Smart meters

Scot_39

Whilst there have been issues - and Comms in some locations has been problematic - many old problems have ben sorted - and new hybrid hubs in progress.

My smart meter on my tariff doesnt really save me - my rates etc same on smart as dumb - but as above - it has secondary uses - especially in terms of difficult to read meter placement.

And although historically Ofgem allowed suppliers leeway on custumer choice, their short 3 line web page guidance ive seen, if meters end of life - AFAIK - Ofgem doesnt give the supplier any option - but to replace - if a signal generalky available - as meters have to be certified to comply with license terms - and to replace EOL meters with Smart - to meet govt targets.

That are consistently missed and have been for years - the first high percentage complete iirc 2019

All the old exceptions - including customer preference / refusal - long since gone in the EOL process.

The problem is past govts have never mandated them, but having missed latrst 2025 targets - I believe the new c2030 target is 100% smart - but would have to read the govt / Ofgem policy document to see what exclusions ifany - as dont see how that can be achieved by choice.

Given OP been refusing for a while - could now be at that EOL meter stage.

littlemoney

I have refused smart meters as I've been told that smart meters are bigger and require more space and my electric meter is boxed in.

I was also told that if the meter is enclosed and the space is not big enough the smart meter installer will break the box to fit the meter and it's the householders responsibility to sort out any redecoration needed.

I don't have the physical ability to decorate and I don't want a mess in my house to sort out. Hence no smart meter. My meter still has another 10 years before its expiry date

t0rt0ise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146530#Comment_82146530

They'll tell you as soon as they look if it won't fit easily. The guy who came to do mine said he didn't think the electric meter would fit. I said I really wanted the smart meter because I wanted the cheaper smart tariffs and he said he'd try. It took him longer than usual but he was really good and succeeded. I went on to save hundreds of pounds on smart tariffs.

littlemoney

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146548#Comment_82146548

Did you have the option yo say no at that point

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146904#Comment_82146904

If they cannot fit the meter then they will not "break" things to fit one. If the meter is within certification then they will just leave it, if the meter is outside of certification (which can be different to the certification date sticker on the meter if there is one), then they will leave at that point, but will require you to get the obstructions removed, or potentially need to get the board located, there are usually methods for this to be done relatively easily, but it can be a problem when a customer has boxed something in, or blocked the meter by fitting a kitchen tightly around it etc. Ultimately once a meter is no longer compliant the supplier can (and will) obtain a warrant to replace the meter, at which point hey can remove anything that gets in the way, or just disconnect the supply.

Reed_Richards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82146530#Comment_82146530

I actually wanted a smart meter because I knew I would benefit financially from being on a time-of-use tariff. But the installer came, told me that there wasn't room for a smart meter and left again without doing anything. My meter at the time was a digital but non-smart meter. A smart meter comes in two parts, the actual meter and a communications hub that fits on top so that does make a smart meter larger, specifically taller.

So I paid for an electrician to move things around in my meter cupboard to give the necessary room, then I was able to get a smart meter fitted.

Two years later the comms hub stopped communicating. The fix was to install a new comms hub on the end of a flying lead in a position where the signal was better. But if the flying lead option had been available two years previously I could have saved myself the cost of hiring an electrician. My new comms hub is actually outside the meter cupboard, with the lead fed through a hole drilled in the wooden frame. My smart meter has worked properly for the last 11 months and the time-of-use tariff is saving me a lot of money.