Blocked from accessing EV electricity tariffs

WhereHasServiceGone

Hi, I recently moved to a property that had an electricity supply set to be a business supply rather than residential. After quite a bit of back and forth with EDF we got it moved to residential. Being an electric vehicle owner I wanted to move to an EV tariff. In order to do that I needed a smart meter, I requested one from EDF but they said they couldn’t supply one. After some debate I decided to switch to EON - gave them the meter number, pointed out to them it didn’t do half hour readings and asked if it was ok to upgrade the smart meter with them to which they said yes, after cooling off period. Great I thought. Booked the smart meter appointment after a few weeks, gave them all the info and they replied to say they could not replace the meter as it’s an AMR meter. Only way forward they’ve said is to move to a supplier who will switch it or accept I can’t be on EV tariff! That doesn’t sound right to me but they won’t budge. My concern is if EDF and EON both refuse to replace the meter how likely is it anyone else will? Can anyone advise which suppliers will switch out an AMR meter or if I can pay to do it myself?

molerat

Octopus seem more amenable to replacing meters but that is not guaranteed.  Have you raised a formal complaint with Eon ?

MattMattMattUK

WhereHasServiceGone said:

Hi, I recently moved to a property that had an electricity supply set to be a business supply rather than residential. After quite a bit of back and forth with EDF we got it moved to residential. Being an electric vehicle owner I wanted to move to an EV tariff. In order to do that I needed a smart meter, I requested one from EDF but they said they couldn’t supply one. After some debate I decided to switch to EON - gave them the meter number, pointed out to them it didn’t do half hour readings and asked if it was ok to upgrade the smart meter with them to which they said yes, after cooling off period. Great I thought. Booked the smart meter appointment after a few weeks, gave them all the info and they replied to say they could not replace the meter as it’s an AMR meter. Only way forward they’ve said is to move to a supplier who will switch it or accept I can’t be on EV tariff! That doesn’t sound right to me but they won’t budge. My concern is if EDF and EON both refuse to replace the meter how likely is it anyone else will? Can anyone advise which suppliers will switch out an AMR meter or if I can pay to do it myself?

I think the issue is that AMR meters were never designed for residential, they were only for businesses, different rules and regulations around that and the suppliers are correct in that they will not work for their EV tariffs.

It does appear odd that they cannot/will not change the meter. 

Do you know why the supply was previously on a business tariff, is the supply three-phase, multi-meter, anything unusual beyond being an AMR meter, e.g. electrics on your side of the meter would require rewiring? 

WhereHasServiceGone

I believe it’s 3 phase. Eon suggested I move to another supplier, get them to switch the meter then switch back to Eon!
When EDF switched it to residential should they have been obligated to change the meter to a residential smart meter? 

Robin9

I've never understood the AMR    issue - I've got two  (on business supplies) and both provide 30 min data

MattMattMattUK

Robin9 said:

I've never understood the AMR    issue - I've got two  (on business supplies) and both provide 30 min data

It is not about the data in the reads, it is in the two way communication and the systems behind the scenes for smart ToU tariffs. Whilst the data is in essence the same it is not currently usable for the smart tariffs. 

MWT

Robin9 said:

I've never understood the AMR    issue - I've got two  (on business supplies) and both provide 30 min data

AFAIK it is the way they communicate that is the problem, they do not go via the DCC ...

For the OP, I'd suggest talking to Octopus, they do have some experience with 3-phase domestic smart meters and of course they are also a business supplier. 

MattMattMattUK

WhereHasServiceGone said:

I believe it’s 3 phase. Eon suggested I move to another supplier, get them to switch the meter then switch back to Eon!

Some suppliers get funny about changing three phase meters as they do require a different engineer to the ones that fit normal meters, I wonder if that is more of the issue than the AMR meters. 

WhereHasServiceGone said:

When EDF switched it to residential should they have been obligated to change the meter to a residential smart meter? 

Nope.