably enough customers who will fold after being badgered without the energy companies going to the trouble and expense of getting a warrant for a single customer just to add 1 fitting to their totals.

TELLIT01 said:

I wonder just how much/little these offpeak tariffs could save in reality.  Given the the fire brigade advises against having washing machines and tumble driers in particular left to run unattended, ie overnight, where is the saving coming from for most people? 

I've seen a couple of posts here where people have mentioned an average of around 15p per Kw which is potentially a big saving over 25p per Kw and as above if you have electric heating or an electric car there are tariffs structured with that in mind to encourage off peak use. 

Once (nearly) everyone has a smart meter it's possible savings will disappear and energy bills will be the same for all so now is the time to take advantage if you can (and wish to).