Smart Meter Adviceq

steveinhants

Hi,
OVO customer here and our analogue gas meter has a fault. We need a replacement and I understand this has to be a smart meter. However, my electricity meter functions perfectly well. OVO are insisting on a dual swap out - is this really necessary?

Peter999_2

The gas smart meter connects to the electric meter to give it's reading. The electric meter then connects to the network and submits both the electric and gas meter readings (the gas meter has to use a battery as it has no power so it doesn't transmit to the network directly).

If you are getting one meter replaced then I don't understand why you would mind if they do both? The electric meter will have to be replaced at some point so might as well kill two birds with one ston.

Don't listen to any of the scare stories online about smart meters. Either the network connection works and you don't have to keep reading your meters anymore as it's automatic or if the meter can't connect to the network you have to submit manual readings which is what you have to do now anyway.

An advantage of smart meters is the great value tariff's you would then have access to. I've saved thousands of pounds since getting my smart meters in 2020.

QrizB

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: the smart meter system has four parts (ok three if you're all-electric); the two meters, the in-home display and the comms hub. The comms hub establishes a local ZigBee network which the other two/three parts all connect to using ZigBee (which is another network communication technology like WiFi or Bluetooth) and the meters use this to send . The comms hub is mains powered and typically obtains this power by being attached to the top of the electricity meter, so you need a smart electricity meter to power the comms hub and make your smart gas meter work.

(In principle it's possible to fit a comms hub without a smart electricity meter, by using a sppecial adapter that they attach to your existing. In practice they won't do this as all the energy companies are being fined by Ofgem if they don't fit enough smart meters. Also if they do this you usually end up having to pay for the electricity the comms hub uses; ones attached to a meter use electricity from the unmetered side of the supply.)

steveinhants

The gas meter has had condensation in it for ages. We have repeastedly told OVO that's is not readable and their engineer has been out to see it - nothing happened. It's 20 years old.
From what I've read and had confirmed on here, it looks like both meters will be swapped out.

Netexporter

By getting both meters changed you'll have access to a much wider range of electricity tariffs, which could save you money.