Smart Meter installation warning!

IvanDobskey · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:31

I just arranged a smart meter install with first utility.....

I'm a little worried now

Caged · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:34

I'm not touching smart meters until they work across multiple suppliers. Unfortunately it will still involve Capita so I guess you should just consider yourself lucky that they didn't burn your house down at the same time as installing the meter.

Columbo · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:37

SeatIbiza said:
First utility are a massive bunch of spanners to boot.

You obviously can only go on your own experience but mine is the complete opposite, they were very professional and understanding with me and at no point did I have to chase them.
The called when they promised to and stuck to the timelines outlined in the initial call and gave me £150 compensation when I didn't actually ask for or want any.

PiKe · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:37

I just use a Loop Energy monitor on my legacy meters instead, arguably better than a smart meter anyway.

Columbo · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:38

IvanDobskey said:
I just arranged a smart meter install with first utility.....

I'm a little worried now

As I said above, take and submit meter reading on the day, also take supporting photos on your phone as well and you'll be fine.

samcat · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:55

Werewolf said:
Was it the "imperial vs metric" thing?
It turned out some companies were taking the old imperial units (from older meters) and not doing the correct calculation when billing

Thats pretty much what they said.. Initially they only wanted to sort the historic payments back 6 months, I had to kick off and open a complaint then it was suddenly upped to the 13 months I had been in the property.
Bet the previous owner had the same issue and was none the wiser.

Whitewater · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:56

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd been keen to get one but will proceed with caution; if our supplier starts deploying in our region.

samcat · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:58

PiKe said:
I just use a Loop Energy monitor on my legacy meters instead, arguably better than a smart meter anyway.

Loop doesnt work if you have solar PV or any form of generation (wind/water turbine). They have been promising for over 2 years that they would address this issue but to this day have made zero progress. I even explained to them how to do it (dead simple if you have something plugged into the mains as well as a current clamp) but nope... Generation that is exported counts as usage :/ :/ So a bright sunny day (4000w), nothing switched on other than normal background load (~100w) would show 3900w USAGE, not 0 USAGE...

The IPB · 3 Jul 2017 at 11:59

Nasher said:
I wish I didn't even bother getting one now. As soon as you switch supplier they go back to being a dumb meter, because the connection details etc don't get passed over.

All it's done is made it harder to read. Total waste of time.

Exactly this for me, had mine installed by First Utility it was fine, switched to CO OP and now it doesn't work and is harder to read than the old style of meter.

bimbleuk · 3 Jul 2017 at 12:08

Mine had the old readings written on the new meters which seems the obvious thing to do and I hope is common practise.

I had to use them as a reference with a pic due my account being switched online recently by a previous tenant before I bought the house but that's another story!

swain90 · 3 Jul 2017 at 12:17

Columbo said:
First Utility were absolutely brilliant throughout, I never had to chase them once and always called when they said they would.

This is the complete opposite experience I had with FU. I refuse to go back to them even if they are cheapest. It took me over a year to settle an "outstanding balance" issue. I eventually had someone look into my case who knew what they were doing and they managed to get everything resolved in a day or so.

Columbo · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:04

bimbleuk said:
Mine had the old readings written on the new meters which seems the obvious thing to do and I hope is common practise.

I had to use them as a reference with a pic due my account being switched online recently by a previous tenant before I bought the house but that's another story!

Simple but brilliant idea.
The installers didn't do that to ours but fortunately the wife was on hand with photos of the meters about 10 mins before being removed.

IvanDobskey · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:06

Columbo said:
As I said above, take and submit meter reading on the day, also take supporting photos on your phone as well and you'll be fine.

Thanks for the advice.

I'll proceed with caution.

malachi · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:18

Nasher said:
I wish I didn't even bother getting one now. As soon as you switch supplier they go back to being a dumb meter, because the connection details etc don't get passed over.

All it's done is made it harder to read. Total waste of time.

Yeah, found this out last last month when I moved from First Utility :mad:

Martini1991 · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:24

In my new build, only our electricity smart metre works. Apparently the gas won't for around a year because of external politics.

Yet the other houses in the street I've visited work :s

Puzzled · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:42

I just don't understand the thinking about smart meters not working with other suppliers. Surely Ofgen or similar should have kicked up a fuss as the only reason I can see why energy companies have gone down this route is to make it harder / less appealing to switch suppliers.

Nasher · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:52

MonkeyMan said:
I just don't understand the thinking about smart meters not working with other suppliers. Surely Ofgen or similar should have kicked up a fuss as the only reason I can see why energy companies have gone down this route is to make it harder / less appealing to switch suppliers.

It's not the energy companies. It's being forced on everyone by the government. It's another dumb waste of money thought up by them.

I'm guessing many MPs have a stake in the companies that make these things. Which is why no one has admitted to it being a giant balls up.

Peerzy · 3 Jul 2017 at 13:55

FWIW I had a smart meter fitted by First Utility about 9 months ago and had no issues at all, the whole process was seamless and I've not had to phone them for anything in the 4~ years we've used them.

I suspect in the future companies will use real time data and readings to charge more for peak times, but that's another point entirely.

dirtychinchilla · 3 Jul 2017 at 14:01

IvanDobskey said:
I just arranged a smart meter install with first utility.....

I'm a little worried now

I really don't see what you or the OP are worried about. OP is not going to pay a £xxxxx bill, and nor will you if you get one. OP has obviously not used that much electricity or gas, and will be refunded accordingly. Yeah it's a pain, but it's not like you'll have to fork for it.

Nasher said:
It's not the energy companies. It's being forced on everyone by the government. It's another dumb waste of money thought up by them.

I'm guessing many MPs have a stake in the companies that make these things. Which is why no one has admitted to it being a giant balls up.

It wasn't until after they started installing smart meters that the government legislated on them. The contractors installing the meters chose what you got on the understanding that you - the consumer - will have to have it changed at some point and that likely you'd pay for it. I don't think it has anything to do with the contractor or the energy companies.

Columbo · 3 Jul 2017 at 14:11

MonkeyMan said:
I just don't understand the thinking about smart meters not working with other suppliers. Surely Ofgen or similar should have kicked up a fuss as the only reason I can see why energy companies have gone down this route is to make it harder / less appealing to switch suppliers.

There is also talk of millions smart meters having to replaced already due to the communication standard they use becoming obsolete (ETS1).