Is it really illegal to refuse to have a smart meter?

[ALongHardWinter]

This is what a friend of a friend told me yesterday. Is it true? My electric company have been sending me letters every few months for the last couple of years urging me to have one installed. So far I've dug my heels in,mainly due to all the horror stories I've heard about them - not working initially,or working initially then suddenly not working. I know at least 6 people who've had them installed that have had problems. Now I get told this!

There are scam phone calls going round about faulty British Gas meters trying to talk you into something - probably giving away personal data.

I think your friend is confused.

Your meters need to be changed every so often. They can be in a long time though. But there are obligations to allow your meter to be changed. It’s a bit complicated about where the legal obligation sits with the company and what the home owner does.

When the meter is at the end of its life, it will be switched for a smart meter.

So you friend may have been told a story where a meter need to be, legally, changed and a smart meter went in.

We don't have one - we're with British Gas. I'm not aware of any repeated demands from them to get one either.

We have one, no problems so far.

Our current and previous 3 suppliers have been desperate to fit one in our house. I laugh and tell them they’re welcome to waste their time by sending a fitter but they won’t be able to fit it as there isn’t room.

Each supplier doesn’t believe me . . . . . until they try to fit one. 🤣🤣

The current supplier even kindly suggested I simply make more space for it until I pointed out there is a solid wall either side, a ceiling above and the front door below. No space to be made.

We don’t want one anyway so we’ll continue this game for quite a few years at this rate.

I've had emails telling my my meter is at the end of its life, and their policy is only to install smart meters. I don't want one, so I'm taking no notice until they tell me they have to replace it now for safety/whatever reason. I've read that you can tell them you want the 'smart' function disabled - not sure if it's true.
I agree with Pp who commented that anything that's being pushed this hard is for someone's benefit, and it's not ours. I don't need the information smart meters provide.

EDF phoned, emailed and text me constantly. I contacted them and said that they were harassing me and threatened them with the Ombudsman. I havent received any contact regarding smart meters since.

My energy supplier keeps asking me to have smart meters installed.

Thing is so did the previous 5 companies that billed me until the energy market went bang....

My gas meter was replaced earlier this year and on my request it's a standard, non smart meter - no issue. So don't assume if your meter dies you'll have to be forced into having a smart one

I've heard so many negative accounts about having one! They either cause problems getting up and running,or they work for a while,then start causing problems.

I get calls every few months and I just say I don’t want one.

Initially I just thought they were pointless. I use the electricity I need to use. Learning how much it costs to have the light on in the kitchen while I’m cooking isn’t going to make me cook by candlelight! Also I can’t be bothered to clear a space, and I can’t be bothered to make cups of tea and smalltalk with the fitter.
Then more recently I’ve heard of the problems people have, with inaccurate readings and subsequent crazy bills. And now I’m more sure than ever that I don’t want one.

I’m tired of justifying myself to the cold callers though, so now I just say I’m not interested. I don’t want to waste their time.

We held out for a couple of years, even though our tariff was one that had a contractual obligation to get them fitted, the company didn’t bother us much. But then we decided to just get them done, there was a £100 incentive, saves reading them (ours are in awkward places requiring stepladders and torches) and we have the display if we want it (stopped looking at it after about a week, but it it useful if for example seeing how much a new gadget uses). I’ve read a lot of negative things about them online but ours are fine so far and no one I know in real life has ever mentioned having any problems. I guess when we next change supplier that will be the test.

Often when you sign up to a new energy provider there is a clause that says if they roll out smart meters in your area you agree by signing with them to have one installed. So it’s often a contractural stipulation.

I have signed with that clause with both edf and shell.

Seems that most people don’t like them basically because they don’t like change. They have heard “horror stories” 🙄 But these seem to be along the lines of “it didn’t work initially”. Hardly a big deal.

It’s just updated technology. A small inconvenience that’s over swiftly. I can’t understand the fuss.

Nope not illegal... I've refused for like the last year I think... but no my meter has broken so have no choice.

So far I've had letters telling me my meter is obselete, that it might be dangerous, that it might be inaccurate. That it needs replacing. All complete rubbish.

They have no right to enter your property. Don't let them in.

I don't want a smart meter, I don't need a smart meter. I've never been behind with my bill and I will not bullied by some two-faced second rate utility company.

Their tactics are corporate bullying and must be treated with the contempt they deserve.

Thank you for reminding me to send my readings by posting this thread

I cannot be bothered. They explained that the elec would be switched off for an hour or two during installation. I would have to WFH to let them in and I can’t be without the router for that length of time unless I take a long lunch and make up the hours. A smart meter won’t benefit me in any way, so why should I mess up my day like that?

“What’s in it for me?” Is my starting point always (unless it involves a close relative, good friend or respected colleague).
.

No. We've resisted for years but we're only relenting now because we're leasing an electric vehicle and need one for the special tariffs.

No. One of our friends works for British Gas in a senior position and he won't have one. Says they have loads of problems with them and he'd not convinced they are secure.

Not illegal at all, but when you need a new meter you'll find all you will be offered is a smart meter as its all they stock.
Im truths, theres ARE a very limited set of situations where old style meters are used but those are very limited indeed.

You can ask for a smart meter to made dumb but if it still has the connectivity module fitted I wouldnt trust it.

I had a young girl knock on my door and she told me it was a legal requirement and had me signing up on the phone there and then! I cancelled the appointment after she'd left. I don't know why I don't want one I just can't be bothered with the inconvenience really.

We haven’t got one.

How long do meters last? Ours is from the mid 80s and we’ve not been told we need a new one. We’ve changed companies multiple times so how would they know how old it is? It does all look old but I worry that changing it would damage the gas pipes or something, as I’ve heard about people having gas leaks after installation - that happened to a relative, and I’m sure I’ve heard it on one of those consumer programmes.

We don't have smart meters either. I get a texture email every now and again asking me to book to have one installed, but I ignore them.
I chose the provider we have as it was one of the few I looked at that didn't have smart meter installation as part of the low price at that time.
I provide readings at the end of each month.

No, it's not illegal. Your friend is very much misinformed.

For clarity, on the grounds of safety they CAN enter your property, if your meter is out of certification they could argue its a safety issue.