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Original poster

Anyone removed a smart meter successfully?

84 replies

MrsTrue · 19/08/2022 17:33

Hi all - anyone had success removing a smart meter from their house?

I'm buying a new build with my husband and the only option is to have a smart meter installed. My husband wants it gone but is worried we won't be able to get it swapped out. We don't mind paying for it to be gone, he's just worried it'll take ages and/or not be possible. Please help me find some success stories!

OP posts:
welshweasel · 19/08/2022 17:34

Why on Earth would you want to remove the smart meter?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsTrue · 19/08/2022 17:39

MrsTrue · 19/08/2022 17:35

@welshweasel - here's a summary of my husband's concerns. I assume you don't have any success in removing one? I don't really fancy a debate on whether they're good or not tbh, I'm not going to change my husband's mind since he works in the sector and knows more about it than me.

OP posts:
millefeuille2 · 19/08/2022 17:40

Can you share the gist as the article is behind a pay wall.

Matildahoney · 19/08/2022 17:42

Can you not just unplug it?

Original poster
MrsTrue · 19/08/2022 17:48

The main concerns are around data privacy and cyber security vulnerabilities. I'm told it also provides energy companies with the technology to switch you off remotely, in case of missed payments etc., they aren't allowed to it today, but in times of energy shortages or other issues in the industry, the tech is there ready to be used.

Like I said though, it's not something I want to get into a debate on, just want to know if anyone has managed to do it.

OP posts:
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 19/08/2022 17:48

No Matilda she's talking about the meter not the display unit

RedWingBoots · 19/08/2022 17:48

@millefeuille2 try 12ft.io/

The article basically talks about the going dumb if you swap supplier, not getting the best deals if you have one and then data privacy concerns. The first point should only occur if you have a version 1 smart meter. The second point doesn't matter anymore and actually now you are likely to get a better deal having a smart meter. The third point is completely valid.

One of the issues not mentioned is that if your meters are installed in an area with poor mobile reception or in a couple of years if you have a version 1 smart meter, then your meter won't be able to send automatic readings.

OP you can't swap smart meters out anymore. All new gas and electricity meters being installed are smart meters.

Original poster
MrsTrue · 19/08/2022 17:55

I've actually been told you can, you need to pay £200-500 and deal with energy companies being difficult as they don't want to swap them out due to government incentives. I think they have targets around number of installations, although I'm not sure as it's my husband who was looking into it.

OP posts:
RedWingBoots · 19/08/2022 18:00

I think they have targets around number of installations,

They do.

You can actually get the meters set to dumb mode so they can't give readings to the utility company and then you will have to read the meters yourself. If meters are placed in areas with poor mobile reception that's what they are doing anyway.

GOODCAT · 19/08/2022 18:05

Yes I know of someone who managed this on buying a new build. I understand it was difficult to achieve. The person whose home it was, was mentally and physically disabled and I understand that either the electricity company or the developer were ultimately sympathetic because of this. I don't have personal experience though.

millefeuille2 · 19/08/2022 18:05

Thanks all. Sorry OP I don't have any info but all the best with it.

Octopus installed a meter for us a few months ago and the meter is just shite. It doesn't show us live usage, gets stuck if too far from the router, gets stuck even if close to the router, and just a million miles away from where I thought tech was at! And I'm assuming it uses electricity all the while 😒

RedWingBoots · 19/08/2022 18:06

OP who is the utility supplier at the property?

RedWingBoots · 19/08/2022 18:12

@millefeuille2 your smart meters should be using radio or mobile signals not your router to send readings to your utility company.

Baker90 · 19/08/2022 18:17

I thought it was being made into law or something that by 2024 all homes had to be smart meters... or have I imagined something like that up. If it's true though might be tough to get them removed.

Lemonblossom · 19/08/2022 18:26

My smart meter rarely talks to our supplier. We have dreadful mobile reception here. I have to send them readings otherwise my bills are all over the place

Matildahoney · 19/08/2022 18:44

@PastMyBestBeforeDate I work in property management, if the tenants turn the display meter off their reads don't go through to the utility company, we keep getting letters as a new tenant has moved in & switched off the unit so the utility company aren't getting the reads.

RedWingBoots · 19/08/2022 18:50

Baker90 · 19/08/2022 18:17

I thought it was being made into law or something that by 2024 all homes had to be smart meters... or have I imagined something like that up. If it's true though might be tough to get them removed.

The companies will get large fines if they don't meet their smart meter targets. This is why people get told to make them dumb if they have data privacy concerns.

demotedreally · 20/08/2022 05:22

If your DH is in the sector maybe he knows the answer? We've just got one and I am quite pleased with it, but I don't seem to worry too much about data privacy.

Original poster
MrsTrue · 20/08/2022 07:35

Thanks all - DH was worried it'd be almost impossible to get it replaced entirely, even though technically EON (the company we'll be with) offer it. Looks like he may be right, I was just hoping he wasn't as it'll put a real dampener on buying the house! We won't be able to do anything about it until we're in, which will he a pain and sadly making it 'dumb' doesn't resolve all his concerns either.

Thanks again though everyone, and good to know there was one case that managed it even if we're not going to have the same reasoning!

OP posts:
ToBeHere · 20/08/2022 10:50

welshweasel · 19/08/2022 17:34

Why on Earth would you want to remove the smart meter?

Tons of reasons. If you AS on here you will see previous threads explaining why.

OP, I would also love to do it but like you have heard it’s a battle with the energy companies. Watching with interest!

hannahcolobus · 20/08/2022 23:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

SwelegantParty · 20/08/2022 23:16

Matildahoney · 19/08/2022 18:44

@PastMyBestBeforeDate I work in property management, if the tenants turn the display meter off their reads don't go through to the utility company, we keep getting letters as a new tenant has moved in & switched off the unit so the utility company aren't getting the reads.

My display thingy has been unplugged since just after I got it five years or so ago, but the meter readings go through just fine.

DaSilvaP · 28/01/2023 18:37

welshweasel · 19/08/2022 17:34

Why on Earth would you want to remove the smart meter?

Why on Earth would anyone want to have in their home

-- a remotely controlled OFF / ON switch to their electricity supply, that can at any moment be turned OFF out of the blue by some incompetent dimwit in the energy company, or by some hacker? Incompetent dimwits employed by energy companies never happen? I could give you at least 3 names of energy companies that do employ incompetent nincompoops - from my personal experience.

-- let the energy company siphon tons and tons of data that are NOT NEEDED to "improve the grid" but can nicely be sold?

It is still perfectly legal to install the plainest possible meter. The one I have can be bough on the Web for around £50, and obviously if you wanted to install one you would need also to pay on top for a qualified / approved engineer to fit it, so yes £200-500 sounds right.

If you want to monitor your electricity usage, you can buy plenty of gadgets online that will give you all the data you want, and only to you.

UmmmBopDeeDooWhop · 28/01/2023 18:45

Matildahoney · 19/08/2022 18:44

@PastMyBestBeforeDate I work in property management, if the tenants turn the display meter off their reads don't go through to the utility company, we keep getting letters as a new tenant has moved in & switched off the unit so the utility company aren't getting the reads.

That can't be true.