Out of date meters

Is it true that meters that are out of date but working perfectly have to be upgraded to a smart meter?  My meters are not BBC ones. 
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  • Ayr_Rage
    Ayr_Rage Posts: 2,427 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Yes it is true.

    They may be working but out of tolerance.
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,849 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    They do have to be changed if they're life expired, and you're likely to be offered only a smart meter.  The original promises, repeatedly made, that nobody would be forced to have a smart meter have all been torn up.  (Surprise, surprise.)
    However, you may be able to persuade your supplier to fit a non-smart conventional meter if you are persistent enough.  New ones may be in short supply, but there's no reason they can't fit one that's been removed if it's not past its Use By date.
    Alternatively, it's theoretically possible to buy an approved non-smart meter and to get your supplier to fit it, although I haven't seen any reports of forumites successfully doing so.
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,323 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    How do you know it is working perfectly? If it was under or over recording your usage by 10% you would be unlikely to notice unless the fault occurred suddenly rather than drift over time.
  • Spikeygran
    Spikeygran Posts: 77 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper

    I can answer that one. A lot of old cottages have meters fitted high up.  A white box on the outside of a 200 year old cottage is not ideal and you have to pay for the work to get it moved. 

    So having had a "wonderful" smart meter fitted  I find I've been lied to as the remote handset only displays a total usage. For anyone on different rates, seeing whether the night rate has started /finished and night time use is recording on the low rate is the most important reading, which is not available.

    The old meter had both rates shown on the front, and could be read from the floor with distance glasses or a pair of binoculars.

    To read this one or to establish whether is actually on the night rate, requires a step ladder, a mobile phone and hope.  You have to stand up there, trying to get the light right to see the small screen, and push buttons all while trying not to throw yourself on the floor. I'm actually wondering how many other 70+  have broken their hips from a fall since having the meter fitted. 

    Having it in a cupboard outside is not ideal for anyone living on their own either.  Its not a quick operation to check and you'd be standing outside in the dark, with the front door open with a torch to check it is on low rate.

    Its not been an upgrade in my opinion.   The cheap rate offers during the day are a bit tricky too. The terms and conditions say if it loses signal you dont get the discount, so could be swapping stuff to the offer hours only to pay full price.


  • Bark01
    Bark01 Posts: 891 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You can request to have the smart meter installed in dumb mode. No supplier is going to go out of there way to find a legacy meter for you they all have a shelf life' and no supplier is buying dumb meters anymore.
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 16,972 Forumite
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    So having had a "wonderful" smart meter fitted  I find I've been lied to as the remote handset only displays a total usage. For anyone on different rates, seeing whether the night rate has started /finished and night time use is recording on the low rate is the most important reading, which is not available.
    Those readings are available on some models of in home display. It's a shame that the one you were supplied with doesn't.
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  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,849 Forumite
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    edited 21 March at 6:44PM
    Bark01 said:
    You can request to have the smart meter installed in dumb mode.
    No such thing as a dumb smart meter.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,327 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    So having had a "wonderful" smart meter fitted  I find I've been lied to as the remote handset only displays a total usage. For anyone on different rates, seeing whether the night rate has started /finished and night time use is recording on the low rate is the most important reading, which is not available.
    If you don't like the IHD supplied then get one that does what you want.  Mine shows the live figure as well as used and a bar chart for the last 24 hours.

    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • TroubledTarts
    TroubledTarts Posts: 390 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Is it true that meters that are out of date but working perfectly have to be upgraded to a smart meter?  My meters are not BBC ones. 
    What are the "BBC" ones. 
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