Any Issues with a Smart Meter from Octopus?

Pescur

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916522#Comment_81916522

So the Octopus in-home display does provide live data?

SimonSeys

I had a smart meter installed a month or two ago. All very straightforward for the installation.

However the mini didn’t work at first. I called. They said wait a week. I waited for a week. It still didn’t work. A few back and forths and they did something at their end and it works - I can real time energy usage.

If you are getting a meter changed, then I would ask for them to install a) an isolator, b) 25mm tails. This will help future proof you if you a) have any electrical work done to your house (eg an EV charger) or b) want to upgrade your main fuse.

I’m getting an Ev charger installed and Octopus are needed to change the meter tails to 25mm, UKPN have to upgrade the main fuse, and my electrician will do the actual installation work.

They may not install the isolator (my octopus electrician said not enough space - which is true) but it’s worth a try.

Alnat1

You'll get whatever make of meters the fitter has in the van that day.

A lot of the fitters don't work for a particular energy company. Guy who fitted ours explained that most of the companies post jobs they want doing and he can choose ones he's happy to do. He said he picks those in a 10 mile radius of his home, as there's usually plenty to keep him busy.

Phones4Chris

EDF and Octopus do have their own teams of fitters. In any case, it all depends on the individual you get, some are very good and some are plain average. The make of meter doesn't matter, they are all certified and accurate, it's very rare the meter itself goes wrong, the same applies to any digital meter.

As far as Octopus goes, as long as the comms are working ok, you shouldn't have any issues with readings or billing. In any case, always check your bill and make sure it's showing smart meter readings and not estimates just in case something has gone awry.
If you have an E7 tariff check that the peak and off-peak readings are showing the correct way round for the tariff - there are very rare occasions when these can be the wrong way round, but if correct they are unlikely to change.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916580#Comment_81916580

I think some clarity could be needed here -
Whether it be a bog-standard IHD or an Octopus mini, BOTH will give you Live usage. There's normally about a 10 second delay between change of load and display update for electricity. Gas only updates every 30 minutes.

The difference with the Octopus mini is it can also readily show you the live usage over the last 5 or 30 minutes in the App depending on which you select.
You can also see all of the current and previous days usage (for every half-hourly data slot) immediately, whether in the App or on-line account. Without the mini, you have to wait for the previous days usage to be read from the meter by Octopus and then displayed on the account - usually about 24hrs later (but infrequently can sometimes take longer).

The standard Chameleon IHD3 can also display the total usage for the current day (so far), and the total usage on each of previous 7 days, each of the last 5 weeks, and each of the last 13 months. depending on what you select on the display.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916580#Comment_81916580

In home displays provide a limited set of data that includes live usage, but it is very limited. Octopus Home Mini provides live data including minute by minute usage, full access to half hourly data whether in home or away from home. It is essentially what the IHD should have been in the first place.

Alnat1

@Phones4Chris just for your information, we are with Octopus and the man that fitted our meters didn't work for them. He lived in the next village and had installed meters that day for several different energy companies. Maybe it varies depending where you are located?

t0rt0ise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916828#Comment_81916828

Me too. Octopus arranged but not an Octopus employee. He did a good job installing the electric meter in a space that wasn't really big enough.

Netexporter

Subcontractor meter fitter for me, too. I live in the middle of nowhere and they came from over 60 miles away. Had a bit of a wait until they had a day's worth of work in the area.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6658854/any-issues-with-a-smart-meter-from-octopus

It appears from some posts here that Octopus do not always supply / configure an IHD - but something called a mini - its a CAD - it gathers data for use by apps - if a customer requests that option.

Its I think a one or other choice - but could be wrong.

An IHD gives limited live information on a standalone display - the CAD has no screen etc - it allows you to access more data - but via a phone / tablet app or computer - it's more techie if you like - so if not comfortable with such things I'd avoid.

For the casual home user just wanting to keep an eye on things - the IHD is fine - for those who like to log and analyse in greater detail - the Mini has more uses.

And from posts here and elsewhere many have said the Mini stops working if you move supplier. (Please feel free to correct me if this is wrong)

So if you think you might ever leave (for instance for a cheaper standard fix) - you might want the IHD.

Lorian

Unless anyone knows different I think Octopus only provide an Octopus Mini now, no IHD.

They replaced my old SMETS 1 meters with L&G and a mobile Comms hub and external antenna a few years back with no issues.