New smart meter

PaulDesmond

I have ignored reminders from my provider every month when I give a new reading. I have received a letter telling me that the meter is "Aproching the end of it's working life". Can I say no to this?

If not can I insist on it not being a smart meter. QUESTION: How would I know?
This meter is a digital readout so I don't think being digital means it must be a smart meter.

Ayr_Rage

No and no.

It is not your meter, they can fit whatever they want.

mr_stripey

short answer - no

it would be practically impossible for any of the major providers to fit a non smart meter. They are not manufactured any more

Eventually the meter you have will be end of life and it will be replaced with a smart meter

What is the reason you don't want to have a smart meter?

EssexHebridean

I'm not even sure why you'd want to refuse the current, up to date meter being fitted? Allowing that I'm guessing you're probably not still watching TV on a 1960s black and white set, speaking on a telephone that has the ear/mouth piece connected to a base with a curly wire, or typing everything on a manual typewriter (we know the latter is the case as after all, here you are!), why would you want obsolete technology metering your energy use? 

luci

EssexHebridean said:

I'm not even sure why you'd want to refuse the current, up to date meter being fitted? Allowing that I'm guessing you're probably not still watching TV on a 1960s black and white set, speaking on a telephone that has the ear/mouth piece connected to a base with a curly wire, or typing everything on a manual typewriter (we know the latter is the case as after all, here you are!), why would you want obsolete technology metering your energy use? 

Possibly due to reading misinformation online or from people who don't know any better.

Smart meters have all the benefits that old meters and none of the disadvantages.

EssexHebridean

Yep - that's often the case when people post along these lines - unfortunately the conspiracy theorists out there have done a decent job of ensuring those less able to understand the facts are frightened into believing that the new meters are in some way a bad thing. All we can do is call it out when we see it, and present the truth of the matter, and hope that calm reassurance overcomes the fearmongering.

PaulDesmond

I have heard from Martin Lewis that you can regquest the smart feature of a smart meter to be turned off. Has he got this wrong?

la531983

PaulDesmond said:

I have heard from Martin Lewis that you can regquest the smart feature of a smart meter to be turned off. Has he got this wrong?

Why dont you tell us what is troubling you about them?

luci

PaulDesmond said:

I have heard from Martin Lewis that you can regquest the smart feature of a smart meter to be turned off. Has he got this wrong?

Which features would you like to turn off?

flaneurs_lobster

How about a reason for not wanting a new meter install that doesn't involve Bill Gates' 5G Covid Death Rays?

My SMETS 1 electricity meter was installed in a communal external "cupboard" (a stout, wooden, weatherproof mini-shed) 10 years ago . It was the first smart meter to be installed in there, subsequently the other three homes in my conversion have had smarts installed.

My SMETS 1 comms have failed (2 years ago). Supplier wants to replace with SMETS 2. My neighbor's installs (either by incompetence, laziness or sheer lack of space) have not left enough access or space to allow a simple swap-out, the other meters and/or their cabling would have to be moved, cutting supply to all the dwellings probably by no more than half a day.

This has been confirmed by two separate engineer's visits, a year apart. I'm perfectly happy for any work that affects only my supply to go ahead. I will not agree to any work that removes supply to my neighbors without their express permission. A further letter has arrived asking to replace meter.....

I'm not going to try and negotiate a suitable date and time with my 3 sets of co-residents and the engineers (a third party who cannot be contacted directly), too hard, too inconvenient, not my problem. I'm happy to supply meter readings monthly so I have no issues with the dead smarts. If the supplier wants to continue then they will have to deal with 4 households to find a mutually convenient date/time. 

Am aware that I'm possibly missing out on smart freebies (free Sunday leccy?) and might well have to tell porkies if I want to swap suppliers ("Yes I have a Smart Meter").

AIBU?

QrizB

PaulDesmond said:

I have heard from Martin Lewis that you can regquest the smart feature of a smart meter to be turned off. Has he got this wrong?

Yes.

All smart meters will (if possible) communicate their smart info to their respective suppliers. Even if the data doesn't appear on your bill, suppliers use this info when paying their own wholesalers for the gas and electricity you've used.

flaneurs_lobster said:

How about a reason for not wanting a new meter install that doesn't involve Bill Gates' 5G Covid Death Rays?

You've got a reasonable excuse, and you have had two previous smart meter engineers try to fit one and fail.

I'd probably still let the third one visit, just to stop my supplier bugging me for another year!