Octopus Smart Meter

missile

Octopus have asked me to provide a reading for gas and electric. Had to locate Octopus help then scroll through pages to identified my meters then follow the instructions. My meters are in dimly lit, difficult to reach locations, near floor level.

I don't know how a non-tech, without internet access / disabled person with less than perfect eyesight is expected to manage?

Call me a luddite but what was wrong with good old fashioned easy to read traditional meters?

oldernonethewiser

It'll be progress and new therefore it must be better.😁

I'm a fan of simple dials to read, buttons to push and knobs to turn.

Reed_Richards

I don't know how a non-tech, without internet access / disabled person with less than perfect eyesight is expected to manage?

They're not! The whole point of a smart meter is that your supplier can read it remotely so you shouldn't need to. And if you do you, would usually have a portable device that would give you the readings. If are having to provide readings then something has gone wrong.

By the way, a lot of people would struggle to read the dial meter on the left in your photo when one of the dials is close to a number. Is that 81699 or 81689 or 81599 or 81589?

TroubledTarts

Get a smart meter and they will hopefully be relocated fre or charge and most don't need reading (caveat it's not foolproof and things go wrong)

Reed_Richards

Get a smart meter 

As I read the question, @TroubledTarts , the OP has a smart meter but is still being asked to provide readings.

missile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82044686#Comment_82044686

Correct, I am selling the property and they have asked for exit readings. Why they just don't use the smart meter readings is a mystery :-(

EssexHebridean

It will probably be so they can double check and make sure you and the buyer both get charged correctly.

Reed_Richards

Ultimately it is the buyer's readings that get used, although these could be adjusted. If you take your own readings you will know if the buyer was telling the truth about their readings.

Swipe

When I sold my previous property I left the closing meter readings on a piece of paper along with other useful info for the new owners.

Ildhund

@Reed_Richards asked:

Is that 81699 or 81689 or 81599 or 81589?

Assuming there's a reason for bolding the last figure, I agree. Read from right to left and it gets easier, so long as you notice that the dials change direction each time.

FreeBear

With a smart meter, you can get the readings via the IHD. If you are with Octopus and have their Home Mini, I think the readings will also be available from the app (I just scrape the data from their server and store it somewhere safe).