UTILITA NO STANDING CHARGE ENDING

Brit2020

tim_p said:

Brit2020 said:

What's the difference between a pay as you go meter and a prepayment meter? I'd have assumed they were the same thing but apparently not, are these meters easy to change if someone wants to put a normal meter back in? 

What are you counting as a ‘normal meter’ in this case?

I just meant normal as in non prepayment, I imagine they're all smart meters now what they will put in. So if I get one of these pay as you go tariffs is it no hassle to have it put back to a normal tariff? 

Violetbubble9

It's  all a bit technical for me! I had both smart meters fitted in 2023, The electric I am able to top up at any paypoint or on the app, but the gas meter which is supposed to be smart, they said they could not connect it to the smart system already in the block. So the electric meter is in a cubby hole on the ground floor, which contains  15 electric meters, the gas meters are outside.

I read the meter every month and since June I haven't used any gas as its so warm and I'm in the south east by the sea! (not expecting any gas usage until November/ December if it remains mild).

When they installed the gas meter in 2023 the plan was that they were putting in pay as you go or prepay, the same as electric, but due to not being able to connect they said they would leave it as credit meter. I have been happy with that as I am not using any gas.

When I spoke to them today customer service talked about the meter not being fully commissioned but safe? I reminded her that they said that I would be put on a credit meter because they could not install gas on pay as you go.

I am still awaiting a transcript for my discussion with her and the complaint I raised . I would have thought that would be pretty straight forward to provide, she did say she was typing it up.

I asked her how many tariffs they had she replied

Economy7, Premium which they put me on( free of standing charge initially until 1st October) Business rate and smart energy . Is it that only pay as you go switching meters will give you continuously no extra costs now.

The first comment on this thread smart energy with DD still getting clobbered? They haven't given people much time to sort this out. 21 days for me. they're gonna have to sort this out, I've responded immediately to the notification of changes and requested they change over asap.   

Guess they may be expecting people to roll overall  and do nothing, 

Brit2020

tightbloke61 said:

I'm with Utilita,

since June 2025, Gas & Electric, on a credit meter (Fitted in 2000)  (Not on smart meters) pay by Direct Debit, 

I have rung Utilita today (Call centre in Kenya) I have a choice of getting smart meters fitted PAYG with no standing charges, meters can be switched back to credit later but with standing charges.

I have emailed Customer Services who are in the UK just to confirm my options. 

I didn't particularly want a smart meter but it looks like I'm being forced into one because of this. So am I right in thinking that if you want to revert back to a standard meter set up from pay as you go it's not an issue? Unlike it was changing a prepayment meter to a standard meter? Apparently that was/is a right load of hassle. 

QrizB

Brit2020 said:

I didn't particularly want a smart meter but it looks like I'm being forced into one because of this. So am I right in thinking that if you want to revert back to a standard meter set up from pay as you go it's not an issue? Unlike it was changing a prepayment meter to a standard meter? Apparently that was/is a right load of hassle. 

All functioning smart meters can be configured for PAYG or credit accounts. It's just a matter of your supplier sending the right settings to the meter.

If you have a smart meter that reliably sends readings to your supplier, your supplier shouldn't have any problem switching it between credit and PAYG modes.

Brit2020

QrizB said:

Brit2020 said:

I didn't particularly want a smart meter but it looks like I'm being forced into one because of this. So am I right in thinking that if you want to revert back to a standard meter set up from pay as you go it's not an issue? Unlike it was changing a prepayment meter to a standard meter? Apparently that was/is a right load of hassle. 

All functioning smart meters can be configured for PAYG or credit accounts. It's just a matter of your supplier sending the right settings to the meter.

If you have a smart meter that reliably sends readings to your supplier, your supplier shouldn't have any problem switching it between credit and PAYG modes.

In my case it would be a case of allowing them to fit a smart meter (well it'd be 2 meters I suppose would it for gas and electric?) so fit 2 new smart meters and start off straight away on pay as you go. 

_nissan

I hope this is the right place to post this (my first post).
Seeking advice. Bit of background. . .I am an 80 year old (or rather will be in 7 weeks time) male pensioner living alone. I am presently with Utilita - have been since 2019. Prior to that I was with Ebico who installed Smart Meters (1st Generation). However, at that time, the Ebico installer said he would have to cap the gas supply off because of a fault on my Gas fire (the knob was jammed and couldn't be turned) so he couldn't test it. I was alright with that and relied on using electricity to heat my home anyway ( I do not have central heating). So later I switched to Utilita because of no standing charges. The only initial downside was that the new IHD supplied by Utilita was incompatible with my 1st generation smart meters and would not connect to the smart meters. Because I was obviously not using any gas from Utilita I did not incur any standing charges from Utilita. I pay for my energy usage (electricity) from Utilita by monthly Direct Debit. However, recently, I've received notification from Utilita that from I October I will be switched to a Standing Charge tariff which means I will pay a standing charge on gas as well as electricity. I think the only way to prevent this with Utilita is to have pre-payment meters installed which I'm not keen to do. Sorry to be so long-winded with explanation, but my question. I guess, is what are my options? What is my best course of action? I think I would need to have the gas meter removed to avoid paying a standing charge on the gas. Presumably, this could be expensive to have it removed. Also, bearing in mind my age, the next occupier would have the added expense of reinstalling a gas supply to the property. Another possible option is to switch to another supplier, but not sure if my 1st Generation Smart Meters might be a barrier as it they have been with Utilita. I have been trying to get Utilita to update my meters to 2nd Generation Smart Meters for the last 4 years or so without success - I have to send them manual readings every month at the moment. Would a new supplier also charge me (because of having a meter) a gas standing charge or insist on it being removed? Maybe, I would need to get the gas fire repaired. but it is pretty old (like me) and they will probably say that I need a new fire - which could be expensive too. I feel like I'm in a corner without easy answers at the moment. Anyway, enough from me, any thoughts anyone?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum @_nissan !

_nissan said:

I hope this is the right place to post this (my first post). 

Might've been better in the Utilita thread. I'll ask for it to be moved.

_nissan said:

What is my best course of action? I think I would need to have the gas meter removed to avoid paying a standing charge on the gas. Presumably, this could be expensive to have it removed.

If you have no desire to use gas again, yes ask to have the gas meter removed. I don't know what Utilita charge to remove a meter but I have heard on this forum that Octopus will do so for free, if you switch to them.

_nissan said:

Another possible option is to switch to another supplier, but not sure if my 1st Generation Smart Meters might be a barrier as it they have been with Utilita.

You can definitely switch supplier with a 1st-generation smart meter.

_nissan said:

Would a new supplier also charge me (because of having a meter) a gas standing charge or insist on it being removed? Maybe, I would need to get the gas fire repaired. but it is pretty old (like me) and they will probably say that I need a new fire - which could be expensive too.

Direct electric heating is one of the most expensive ways of heating a property; fixing/replacing your cas fire might save you more than you're currently spending on electric heat.

Alternatively, you could look at other (cheaper) forms of electric heating; storage heaters, perhaps, or a heat pump.

If you can give more detail of your current heating arrangements and of your energy bills, we might be able to provide some pointers. Or you could speak to CAB, Age Concern or one of the other helpful charities.

_nissan

 Thank you OrizB for prompt reply and sage input. I thankfully generally manage to be quite frugal with my electricity usage costs. In the last twelve months my total electricity bill for the year with Utilita (28 Aug 2024 - 1 Sep 2025) amounted to £778.76. That equates to a monthly average of £64.90. Not sure whether that's considered reasonably good, but I am able to meet that monthly costs. As I previously mentioned I pay by monthly Direct Debit - Variable Direct Debit.
Ref: "You can definitely switch supplier with a 1st-generation smart meter."
Yes, thanks, but my concern is will my existing Smart Meters remain dumb. Or will a new Supplier install/upgrade meters to 2nd Generation to enable me to monitor my actual usage which I am presently not able to do with Utilita.
Ref: ". . .speak to CAB, Age Concern or one of the other helpful charities"
Again, thanks, I had not thought of them. I had thought of my MP, but the ones you mentioned might be a better option.

I'm going to have to go through my electricity bills in more detail and try and work out what I would be paying (per KWH + Standing Charges for both gas and electric) with a new supplier.

Thank you so much for your valued input OrizB. You have given me something think and hopefully ultimately act upon. I will definitely be contacting either CAB, Age Concern or other in the first instance. 

QrizB

_nissan said:

.Ref: "You can definitely switch supplier with a 1st-generation smart meter."
Yes, thanks, but my concern is will my existing Smart Meters remain dumb. Or will a new Supplier install/upgrade meters to 2nd Generation to enable me to monitor my actual usage which I am presently not able to do with Utilita.

First-generation meters should either be adopted into the current metering system (in which case they will be "smart") or replaced.

It seems as though yours might have slipped through the net.

I don't know enough about Utilita to comment on their processes, but most of the major suppliers will arrange for "dumb" first-generation meters to be replaced if you complain loudly enough - or if you express an interest in joining a tariff that requires smart meters.

I hope everything works out well for you, whatever decision you take and whichever supplier you choose.

MSE_Stephen

@_nissan - we've moved your posts into the correct thread for you.