Page 2 | Smart meter minutes away from starting a fire

Lianne1977 · 2023-02-27T17:46:17+00:00

Just wondering what you would all do in my situation. So last night after rechecking our son was asleep my DH realised the lights were not working. He went down to the garage to check the box and found it full of smoke and the box was red hot. He immediately called northern power grid who were fantastic coming straight out and making everything safe (took 11 hours and and dug up pavement) Turns out the wires in our new smart meter box had not been tightened properly so box was on fire and the neutral wasnt fastened at all anymore so had literally made our, and our neighbours house “live”. Had my DH not felt something wasn’t right we would most likely have had a burnt down house today. Worst part for me is our sons room is above the garage so it would have got to him first. So here’s my IABU, I’ve obviously emailed EDF with a harsh email but would you push it any further ie post in social media, local press? I feel I need to warn people about this danger but I’m so over emotional at “what could have happened” that it’s clouding my judgement. Thanks

WinterMusings · 27/02/2023 21:20

@Lianne1977

I'm glad you're all ok x

Why did your DH call the Northern Power Grid & not 999 & did he have their number in his phone?

i know I need to up my game on safety items & having the numbers I need in my phone, so just curious.

I burnt something the other day, total incineration, loads of smoke. Fire alarm didn't flinch and I don't have a fire blanket or extinguisher.

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/02/2023 21:22

IMustDoMoreExercise · 27/02/2023 20:52

That is exactly why I have refused to have a smart meter fitted in my house. I remember watching a program where someone someone's house burnt down because their smart meter wasn't fitted properly.

But logically you should also refuse to have a cooker fitted, or a washing machine. Electrical faults on these have caused house fires.

bigbluebus · 27/02/2023 21:27

I had an EDF smart meter fitted in November by Morrison Data Services. Is that who fitted yours OP?
It was starting to go dark when they turned up to fit mine.

Suzi888 · 27/02/2023 21:28

Clymene · 27/02/2023 21:14

She absolutely does. Or should it wait until someone's fried in their beds.

If smart meter installers are cowboys then there needs to be tighter regulation. Not wait until people die and then 'lessons will be learned'

Show quote history

I agree- people need to know. If it saves one life, it’s still worth it.

Scary to think what might have happened. I’d be upset too.

Original poster

Lianne1977 · 27/02/2023 21:28

JackieDaws · 27/02/2023 21:15

Lmao, something similar happened to me about a month ago with an EDF meter.

When the Economy 7 switched on, all electricity went off which isn't fun especially with storage heating. Apparently the E7 meter wasn't connected properly. The meter cupboard outside was black with smoke and the noise was awful.

Show quote history

OMG it’s terrifying, you pretty much put your life in these peoples hands. Assume they are qualified to do they job they are contracted to.

Threelittledots I’m not outing overworked electricians just people who can’t do a job that could end up killing people.do you agree it’s ok they are fitting meters that are not properly connected because they are “overworked” EDF sent these people, they are responsible to ensure they do a good job and don’t try to kill us.

OP posts:

teapotfullofsquash · 27/02/2023 21:30

It was on watchdog years ago about smart meters catching fire. I've always refused one. Everyone I know who has one complains about the thing anyway.

RandomNameUser54321 · 27/02/2023 21:34

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/02/2023 21:22

But logically you should also refuse to have a cooker fitted, or a washing machine. Electrical faults on these have caused house fires.

Show quote history

And I’ll never buy hotpoint ever again precisely because people raised awareness of just how badly their products were made.

Original poster

Lianne1977 · 27/02/2023 21:35

bigbluebus · 27/02/2023 21:27

I had an EDF smart meter fitted in November by Morrison Data Services. Is that who fitted yours OP?
It was starting to go dark when they turned up to fit mine.

I wish I did, I just assumed big company like EDF meant it was safe. Didn’t question it was subcontracted. Scary thing is unless your meter is somewhere always noticeable you may not see the build up till it’s too late.
ours is in garage and our sons bedroom is above, so when we first went to bed and my DH smelt the weird smell we kind of dismissed it but he couldn’t settled and an hour later got up and went to recheck. Thank goodness he did, someone was definitely watching over us last night

OP posts:

newrubylane · 27/02/2023 21:39

I know someone who did meter fitting for a job for a while. They are extremely highly trained and have to undergo refresher training every few months. Safety standards are very high.

Original poster

Lianne1977 · 27/02/2023 21:40

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/02/2023 21:22

But logically you should also refuse to have a cooker fitted, or a washing machine. Electrical faults on these have caused house fires.

Show quote history

The scary thing here is yes a washer could be fitted badly and cause a fire. Our electricity supply into our house, so whole house, was made “live” had any of us touched a socket we could have been killed by this fittersnegligence. It also affected our neighbours house who is elderly with Dementia.
we trusted our electricity supplier to fit a smart meter safely and they did not.

OP posts:

ThreeLittleDots · 27/02/2023 21:40

Do you agree it’s ok they are fitting meters that are not properly connected because they are “overworked” EDF sent these people, they are responsible to ensure they do a good job and don’t try to kill us

Where did I say it was ok?! Of course complain to the provider, but electrical faults can happen with any installations. It's not a smart meter thing really, so warning people about smart meters on social media isn't really going to achieve anything, when you're going to also warn people about having their consumer units replaced, or their electric showers upgraded, or their oven fused spur altered.

Original poster

Lianne1977 · 27/02/2023 21:44

WinterMusings · 27/02/2023 21:20

@Lianne1977

I'm glad you're all ok x

Why did your DH call the Northern Power Grid & not 999 & did he have their number in his phone?

i know I need to up my game on safety items & having the numbers I need in my phone, so just curious.

I burnt something the other day, total incineration, loads of smoke. Fire alarm didn't flinch and I don't have a fire blanket or extinguisher.

If you have a power cut you call power grid on 105 and they come to sort. Had the fire been raging obviously it would have been 999. To be fair I’d have had no idea but if you google power cut it gives this info and also on your suppliers website. Glad my DH is quite savvy like that.

OP posts:

QuestionableMouse · 27/02/2023 21:52

Suzi888 · 27/02/2023 21:28

I agree- people need to know. If it saves one life, it’s still worth it.

Scary to think what might have happened. I’d be upset too.

Show quote history

People do know - by this thread. It's viewable by thousands if not millions of people.

No sad face story needed.

user1471447863 · 27/02/2023 21:54

Even the Smart meter holdouts will have their meter replaced (with another dumb one) at some point as they all have a calibration lifespan.
And the very same issue can happen. A loose terminal is a loose terminal regardless of meter. No point making it out to be a Smart meter issue when it isn't.

Also your electricity supplier doesn't own/maintain/fit your meter. You can (well could in the past) swap supplier ever year if you wanted. The metering is all done by a 3rd party

snowbellsxox · 27/02/2023 22:06

This is horrifying
Glad you're all ok

Hbh17 · 27/02/2023 22:08

I have no idea what I would do in this situation, but it's yet another reason why smart meters are the work if the devil and to be resisted at all costs!

IMustDoMoreExercise · 27/02/2023 22:30

user1471447863 · 27/02/2023 21:54

Even the Smart meter holdouts will have their meter replaced (with another dumb one) at some point as they all have a calibration lifespan.
And the very same issue can happen. A loose terminal is a loose terminal regardless of meter. No point making it out to be a Smart meter issue when it isn't.

Also your electricity supplier doesn't own/maintain/fit your meter. You can (well could in the past) swap supplier ever year if you wanted. The metering is all done by a 3rd party

The issue is specific to smart meters because the installers and energy companies are under pressure to meet targets. Also they have had to train thousands of installers very quickly so goodness knows how good the training has been.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 27/02/2023 22:32

ThreeLittleDots · 27/02/2023 21:40

Do you agree it’s ok they are fitting meters that are not properly connected because they are “overworked” EDF sent these people, they are responsible to ensure they do a good job and don’t try to kill us

Where did I say it was ok?! Of course complain to the provider, but electrical faults can happen with any installations. It's not a smart meter thing really, so warning people about smart meters on social media isn't really going to achieve anything, when you're going to also warn people about having their consumer units replaced, or their electric showers upgraded, or their oven fused spur altered.

The issue is specific to smart meters because the installers and energy companies are under pressure to meet targets. Also they have had to train thousands of installers very quickly so goodness knows how good the training has been.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 28/02/2023 09:26

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/02/2023 21:22

But logically you should also refuse to have a cooker fitted, or a washing machine. Electrical faults on these have caused house fires.

Show quote history

No, because the issue is specific to smart meters because the installers and energy companies are under pressure to meet targets. Also they have had to train thousands of installers very quickly so goodness knows how good the training has been.

Clymene · 28/02/2023 09:49

I thought you said this thread was a sad face story @QuestionableMouse

It's very odd that anyone would want this information not disseminated more widely

IMustDoMoreExercise · 02/03/2023 14:25

@Lianne1977

Have you had a response from EDF OP?

Original poster

Lianne1977 · 02/03/2023 21:03

IMustDoMoreExercise · 02/03/2023 14:25

@Lianne1977

Have you had a response from EDF OP?

only to ask what I want the outcome to be, have replied and am now awaiting their reply. I suspect they will likely wriggle out of it 😢

OP posts:

IMustDoMoreExercise · 02/03/2023 21:07

Lianne1977 · 02/03/2023 21:03

only to ask what I want the outcome to be, have replied and am now awaiting their reply. I suspect they will likely wriggle out of it 😢

Show quote history

Well I hope that you are going to ask for tens of thousands in compensation. That is the only way they will learn. It is not acceptable to put people's lives at risk just to meet targets.