Energy Suppliers

How long are smart meters supposed to last? Ours were brand new Smets 2 gas and electric meters only fitted in April this year yet I got a email from Octopus yesterday saying they need to be replaced. I have queried this with them and am awaiting a reply. This seems extremely wasteful to me, especially as they are and always have been working correctly. The IHD is rubbish as it can't be left unplugged as the battery runs down in 6-7 hours but it's always reported the data from the meters correctly. I really don't want them to be changed and potentially have a nightmare with replacements that don't display data or not even work at all as many people have experienced.
 
IHD is basically irrelevant. Its just to save you having to get info from the meters.

Are the readings going to the central point going through fine?

Did Octopus fit them or another supplier? There really should be no issue in getting them working fully with Octopus anyway however, all SMETS2 I believe are fine with moving supplier, it was the SMETS1 that mostly went dumb when you switched.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
IHD is basically irrelevant. Its just to save you having to get info from the meters.

Are the readings going to the central point going through fine?

Did Octopus fit them or another supplier? There really should be no issue in getting them working fully with Octopus anyway however, all SMETS2 I believe are fine with moving supplier, it was the SMETS1 that mostly went dumb when you switched.
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If I remember right they were fitted bwhen we were with Sainsburys Energy about a month before we switched to Octopus. They have always just worked from the moment they were installed and we have had zero problems with them. They are definately Smets 2 as it says so on them and in my Octopus account.


200sols said:
If they are brand new smets 2 they shouldnt need to be replaced. Message them on X (twitter) for best response.
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I don't use any form of social media but I did reply to their email (which it says to do if I have any questions) but they haven't got back to me.
 
pastymuncher said:
If I remember right they were fitted bwhen we were with Sainsburys Energy about a month before we switched to Octopus. They have always just worked from the moment they were installed and we have had zero problems with them. They are definately Smets 2 as it says so on them and in my Octopus account.




I don't use any form of social media but I did reply to their email (which it says to do if I have any questions) but they haven't got back to me.
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They don't reply quickly to emails and half the time it's an AI response unfortunately. You don't need to use the social media, just message Octopus on there.
 
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pastymuncher said:
If I remember right they were fitted bwhen we were with Sainsburys Energy about a month before we switched to Octopus. They have always just worked from the moment they were installed and we have had zero problems with them. They are definately Smets 2 as it says so on them and in my Octopus account.




I don't use any form of social media but I did reply to their email (which it says to do if I have any questions) but they haven't got back to me.
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Much quicker response if you contact them via social media
 
Ah sweet. No brainer then for the sunny days

I guess there’s a nice arbitrary opportunity when tracker (and agile) are low too
 
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Welshman said:
But the export price is crap…..always. I get a fixed 15p per kwh for mine, i think the best its been is around 10p on agile
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You can go on fixed 15p export with agile as well. You dont need to take the agile export.

Without battery tracker is best though.
 
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200sols said:
They don't reply quickly to emails and half the time it's an AI response unfortunately. You don't need to use the social media, just message Octopus on there.
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ristac said:
Much quicker response if you contact them via social media
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Got a reply today saying it's a administrative error and to ignore the email.
 
Holy thread resurrection.
Finally managed to get the mains feed into the house sorted.
Sent some samples off to the National Grid (small contractor company took them and straight away said. it's not asbestos), who then took months to get back to me.
Said they would send me a date for a fitment of new incoming feed. That took another 3 months.
In May this year, 2 chaps from the National Grid came out and said to me "Oh, I know why no-one wants to do this, the installation on these houses are a PITA"
We had a chat and they said, we can do this, but will need planning in with the main office and because you are on a looped supply with your neighbour, they will have to be informed as well as the power will be off for an hour or two.
Date set (October), they turned up at 9am and said we are waiting for the contractors? 2 young lads rocked up with a mini digger and then noticed that they couldn't get around the side of the house. Another wait, whilst they sourced a kango and decided to rip up the pavement outside the back door (which I hadn't been made aware of)
Anyway, its all been done now although it took them all day, came back 2 days later and relaid the pavement.
Now just waiting on the smart meter install date, but it has been a right faff.
In total, it has taken around 8-9 visits so far to finally get to a point of being able to have the meter fitted.
Most of the time, it has just been a complete waste of time as the people who turn up just go, "Nah sorry mate cannot do that"
Smart meter fitment booked for end November, so hopefully will be able to finally switch tariffs to be able to charge my solar battery overnight at cheap rate, plus the car ;-)
 
My old house which I still own has a looped supply, might see about getting that changed just to **** the neighbours off as the are complete *******. :D
 
if the neighbours are that much of a pain, can they not refuse access to their property to unloop it? or is it a forced work job?

there was a fear i was on a looped supply however thankfully we were not. they still needed to dig a hole in my drive to fit a new meter however but at least it didnt interfere with my neighbour
 
I just got a text from BG regarding them taking over my Tomato account whom I left a couple of weeks ago to go back to Octopus. I can see this being a absolute nightmare seeing as Tomato hasn't billed me since June. I have dealt with BG before and their customer service was appalling. I hammered the cheap rates on Tomato, especially the 5p overnight one so I really hope they can retrieve the correct usage readings for the past four months. I can see this being a long drawn out nightmare!!
 
pastymuncher said:
I just got a text from BG regarding them taking over my Tomato account whom I left a couple of weeks ago to go back to Octopus. I can see this being a absolute nightmare seeing as Tomato hasn't billed me since June. I have dealt with BG before and their customer service was appalling. I hammered the cheap rates on Tomato, especially the 5p overnight one so I really hope they can retrieve the correct usage readings for the past four months. I can see this being a long drawn out nightmare!!
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Tomato Energy billing was regularly as clockwork for me. I paid my last bill on 24th Oct.

I'm hoping it goes as smooth as the last time I was with a supplier that ceased trading.

What tariff did you move back to on Octopus?
 
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