Smart meter won’t connect to the network - EDF refusing to resolve the issue!!!

Qyburn

mmmmikey said:

It's certainly true that EVs have lots of environmental benefits, but that's not the same as saying they are more efficient. Put it another way, EVs may use "cleaner, greener" energy than conventional petrol/diesel vehicles but they use much the same amount of energy to move them about - possibly even more dues to the weight of the batteries.

Depends on whether you're looking at energy in or mechanical energy out. A Diesel uses in the region of one litre per hour for 4HP.  Using just really rough conversion factors that's 10kWh of fuel to get 3kWh of mechanical energy.

MattMattMattUK

Smartmeterhell68 said:

MattMattMattUK.

If a smart meter is required to get the most cost effective usage of an EV, then it is absolutely DOES improve energy efficiency (I.e. it will encourage people to switch from petrol cars to EVs). People will be much less likely to switch to more energy efficient EVs if smart meters aren’t reliable. Also, smart meters let people know how much energy they are using and when, which allows them to adjust usage (I.e. it encourages more energy efficiency!). Simple really.

It really is not simple. Having a smart meter will allow consumers to get the most cost efficient usage of their EV, but it will not impact it's energy efficiency. Most smart meters are reliable, there are only a small minority with genuine issues, still too many, but the reality is that almost all who want an EV have a functioning smart meter. Again, driving an EV is still around a quarter of the cost per mile of driving a ICE vehicle. Smart meters do allow people to knowhow much energy they are using, but in reality energy saving is mostly common sense and a smart meter is unlikely to make any significant impact to usage. 

Smartmeterhell68 said:

Despite the issues with roll out, the fact of the matter is that energy companies are legally responsible for ensuring smart meters work. EDF are simply saying…it’s not connecting, we can’t/won’t fix the problem, and we won’t provide you with a replacement, but we’ll happily take the thousands of pounds per year you pay us. I am entirely comfortable calling that a corporate rip off.

They are not legally responsible for smart meters connecting to the network. Their obligation is to have a functioning meter, it must record usage, there is on obligation to have it functioning in smart mode. The thousands of pounds you pay them (and if is in the plural then you seriously need to look at your energy usage) are for the energy you use, their profit margin is around 3%, so claiming it is a rip off means just demonstrates you lack understanding. 

Smartmeterhell68 said:

I should not have to pay a higher price just because EDF won’t provide a workable smart meter (which is their legal responsibility to do), even if this higher price is cheaper than some other external options.

Again, it is not their legal responsibility. You have to pay for the energy you use, there is a solution that would get things resolved quicker than EDF may be able to, if you refuse that option then that is on you.

Smartmeterhell68 said:

The point, which you appear to be missing, is that changing provider won’t guarantee that the connection issue will be resolved. 

I am not missing that point at all. 

Smartmeterhell68 said:

Which = more time wasted = more stress = more emotional energy. 

It takes a minute or less to switch energy supplier. Once the transfer has completed you ask them to switch to an EV tariff and they will attempt to get your smart meter working and potentially replace it, the first part of the process takes less than a minute, the latter may involve wating at home for an engineer, you can do something else whilst you wait. There is no need to get stressed by it, stress is a choice, deeming things "emotional energy" seems a but hyperbolic. 

As others have said, you can either choose to change suppliers which will probably result in a quicker resolution, but otherwise you will have to wait for EDF to get round to it at some point. They do not have a legal obligation to make the smart meter communicate. If your complaint has been more than eight weeks you can raise the complaint with the ombudsman, who will tell you the same, but that additional annoyance for EDF might mean they replace the meter, or it might mean that when they get the judgement in their favour they never bother doing anything. If you keep doing the same thing nothing will change, the option is there to try something different, that would seem the logical choice to make.

MattMattMattUK

mmmmikey said:

Smartmeterhell68 said:

MattMattMattUK.

If a smart meter is required to get the most cost effective usage of an EV, then it is absolutely DOES improve energy efficiency (I.e. it will encourage people to switch from petrol cars to EVs). People will be much less likely to switch to more energy efficient EVs if smart meters aren’t reliable. Also, smart meters let people know how much energy they are using and when, which allows them to adjust usage (I.e. it encourages more energy efficiency!). Simple really.

Despite the issues with roll out, the fact of the matter is that energy companies are legally responsible for ensuring smart meters work. EDF are simply saying…it’s not connecting, we can’t/won’t fix the problem, and we won’t provide you with a replacement, but we’ll happily take the thousands of pounds per year you pay us. I am entirely comfortable calling that a corporate rip off.

I should not have to pay a higher price just because EDF won’t provide a workable smart meter (which is their legal responsibility to do), even if this higher price is cheaper than some other external options.

The point, which you appear to be missing, is that changing provider won’t guarantee that the connection issue will be resolved. Which = more time wasted = more stress = more emotional energy. 

But thanks for your helpful insight. Much appreciated.

Hi - I think you're cross purposes with MattMattMatt here. It's certainly true that EVs have lots of environmental benefits, but that's not the same as saying they are more efficient. 

EVs are more efficient, around 95% efficient plug to road, vs around 15-28% efficient for an ICE pump to road.

mmmmikey said:
Put it another way, EVs may use "cleaner, greener" energy than conventional petrol/diesel vehicles but they use much the same amount of energy to move them about - possibly even more dues to the weight of the batteries.

They use significantly less energy per mile, more than 70% of the energy in petrol or diesel is wasted as heat and noise as fossil fuels have greater energy density than batteries. A good EV will use 200-250wh per mile a comparable ICE car will use 800wh-1.5kWh per mile. 

sale_of_the_century

I was in the same boat with EDF both my gas and electricity smart meters were smet1 and cannot now communicate so I couldn’t participate in the Sunday electricity savings with EDF because you have to have a working smart meter !

Eventually you are what is called in “deadlock”
so I kept all my correspondence with EDF then started a case with the energy ombudsman 
because basically EDF hide behind a regulator excuse that they cannot change your non functioning smart meters for functioning ones because you can still give them manual readings 

long story short case won ,new meters fitted and received a good will compensation from EDF 

Scot_39

Non dccintegrated smets1 or dcc integrated smets1 ?

Are the rules not different ?

Thought those unable to be integrated were definitely on a to be replaced list.

Savingsrgreat

sale_of_the_century said:

I was in the same boat with EDF both my gas and electricity smart meters were smet1 and cannot now communicate so I couldn’t participate in the Sunday electricity savings with EDF because you have to have a working smart meter !

Eventually you are what is called in “deadlock”
so I kept all my correspondence with EDF then started a case with the energy ombudsman 
because basically EDF hide behind a regulator excuse that they cannot change your non functioning smart meters for functioning ones because you can still give them manual readings 

long story short case won ,new meters fitted and received a good will compensation from EDF 

The title of this post is exactly what I was going to post!

Smart meter won’t connect to the network - EDF refusing to resolve the issue!!! 

The difference in my case is that it's a SMETs2 (?) gas meter fitted by EDF (along with SMETS2 electric meter & hub) in JULY 2021 and it has never communicated. I've had 10 engineers visits plus  DIY phone calls over the last nearly 4 years and we are now at deadlock (like yourself sale_of_the_century ) with EDF saying they can't control the signal/interference etc. My case is with the Energy Ombudsman based on -

• the gas and electric meters have always been sited in the same place. Both communicated with British Gas 1st gen SMART meters.
• the meters are on the same wall, 2.5 ft apart with nothing in between them. The electric meter communicates - the gas doesn't.
• not having a communicating SMART meter is preventing me taking advantage of EDF's own cheapest tariff (promoted on every bill under Could you pay less? )
• likewise the majority of offers from other suppliers require a working/communicating SMART meter. My gas meter is NOT SMART.

I have asked to see a report from DCC giving their opinion as to why this particular gas meter is not communicating. EDF have, to date, refused to swap it out and say that I'm free to switch suppliers at any time (presumably to avoid anti-competition accusations) . The engineers who have visited have said various things like 'EDF SMART team need to do something within 72 hours of our visit in order to complete the commissioning' and ' they won't replace the meter willingly as they'll have to pay rent on 2 meters for the one address'. Not one of the engineers has commented on the site of the meter nor any interference/signal problems.
Your story  sale_of_the_century gives me some hope that a meter exchange may solve the issue. Please tell me that BOTH your SMETS2 meters are communicating   

Gerry1

Savingsrgreat said:

• not having a communicating SMART meter is preventing me taking advantage of EDF's own cheapest tariff (promoted on every bill under Could you pay less? )
• likewise the majority of offers from other suppliers require a working/communicating SMART meter. My gas meter is NOT SMART.

Welcome to the forum.

Have you specifically been refused the tariff(s) you want? Or have you just failed to apply for any?

Most companies will be quite happy to accept you.  There are no ToU gas tariffs, so the only shortcoming is that you'll have to read the gas meter yourself.

easymoney999

Approximately 12 months ago EDF persuaded me to have a new gas meter installed which I have done, when the guy came to install it he said it won't work because it can't communicate with your electricity meter and you'd need a new electric meter for both to work. 
I have contacted EDF via email several times over the last year and still don't have a working gas meter I still have to go out and manually read it and send the readings. 
They've also asked me on two occasions to send me a picture of their new gas meter and still nothing has been done. 

Olinda99

Claim.compensation !

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-14544451/Got-broken-smart-meter-You-40-not-fixed-90-days.html

MeteredOut

Olinda99 said:

Claim.compensation !

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-14544451/Got-broken-smart-meter-You-40-not-fixed-90-days.html

That's just a proposal - there's a lot to work through before that becomes reality. I'll be surprised if its implemented this year once they start digging into the detail.