Ecotricity 1 year fixed tariff

gxff101

In February 2025 energy prices were going up so I set out for a fixed tariff to stop me from paying more on variable. I joined ecotricity from recommendation of my parents. they have now called saying I shouldn't be on this tariff without a smart meter but I'm unable to have one due to suspected asbestos in the backing board of where my smart meter sits. both meters are outside my house in a meter box.  It has taken them 7 months to contact me in regards to the smart meter and even then I wasn't told it was necessary, i had been no showed by 2 separate smart meter appointments and I ended up saying no thanks i don't want to sit around and wait all day for a 3 day. They said okay no worries apologies. I then receive an email saying I'm being put on a new cheaper tariff, and i called them saying i don't want to be put on a cheaper tariff as it feels like a ploy to be able to charge me more over the winter months. They said they have tracked my usage and I am not using that much, well of course i haven't because its been 20+ degrees during summer I'm not going to be putting my heating on. So i feel they want to try and charge me more during the winter months.
  They said i should be taken off and there 2x exit fees for both gas and electrics. This doesn't seem fair, what can i do?

FrugaiMacDugal

Ok, so what tariff are you on?

What type  of heating?

squirrelpie

You'll need your DNO to help with a backboard change as well as your supplier, so who is your DNO?

Scot_39

You might not think it's fair - but I could see why the supplier might consider you in breach of the contract.

The reality is that you and the supplier entered an agreement putting obligations on both them and you - that needed to be fulfilled.  And so if the deal did say you needed a smart meter - you needed to agree and provide a safe environment for them to do so - or get your landlord if renting to do so. 

1) An asbestos backing board doesnt stop you having a meter fitted

It just means the owner - you or your landlord or your building distribution company / administrator in some cases - needs to arrange replacement. 

So has to have it tested and replaced if needed - both at cost - before most "normal" grade meter fitters - will be allowed to do the work - by their employers.

Its Basic HSE I'm afraid these days.

Just as you might find with any Artex etc in the home - few organisations will touch it without testing negative (yes for a while some of it it included asbestos fibres - banned c1999)

Has it been tested yet. Is it suspected - who told you - as wasnt a meter fitter refusal - as you say they didn't come ?

Both test and final replacement if needed - requires specialist help - including from the DNO or building distribution company - as will certainly in a domestic scenario - likely involve moving the incoming fuse assembly off the old and on to the new back board.  Meter fitters are not allowed to do that.  So need more than one contractor on site - on the day of swap.

Including potentially your own electrician if you have any kit on or in the vacinity of the board - likely to disrupt rewiring - think self fitted isolators, power monitors etc.

There are a couple of threads on asbestos back boards here - do a search - for links and details.

2) If the tariff was advertised on basis (or in the T&Cs said) you needed to agree to a smart meter - it's hardly the suppliers fault if it was missed by you.  Written contracts always trump verbal say so - unless you have a recording of it - or can get validation it happened.

Looking at their current site - they have 1 yr fixed EV - and two variables - you will see it clearly has a tick box that a smart meter is required only for the fix and a Yes

https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/your-green-energy/our-tariffs

3) You refused a meter appointment - albeit with cause.

But strictly your only recourse under the license conditions - for the 2 no shows was the at one time Ofgem dictated £30 penalty - did you claim it / they pay it automatically ?

  

So unless you have it in writing that "it was OK not to have a smart meter on your specific tariff" or get that acknowledged by calling them on your notes - or via a complaint - or at a push a DSAR - proof they said thats OK - you might be on sticky ground.

I think you could argue the penalty fee is excessive - but maybe not so much being kicked off the tariff.

Smart meters are increasingly important to suppliers - as they move towards an industry wide system of paying generators for the energy they sell to you - called Half Hourly Settlement.  I'd not be surprised if more look to use they sort of "have or agree to have smart" conditions in their contracts to enable it.