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Original poster

Your thoughts on smart meters - feel I'm being forced into having them.

136 replies

CrunchyCarrot · 07/04/2022 10:29

So last Sept we got switched to Octopus energy as our old supplier went bust. The previous supplier (Avro) tried to sell us the idea of smart meters but we refused - had heard about not being able to switch suppliers and were concerned about potential for hacking of the devices and some horror stories. So a few days ago I submitted a meter reading due to prices about to rise, and today I got an email saying we need our meters replacing, as 'they are approaching the end of their operational life' and 'Gas and electricity meters should be replaced periodically, generally every 15 - 20 years, to ensure absolute accuracy and safety.' That's the first I've heard of it!

After reading around on another forum I discoverd one's meter will show when it was last 'certified' (i.e. seems to mean was declared fit to give accurate readings). Ours don't have sticky labels, in fact they are so old they have attached paper tags - so I blew off the dust (!) and discovered the electric meter's was dated 1989! Couldn't read the gas one as the label was partly destroyed but the date began with 19--. So clearly these are pretty old. Yet no-one has mentioned having them 're-certified' or replaced till just after the price rise?

I visited Octopus's smart meter FAQ: 'Do you have to replace my meter?' 'Yes, we’re required to do so under governmental regulation. It is our duty to ensure customers have continuity of safe energy supply that is accurately recorded.'

Honestly I feel this is being pushed very hard at us. It's very hard to argue with 'we have to do so under govt regulation' and 'Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.' However I fully intend to hold out for the time being. I expect to be forced into it eventually, however.

What have others done? Anyone else had this 'your meters aren't certified' email?

OP posts:
earsup · 07/04/2022 18:52

My friend has one...usually broken....has hardly ever worked....!...surge / peak pricing is available in Spain...friend over there is on the tariff....A friend here works for national grid....talking of bringing it in here in the UK...those on smart meters would be affected first.

TheSnowyOwl · 07/04/2022 18:53

Also, under your terms and conditions, your energy supplier owns the meter and does have the right to dictate what type of meter you have (and charge you the costs incurred in obtaining a warrant and access to install it if it really comes down to it). As I said earlier, you can have a smart meter in dumb mode which means it works like the older meters and can’t be communicated with. That’s assuming your smart meter has a good enough signal to even work in the first place as countless ones don’t.

RJnomore1 · 07/04/2022 18:57

I won’t be having one and I’ve resisted any pressure so far. The fucking nest thermostat is the bane of my life as it is.

I’d genuinely make them get a warrant it would be an interesting discussion with the judge.

WildBlueAndDitzy · 07/04/2022 18:59

I think they send those letters out to people who don't use much, so they suspect someone's fiddling the meter and want to fit a new one! Smart meters required internet to work and to be close to internet. Not everyone has internet or the meter isn't close to it eg flats, so they can get hold of a standard meter easily enough if they want to. They just don't want to, they want you to have smart meter.

TheSnowyOwl · 07/04/2022 18:59

@RJnomore1

I won’t be having one and I’ve resisted any pressure so far. The fucking nest thermostat is the bane of my life as it is.

I’d genuinely make them get a warrant it would be an interesting discussion with the judge.

I’d wager that if they went as far as a judge that they would be granted the warrant on the grounds of health and safety for such an old meter. I can’t see any justification to get a warrant before it needs recertification though unless access was refused or there was meter tampering/non payment.
BocolateChiscuits · 07/04/2022 19:05

Love mine.

It saved us money too, just by helping us understand how much energy we're using for various things.

Mossstitch · 07/04/2022 19:21

I'm refusing on principle😈the adverts annoy me 'install a smart meter to save money'....... They are plugged in and cost you electricity to run so it's a lie!! Yes I know its probably hardly anything at all but my gas bill is £10 per month and electric just gone up to £18.44 so I'm a really low user already and yes, they've been out and checked the electric meter under the guise of reading it, stupidly I allowed them in then dawned on me meter reader been the week before🤦 when I jokingly questioned this as hadn't checked his ID he couldn't get out the door fast enough mumbling something about being there to ask if I wanted a smart meter, when I said I didn't want one he said I don't blame you😂

Original poster
CrunchyCarrot · 07/04/2022 20:41

But surely you expect to spend half the year in credit on a DD plan? Too fast/too slow/just right, regardless it’s too old and needs to be replaced and it’s been perfectly standard to replace meters after a certain lifespan for many years.

Not at this point of the year, when we're just coming out of winter. I'd expect us to be a bit in debit or just breaking even.

To those who say just ask your energy supplier to fit a new dumb meter, apparently this isn't possible now. From Octopus's email this morning:
"Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of."

Yeah, right. Hmm

OP posts:
TheSnowyOwl · 07/04/2022 20:48

@CrunchyCarrot

But surely you expect to spend half the year in credit on a DD plan? Too fast/too slow/just right, regardless it’s too old and needs to be replaced and it’s been perfectly standard to replace meters after a certain lifespan for many years.

Not at this point of the year, when we're just coming out of winter. I'd expect us to be a bit in debit or just breaking even.

To those who say just ask your energy supplier to fit a new dumb meter, apparently this isn't possible now. From Octopus's email this morning:
"Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of."

Yeah, right. Hmm

Surely that all depends upon when the start of your Direct Debit year is?

A dumb meter is a smart meter; it’s just one of the modes you can have, so it’s a smart meter that isn’t switched on to communicate and 100% of smart meters can be in dumb mode.

Original poster
CrunchyCarrot · 07/04/2022 20:50

Surely that all depends upon when the start of your Direct Debit year is?

My brain's fried now, we were bumped to Octopus last October, or late September, I think it was. Not sure whether that puts us ahead or behind, with a DD payment each month of the same amount.

OP posts:
TheSnowyOwl · 07/04/2022 21:48

@CrunchyCarrot

Surely that all depends upon when the start of your Direct Debit year is?

My brain's fried now, we were bumped to Octopus last October, or late September, I think it was. Not sure whether that puts us ahead or behind, with a DD payment each month of the same amount.

I’m surprised many people can keep up with them if I’m honest. It’s not surprising it’s difficult to work out what being paid and being used works out, especially when so many people are being switched between suppliers and waiting ages for a bill anyway.
WildBlueAndDitzy · 08/04/2022 04:42

If it needs replacing, you can buy your own meter. Then they can install it, or check it after you've installed it if you have that skill. So you can choose what meter you have, if you really want to.

LennyAndTheDucks · 08/04/2022 07:08

@Mossstitch

I'm refusing on principle😈the adverts annoy me 'install a smart meter to save money'....... They are plugged in and cost you electricity to run so it's a lie!! Yes I know its probably hardly anything at all but my gas bill is £10 per month and electric just gone up to £18.44 so I'm a really low user already and yes, they've been out and checked the electric meter under the guise of reading it, stupidly I allowed them in then dawned on me meter reader been the week before🤦 when I jokingly questioned this as hadn't checked his ID he couldn't get out the door fast enough mumbling something about being there to ask if I wanted a smart meter, when I said I didn't want one he said I don't blame you😂
I think you’re getting confused between the smart meter and the little monitor you use to monitor your usage.

The actual smart meter goes in the same place your meter is now and sends reads through mobile signal. No electricity required. The little monitor requires electricity but you don’t have to use that. You can just unplug that and shove it in a drawer somewhere and it won’t impact reads being sent from the meter in the slightest.

Svara · 08/04/2022 07:28

I'm not getting one because the more high tech something is, the more seems to be able to go wrong. Also I don't see any benefits, I can easily read my meters, so my bills are always accurate, actual usage. We have low usage, mostly during the day, so wouldn't benefit from low tariffs at night.

Whatalovelydaffodil · 08/04/2022 07:31

@Danikm151

A smart meter means you will only pay for what you use. Updated readings are sent every half hour. You don’t have to have the consumer unit.
You only pay for what you use with non-smart meters too.
Svara · 08/04/2022 07:33

I also refuse to take time off work and lose a day or half a day pay or holiday for something that doesn't benefit me. If they insist on it eventually then they can tell me an hour time slot when I am already home.

Whatalovelydaffodil · 08/04/2022 07:36

@BocolateChiscuits

Love mine.

It saved us money too, just by helping us understand how much energy we're using for various things.

See, I don't understand this. You know what uses electricity in your house and you have always been in control of your own usage. Old type meters also tell you how much you are using. That's the point of a meter. You don't need a smartmeter to tell you this.
cakeorwine · 08/04/2022 07:38

I think mine is incredibly useful. Helps show DS the power he is using for his showers. Useful to see power use and see impact of various devices etc.

Turningpurple · 08/04/2022 07:41

Yes meters need replacing periodically.

Its always been the case. And yes, dumb meters, are becoming obsolete.

The plan the government originally gave suppliers was to change peoples who do want them and the rest would be changed when meters need replacing. The plan has always been that dumb meters will no longer be fitted

cakeorwine · 08/04/2022 07:45

That's the point of a meter. You don't need a smartmeter to tell you this

You don't.

But it's a lot easier to look at the linked monitor and see the 'live' view as well as the history compared to manually entering numbers on a spreadsheet and tracking usage.

Kennykenkencat · 08/04/2022 07:46

@TonTonMacoute

They are obliged to install a meter so they can accurately record how much power they supply and you use.

It does not have to be a smart meter and you do not have to accept it because of government regulations.

They are entitled to impose a smart meter as a condition of supplying you with power, but that should have been made clear when you signed up.

DH worked for a big utility company on rolling out meters and none of them really understand the point, but the government wants everyone to have smart meters so the energy companies are trying to trick everyone into getting one by telling them it's more or less compulsory.

🤣🤣🤣

My metre got turned off a few weeks ago and hasn’t been turned back on yet.

My metre (the official one in the box outside) doesn’t have any numbers on it anymore. It is on but was told because they have stuffed up my account so much they have decided to close off the metre and start again.
What ever that means

Kennykenkencat · 08/04/2022 07:49

A smart metre came with the house and it is interesting being able to see at glance if something expensive has been left on but I would much prefer being able to switch suppliers and get the best value for our usage.

Sisisimone · 08/04/2022 07:50

I've been with Octopus for years. Was asked if I wanted a smart meter, said no and that was that. I have never once been hassled by them to get one, unlike Npower who were relentless, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Wowzel · 08/04/2022 07:57

I have moved into a house with prepayment meters, we are desperate to get a smart meter with Octopus so that we can get rid of them, but there are no slots

Missey85 · 08/04/2022 07:57

I love my smart metre it made my bills cheaper! 🙂