Energy Club deals - is a smart meter required?

Neil432

I am thinking of changing my mum over to one of the fixed rate deals available through the Energy Club - probably to the offering from British Gas or EDF. She is already an EDF customer and does not have a smart meter and does not want one. 

Are these deals based on you getting a smart meter installed if you don't already have one?

There must be terms and conditions available somewhere in the process but I don't want to select the 'Switch' button before knowing for sure.

Many thanks

QrizB

Almost all fixed deals are conditional on having, or agreeing to the installation of, a smart meter.

Is there any reason why you don't want your mum to have one?

Brie

Of course your mom could agree to having smart meters and then there never be a convenient time for installation.  I did a switch without one a few years back and there was no issue about it.  I now have a smart electric and stupid gas because the gas smart meters aren't available.  Over a year since the dumb meter had to be installed due to the previous one failing and nothing received yet about when they will be able to upgrade.

Remind mom of the convenience of not having to submit regular readings if she has the smart ones.   

Neil432

Thanks for the replies. 

She has dementia and does not like any sort of change.

chico

The British Gas deal does not need a smart meter, as on https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/cec-tariff-1/.
Neither do the Octopus and EDF deals, as on https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/cec-tariff-2/ and https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/cec-tariff-3/

This British Gas 'Collective Nov26' tariff is cheaper-than-the-market's cheapest fix and the cheapest British Gas fix since September 2021 - it's on average 15.2% less than the 1 October Price Cap, including £20 dual-fuel (£10 single fuel) MSE cashback. Existing British Gas customers can get it too, so it's a no-brainer for them (and if you're on a British Gas fix already, it won't charge you early exit fees to switch to this). It ends at 8.59am on Monday 13 October or when all 40,000 switches have gone (whichever's first).

• The rates are fixed for 14 months.

• It's for new and existing dual-fuel, electricity-only and gas-only customers, paying by monthly Direct Debit (and on receipt of a bill for existing customers only).

• There are £50 per fuel exit fees.

• You do not need a smart meter.

• You get £10 MSE cashback for a single fuel (gas or elec) switch or £20 for a dual-fuel switch.

• Includes 'MSE Enhanced Service', so if you have an issue, go to British Gas first, but if it doesn't sort it, come to us and we can and will escalate it and try to help.

This Octopus Energy 'Money Saving Octopus' tariff is 10.3% cheaper than the October Price Cap on average, including £20 dual-fuel (£10 single fuel) MSE cashback. We've included it in our Big Switch event as Octopus is so popular due to its top-rated customer service. It's cheaper than any Octopus fix available if you go direct. Existing Octopus Energy customers can get it too, so it's a no-brainer for them (and if you're on an Octopus fix already, it won't charge you early exit fees to switch to this). It ends at 8.59am on Monday 13 October or when all 50,000 switches have gone (whichever's first).

• The rates are fixed for 10 months.

• It's for new and existing dual-fuel and electricity-only customers, paying by monthly Direct Debit.

• There are £25 per fuel exit fees.

• You do not need a smart meter.

• You get £10 MSE cashback for an electricity-only switch or £20 for a dual-fuel switch.

• Includes 'MSE Enhanced Service', so if you have an issue, go to Octopus first, but if it doesn't sort it, come to us and we can and will escalate it and try to help.

This EDF Energy 'MSE Collective Switch Oct26' tariff is the cheapest fix for those who pay by smart prepayment meter or on receipt of bills. It's 11.3% cheaper than the October Price Cap on average, including £20 dual-fuel (£10 single fuel) cashback if you pay by Direct Debit (8.8% less if you're on prepay or 13.3% if you pay on receipt of a bill as Price Cap varies by payment type).

It's cheaper than any EDF fix available direct. Existing EDF customers can get it too, but if your current EDF fix has early exit fees, you'll have to pay these (unless you have 49 days or less left on your existing tariff). It ends at 8.59am on Monday 13 October.

• The rates are fixed for 13 months.

• It's for new and existing dual-fuel and electricity-only customers.

• You can pay by monthly Direct Debit, smart prepay or on receipt of bills.

• There are £75 per fuel exit fees.

• You do not need a smart meter (unless you're on prepay).

• You'll get £10 cashback for a single fuel (gas or elec) switch or £20 for a dual-fuel switch.

• Includes 'MSE Enhanced Service', so if you have an issue, go to EDF first, but if it doesn't sort it, come to us and we can and will escalate it and try to help.

Neil432

Thanks Chico.

The summary may say that no smart meter is needed but if I start the process to switch I get to a page which includes terms and conditions and item 3.f of that document states you are agreeing to install a smart meter.

Unfortunately I have not posted enough times to include a link to the T&C pdf

Neil432

The wording of 3.f (I should have mentioned that this is for the EDF terms and conditions) says:

"As part of this contract, if you don’t already have a smart meter installed at your property,

you agree to have one fitted. We will contact you to arrange an appointment
for installation. If we do not receive a response from you we will book
you an appointment on your behalf and inform you of the date for your
confirmation. If you repeatedly refuse to allow us to install a smart meter, or
do not respond to our attempts to contact you to arrange an appointment
for installation, you may not be eligible for discounts, certain of our services

or smart meter tariffs which may be cheaper."

I presume it is the EDF T&C that control any contract and not the summary on the MSE website.

Cheers

QrizB

Neil432 said:

The wording of 3.f (I should have mentioned that this is for the EDF terms and conditions) says:

Pretty much all suppliers have that wording (or something like it) for their fixed tariffs, as Ofgem are strongly encouraging them to fit smart meters and charing penalties if the suppliers don't meet their targets.

That's why I replied earlier:

QrizB said:

Almost all fixed deals are conditional on having, or agreeing to the installation of, a smart meter.

I don't think you'll find a fixed deal without that condition attached.

Even if you don't take a deal, within not-too-long your mum's supplier will be in touch to replace her meter.

EssexHebridean

As already said, at some stage the meter will require replacement anyway - and it may be better to deface the situation sooner than later, before the dementia deteriorates. 

It should also be said that with some suppliers, for a customer with dementia a smart meter could be a positive bonus - with Octopus for example their “home mini” device would allow you to keep an eye on things remotely to be sure that things like the oven weren’t left on, for example. 

Dress it up as a simple change of meter because the old one was out of date - choose your moment to explain wisely (and as shortly before any arranged appointment as you can manage) ensure you’re there when the appointment takes place, and it can probably be managed with less drama than you fear. 

Neil432

I checked with EDF who have assured me that no smart meter is required so I have switched mum to that.

Fingers crossed.

Many thanks for all the constructive advice.

Spoonie_Turtle

Just so you have a time frame and can be prepared for when the meter will need to be changed (electricity meters have a certification period and must be changed when that expires):

Identify the model of the meter and the certification date (month/year)
Find the certification period of that model in the list in the document here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters
Work out when it expires (e.g. if certified in 2008 with a period of 20 years, it will need changing in 2028)

[Alternatively, I'm not sure how many posts you need to be able to post a photo but if you'd prefer one of us to do it, post a photo here and we can look it up for you.]

I would echo EssexHebridean's advice to emphasise it's replacing the meter, your mother does not have to use the IHD at all (although do let the installer commission it, because then you can use the IHD number to use an app to access her usage data if you wish; also the next person to live in her home however far down the line that will be will probably want to use the IHD or the info on it to access their usage data.  But once it's commissioned you can then just unplug it and put it away somewhere out of sight). 

[I don't know if she currently reads the meters regularly but if she does and still reads them when it needs replacing, she will still be able to do so with the new ones.]