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Smart meter and economy 7 fail problem - Scottish Power not interested

Whatdo
Whatdo Posts: 92 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts

Hi,


Fifteen years ago we were persuaded by EON to have a smart meter installed to replace an existing two rotary dial (low rate- normal rate ) meter and a separate quartz clock to set the time for the two readings.

Eon came and installed a liberty 100 smart meter and provided and installed an Eon branded Proteus ECH1 100A via the auxiliary load control switch (ALCS) connection in their smart meter which is connected to a separate Distribution Board (DB) “economy 7 heaters”


However suddenly this winter having checked the economy 7 heaters main isolator and fuse switches nothing happens!

There is now no live 16mm feed into the Econ 7 DB during low/night times.


The Main Fuse, Smart meter, busbar block and the ECH1 (Electrical Heating Contactor) are all sealed with tamper tags.

Messaged Scottish Power help and explained that the economy 7 was not coming on and was asked if I was “off power” to which I explained that the standard distribution board is working ie lights power sockets etc . They replied that as I had some power then the smart meter is working ok and any other control gear was nothing to do with them and entirely my responsibility. They suggested that they would come out as an emergency but if the smart meter itself (Liberty 100) was found to be functioning then I would have to pay a call out of £180 + and asked permission to proceed which I denied.


This raises two important issues:

The first that badgered into having a smart meter by Eon they came and fitted their own branded equipment from the MSP Main Service Point up to the two existing distribution boards, one of which fed by the EHC1 control switch that is a solenoid contactor controlled by the ALCS signal line run directly from the smart meter. Is the EHC1 not the responsibility of the network provider and should be maintained by them as part of the equipment they installed?


The second point is that the circuit diagram demonstrates that the controlling signal line is a pull down ie opposite to residential switchgear that switches the live signal. This unit has a permanently live signal line when the unit is not providing power to the DB indicating that this is an industrial piece of equipment chosen exclusively by the distribution network operator (DNO) to make the pre-existing econ 7 function as before.



Scottish Power are adamant that the EHC1 is a domestic item and my responsibility and at a item cost of £145 each this potentially means that I could be down £345 ex labour and incidentals charges


By changing supplier to Scottish Power from EoN have I inadvertently taken over ownership of an electrical unit in between the MSP and the two domestic distribution boards or am I being incorrectly advised by Scottish Power.


Thanks for any thoughts or experience of similar circumstances


Thanks for looking



Comments

  • MWT
    MWT Posts: 10,393 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    When did you switch to Scottish Power? 
    ... just trying to see if this is the first time you've used the E7 heating circuit since the switch?
    Similarly do you see use at the E7 low-rate overnight showing on your bills?
    ... checking that your meter is properly configured for E7.
    In general though I would expect the EHC1 to be the responsibility of your electricity supplier as it is part of the equipment required to deliver an E7 service with your smart meter.
  • Swipe
    Swipe Posts: 5,769 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited Today at 10:24AM
    Don't be fobbed off without them thoroughly investigating. If they can't get to the bottom of it, I would push for your SMETS1 Liberty meter to be replaced with a SMETS2 5 port smart meter. Telling them you'll go to the ombudsman if it's not resolved might persuade them.
  • Ildhund
    Ildhund Posts: 693 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    MWT said:
    In general though I would expect the EHC1 to be the responsibility of your electricity supplier ...
    ... strongly reinforced by "... the ECH1 (Electrical Heating Contactor) [is] sealed with tamper tags," assuming that the pliers used to seal the EHC had the same ID as the tags on the meter etc. There is sometimes a space for the installing engineer to enter his sealing pliers ID on the meter exchange label he will have left with the meter. 
    I'm not being lazy ...
    I'm just in energy-saving mode.

  • Scot_39
    Scot_39 Posts: 3,851 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited Today at 12:12PM
    The ehc1 is essentially doing the same job as the 5th port on an integrated 5 port alcs meter.

    It is IMO an integral part of the off peak metering operation and its nonsense for SP to try and say its your responsibility / equipment.

    Mines even has a big  EOn sticker on it.

    Its definitely AFAIK the suppliers scope.


    My old5 port digital was replaced with liberty 100 smets 1 4 port and ech1 proteus contactor back when EOn was EOn, not Next spin off.


    It could have failed itself, the 2A meter auxiliary  control cable or relay in the meter could have failed or SP could have messed with your alcs configuration by "accident".


    I've had trouble finding an EOL date on government spreadsheets for the liberty 100 - but mine is 8 years old now.

    As above if won't fix it - ask for them - insist on them -  doing an upgrade to a smets2 5 port - and then leave them to get a better deal and far better customer support elsewhere.



    And get £50 if get a referral from some suplliers Octopus, EOn Next etc all had such schemes in recent past.
  • Scot_39
    Scot_39 Posts: 3,851 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited Today at 12:13PM
    Edit piccyincEOn sticker and secure tamper seal tag.

    Used to have nice isolator switches to CU tails with digital, removed to create space for  proteus block.

    Abd made fitters job more difficult.  But they were refusing to use the 5 port liberty out certainly at the timemine fitted


  • Whatdo
    Whatdo Posts: 92 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts
    Wow,, just refreshed!!
    Thanks everyone... very constructive and helpful am- working at the moment, please give me some time to reply individually, very 
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 35,013 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited Today at 2:59PM
    The problem is that you have turned down their offer to come and fix it on the terms of "if it is not the meter (or their equipment) you will be billed" standard clause which covers all repair issues from all major utilities including BT and even the washing machine repair man - they have to tell you there will be a charge if it is not down to their equipment.  You have also fallen foul of thinking that the front line call handler knows what they are talking about, many do not think they own anything other than the meter.  Once you get an engineer on site hopefully they will know what is their equipment and diagnose where the fault lies but of course without further checks it could be down to your off peak consumer unit,
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