Do I have to accept a smart meter and earliest date Woes?!

fluffycat

Hello

Gas meter battery is low and company says a legacy meter has to be replaced with a smart meter and earliest date is late June!

(Q1) can they insist ?

(Q2) Fair to wait so long for any meter remedy when battery an issue ?

Ross_Alumni

Hi @fluffycat

Whether they can insist, I'm unsure. But with the constant push for smart metre installation I wouldn't be surprised if they did insist. 

I'm reluctant to have a smart metre installed myself at this stage, I need to do further research into them first before deciding on that. 

You might wish to contact Scope's new energy support service, the team will be able to answer your query I'm sure   Having to wait until June does seem like a long time, maybe there are delays at the minute caused by pandemic restrictions? Did you query why it would take so long?

fluffycat

@Ross_Scope

Not treated as priority as battery still has life (albeit on last legs) and gas still flowing.

I have reservations too about smart reliability and dynamic pricing possibility. 

MarkM88

I’ve heard stories where terms and conditions have been attached to certain tarrifs whereby they say it’s a condition to have a smart meter installed if they so wish to do so. 

I would check that out first. 

fluffycat

@MarkN88

Ofgem web says 
if your existing meter is need of replacement, your supplier should replace this meter with a smart meter unless there is a good reason not to.

OverlyAnxious

The latest SMET2 meters are compatible with other companies that also use SMET2 meters.  It's the original smart meters that aren't at all interchangeable.

I really want one myself as my electric seems very expensive even though I'm on the 'assist' tariff.  Trouble is I'm on Economy 10 and they don't make Smart Meters for that.

If I switched to Economy 7 my storage heaters and immersion heater would only work at night and be cold by lunchtime!  (Been there, done that in a previous all-electric property).  And I would not be able to use high consumers like the washing machine and tumble drier on low rate.

vikingqueen

    I really don't see the point of them for people that live on their own as I do, I use what I use and that's it. I'm old enough to know how not to waste energy so looking at a little gadget that needs to be plugged in regularly because the battery only lasts about 10 hours won't help my bills to be lower. I'm with you Mike and I ignore my energy company letters and phone calls. 

fluffycat

@vikingqueen

had an energy monitor which clamped onto meter cable until house rewire. (and no longer could clamp on afterwards)

I know about elec KWH / watts (greedy appliances) and gas use what’s needed. Was novelty really. (Elec)

leeCal

We have a tarrif with eon and apparently they are insisting on us having a smart meter as part of our conditions. Until now we have ignored them about it but recently they have been trying to book us in to have it fitted...still ignoring them.

leeCal

So if they need to connect to the internet what if you haven’t got the internet? I thought they just beamed up to a satellite or something. ?

fluffycat

@Ross_Scope


The Scope Energy  S. S. couldn't furnish me with the answer. I could register for the energy 45min review.

Instead I contacted a local Advice Agency who are chewing over it. ((How quickly should I get a resolution and does it mean an enforced Smart option? (Energy co. has booked it for late June))