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Original poster

Has anyone agreed to a Smart Meter but found they couldn't have one? Or was going to be tricky.

54 replies

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 11:01

I keep getting emails and I might be coming around to the idea. BUT my Gas and Electric meters are like quite antique. Well 1980 ish. They have a cupboard each, and have those old fashioned numbers that click round.

I asked Ovo Energy if an engineer could come round and have a look first but no, you have to agree to it then they come and install it. I really wanted them to tell me what's involved.
Is there a danger they won't be able to do it?

OP posts:

BobbinHood · 22/02/2022 12:46

We agreed to one and they couldn’t install it on the day because of something I don’t really understand about the way the power is supplied into our house. So she just went away again and said she’d get a note put on our file so the energy company don’t keep asking. It wasn’t a big deal.

Summersdreaming · 22/02/2022 12:52

@StrawberryLollipops

Best part if if they install them, and then you move providers - it goes back to being a regular meter again. The new provider can't access the data. (unless that has changed recently?)

Seems a bit pointless and 'gravy train-ish' overall

Exactly. I moved into a new build and joined Pure Planet, they couldn't read the smart meter so wanted to rip them out and replace the brand new smart meters put in by British Gas. I said no, a few months later they went bust and I've just had the same request from the new supplier. So potentially 4 brand new smart meters would be in a landfill if I'd agreed each time, very sustainable

GiantKitten · 22/02/2022 12:54

@CrotchetyQuaver

Yes wanted to put our gas to combine with the electric smart meter we already have but it couldn't be done as the gas meter and electric meter are at opposite ends of the house so it wouldn't work

Opposite sides of house is what ours are like. Also not very easily accessible - gas meter beside front door, right next to wall on one side, in tiny cupboard along with water stop tap; electric meter under stairs at back of house and right next to consumer unit. I sent photos to see if we can have them changed, but now they’re going to send an actual engineer to actually look. I imagine a lot of old houses must be similar to ours.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 13:12

@LucyfurMorningstar

So now I just want to know exactly what they need to do in those cupboards Both your gas and electric will be turned off for approx 30 minutes as the old existing meters are removed and replaced by the new smart meters.

Sounds straightforward in theory...

OP posts:

CornishGem1975 · 22/02/2022 13:19

@StrawberryLollipops

Best part if if they install them, and then you move providers - it goes back to being a regular meter again. The new provider can't access the data. (unless that has changed recently?)

Seems a bit pointless and 'gravy train-ish' overall

It's meant to have changed but I don't know if in reality it has.

PacificState · 22/02/2022 13:29

I've got a really old gas meter that's original to my house (1930s). Every time the Bulb people look at it they suck their teeth and say it looks impossible (it's actually dripping plastic all over the place, has been for years) and say National Grid needs to replace it. National Grid has had me on their books for about four years now but nothing ever happens. Can't quite be bothered to make a fuss about it.

Sobeyondthehills · 22/02/2022 13:33

I am in a block of flats, I think its a mix of private rent, social and owned.

The engineer took on look at our meters and said due to the way the electrics were first set up when the flats were built, we have to change the electrics for not only our flat, but potentially all the flats on our side of the road as it was a complete mess. Its something I need to take up with my landlord (also I think the freeholder?)

It has taken nearly 6 months of badgering to try and get someone to have a look at the mould in my flat and I am still arguing that, so the thought of trying to convince them to spend some money changing the electrics for potentially 200 flats and getting the various people to all agree to that, is not something I am even going to bother trying

Furries · 22/02/2022 13:34

@CrotchetyQuaver

Yes wanted to put our gas to combine with the electric smart meter we already have but it couldn't be done as the gas meter and electric meter are at opposite ends of the house so it wouldn't work

That’s interesting to know, hadn’t thought about that. My gas meter is outside the front of the house. Electric meter is at the back corner in kitchen units and kitchen is at the back of the house. I now have a solid reason to give them so that they stop bugging me with messages to get a smart meter!

Carriemac · 22/02/2022 13:34

I asked for one (octopus) but when they came round they couldn't fit it as we have '3-phase' electricity. Said they'd be in touch but nada from them for six months till I filled in a customer survey to say how shite they were. Its now coming next Thursday apparently.

looklikeanelephant · 22/02/2022 13:45

I moved into a new place 3 weeks ago and our house appears to be from the Stone Age because they can't do it.

emmathedilemma · 22/02/2022 14:00

@OinkyO

Yes. I had one in a flat where the meter was too far out of range for the gas they could do the electricity though.

same here!

Tippexy · 22/02/2022 14:28

You would be mad to get one!

ExtremelyDelighted · 22/02/2022 14:41

Yes, when we were with our old supplier they were always nagging us to get them, the website made it very clear that you weren't to request an engineer visit unless you met all the various criteria but I thought ours might be too far apart for the 3G signal to work / awkwardly located. They had a chat bot thing so I sent all the measurements and distances with photos - no reply but kept sending us emails telling us to get them.

Now we've changed supplier, part of the T&Cs for their tariff was that you should have them but they've never offered them and just ask us for meter readings every month so I've abandoned the idea for now. There was something in the small print saying it was OK not to have them if you couldn't.

Hugasauras · 22/02/2022 14:42

We had ours fitted last week with no issues. Took about 45 mins and is working fine. We are in a newer house though.

Aposterhasnoname · 22/02/2022 14:44

We had ancient meters and when they came to survey for our smart meter we were told the electric one was flat out dangerous and we were lucky it hadn’t caused a fire. They had to dig up a small part of the drive to fit a m we one. All free, and done very quickly to be fair, and they put everything back together exactly as it was.

Ariela · 22/02/2022 14:51

Personally I'd love a smart meter as I'm sick of the electricity people continually over estimating a) the bill b) the amount we will use, so by the time the bill comes, it's covered the bill plus 1/3 the next one c) they put up the direct debit when the rate hasn't changed and bas the amount they put it up by by the amount of electricity we used same quarter last year + 30% so I have to waste time phoning them to say no, I don't think it should go up by 30% given a) we're using less and b) the rate is the same. So it's going to be even worse now that electricity is actually going up.

Every time they say 'can we install a smart meter?' I say 'yes, but you'll need to also install a mobile phone signal booster as there is no mobile phone signal in our kitchen (were the meter is) - can you do that?' But they won't! I'd LOVE to have mobile phone work properly in the kitchen as I could phone people while cooking tea.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 22:25

Thank you for all your replies, it's made interesting reading. I'm still dithering a bit. I mean the chances are it'll all be fine, and I'll get to see our usage properly. But the old way still works with me sending readings when they ask. I can't stand all the teeth sucking stuff, and if it's going to be a huge hassle i'd rather not bother but I won't know unless I book the installation I suppose.

OP posts:

Englishrosegarden · 22/02/2022 23:06

I've been holding out on having one fitted for a long while as I can't see any benefit to me at all.
I was alarmed to read this week that installation of smart meters would allow energy companies to charge more at different times of day, so you could pay more at peak hours and less at night. This was said to be only an idea being floated but it did make me wonder if that has been the intention all along, hence the huge amount of pushing from the energy companies.

Furries · 23/02/2022 01:07

My reasoning is that it’s no hardship for me to submit a reading once a quarter (or even every month).

I’ve got no interest in a firm installing devices in my house when I’m capable of doing the job myself. I don’t trust the technology yet, especially re switching suppliers (I get that this isn’t a problem right now as not much choice out there!).

I use my appliances/heating when I need to. I’m mindful of what I’m using and already know that I can’t adjust any further the usage in my house.

XenoBitch · 23/02/2022 01:12

Booked to have mine done twice now.. and they didn't turn up. Get £60 for each no show though.

ukborn · 23/02/2022 01:53

Yes I agreed to it they came snd said due to location within my house it wouldn't be able to be read from outside so he couldn't do it. Didn't stop the letters though. I haven't received a single one at my new house however.

MrsFezziwig · 23/02/2022 02:04

@ukborn

I don’t understand this. Isn’t the whole point of a smart meter that you don’t need to come and read it?

MrsFezziwig · 23/02/2022 02:10

I didn’t really want one but when I had a new kitchen the installer suggested I have it done so that if they ever became compulsory they wouldn’t have to mess with my lovely new cupboards to install it. I did need two visits as the first guy said it couldn’t be done, but the second one succeeded. They obviously took on a lot of extra staff when they were really pushing the smart meters so some clearly had a lot more experience than others. Anyway, haven’t had any issues with it.

purdypuma · 23/02/2022 06:24

If like my house your meters are located in the cellar then chances are that start meters won't work due to lack of signal needed to send the readings. It's happened to several people I know who are in older properties with cellars.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 23/02/2022 07:05

About five years ago British Gas rang me up and asked if I'd like one. I said oh yeah, yes please, and then when they started processing things while I was still on the phone they discovered my property was already marked as unsuitable (great targeted marketing there 😂) so no smart meter but also no wasted visit.

(It was a flat above a shop, gas meter outside two floors down, parking difficult, old building - not sure which of these was the decisive factor, but I suppose not surprising it wasn't feasible.)

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