Smart Meter Thread

Quartz · 23 Jul 2016 at 21:39

I've just had a text about getting one of these asking me to make an appointment for installation. It refers to a leaflet they've sent me but has yet to arrive.

Should I bite?

Lumeycom · 23 Jul 2016 at 22:00

not having to read a meter again would be motivation enough for me.

the-evaluator · 24 Jul 2016 at 07:27

Lumeycom said:
not having to read a meter again would be motivation enough for me.

That was my motivation for having it done.

We do have a problem though where the in house display doesn't see the gas meter any more. NPower are being utterly hopeless. One day they say they are getting gas meter readings, the next they say they're not.

theone8181 · 24 Jul 2016 at 08:26

I've recently switched from sse (who fitted a smart meter) to sainsburuies but I'm not sure if it still auto reads the meter or not.

SilverTongue · 24 Jul 2016 at 08:44

theone8181 said:
I've recently switched from sse (who fitted a smart meter) to sainsburuies but I'm not sure if it still auto reads the meter or not.

Nope it won't be, Saintbury's don't support smart Meyers, though they can auto read British Gas ones if switch from BG to SE

TheVoice · 24 Jul 2016 at 10:40

SilverTongue said:
Nope it won't be, Saintbury's don't support smart Meyers, though they can auto read British Gas ones if switch from BG to SE

Surely this sort of thing should have been sorted out before rolling them out?!

Anyway, I'd say yes. Certainly can't see any reason not to get one (although I'm sure the paranoid types will make their concerns known soon).

Puzzled · 24 Jul 2016 at 12:38

I haven't bothered yet and won't until they are compatible with all suppliers.

Taking the readings takes 2 secs and I can keep an eye on usage.

Lumeycom · 24 Jul 2016 at 16:25

MonkeyMan said:
Taking the readings takes 2 secs and I can keep an eye on usage.

Depends where your meter's are, my gas meter couldn't be in a worse place if it tried.

darael · 24 Jul 2016 at 16:34

the-evaluator said:
That was my motivation for having it done.

We do have a problem though where the in house display doesn't see the gas meter any more. NPower are being utterly hopeless. One day they say they are getting gas meter readings, the next they say they're not.

To me it sounds like your gas meter is too far away from the electric meter. The gas meter sends it's readings to the electric meter which then sends both gas and electric readings to your supplier.

If the two meters are currently close (within 15 metres) to each other, then it could be that your gas meter is faulty or hasn't joined the HAN (Home Area Network) network correctly.

the-evaluator · 24 Jul 2016 at 20:26

darael said:
To me it sounds like your gas meter is too far away from the electric meter. The gas meter sends it's readings to the electric meter which then sends both gas and electric readings to your supplier.

If the two meters are currently close (within 15 metres) to each other, then it could be that your gas meter is faulty or hasn't joined the HAN (Home Area Network) network correctly.

The gas and electricity meters are about 60cm apart. It was all working fine when it was installed but in the last week or so the gas meter readings and gas usage aren't available from the display we have in the house.

It would help if NPower were consistent. One day they say they're not getting gas meter readings Then the next day the claim they are. I asked them to confirm the most recent readings and they were unable to.

koolpc · 24 Jul 2016 at 20:41

Staying clear of those smarty meters for as long as i can!

Millwall.FC · 24 Jul 2016 at 20:46

Lonewolf · 24 Jul 2016 at 20:54

the-evaluator said:
The gas and electricity meters are about 60cm apart. It was all working fine when it was installed but in the last week or so the gas meter readings and gas usage aren't available from the display we have in the house.

It would help if NPower were consistent. One day they say they're not getting gas meter readings Then the next day the claim they are. I asked them to confirm the most recent readings and they were unable to.

Not sure whether it's the case for all smart meters, but one reason for a failed read is because of of a faulty sim.

hyperseven · 24 Jul 2016 at 20:57

koolpc said:
Staying clear of those smarty meters for as long as i can!

fiddling the meter are we

jpaul · 24 Jul 2016 at 21:34

see discussion in other thread on loop energy meters - but are there any interesting contracts if you have a smart meter - the british gas one (they are now plugging on tv) is rubbish 9-5 sat or sun free and exhorbitant unit cost at other times
[maybe need a thread on how you could exploit this 'free' electricity - but probably like unlimited broadband - personal hydroelectric / tesla car / x-large water tank heating]

LiGhTfasT · 24 Jul 2016 at 22:39

I'm not bothering until they roll out a meter than works with all suppliers. I change each year so don't fancy being stuck with a useless meter and hoping they will upgrade it again.

Uther · 25 Jul 2016 at 06:22

LiGhTfasT said:
I'm not bothering until they roll out a meter than works with all suppliers. I change each year so don't fancy being stuck with a useless meter and hoping they will upgrade it again.

Exactly this. I'm surprised they don't work automatically with all suppliers, and they are pointless for me until they do

SilverTongue · 25 Jul 2016 at 07:10

TheVoice said:
Surely this sort of thing should have been sorted out before rolling them out?!

Anyway, I'd say yes. Certainly can't see any reason not to get one (although I'm sure the paranoid types will make their concerns known soon).

Uther said:
Exactly this. I'm surprised they don't work automatically with all suppliers, and they are pointless for me until they do

Mainly because the government set an almost impossible target to reach so suppliers had to fill them out too quickly to be able to sort out cross supplier compatibility. It's being worked on now though.

jpaul said:
see discussion in other thread on loop energy meters - but are there any interesting contracts if you have a smart meter - the british gas one (they are now plugging on tv) is rubbish 9-5 sat or sun free and exhorbitant unit cost at other times
[maybe need a thread on how you could exploit this 'free' electricity - but probably like unlimited broadband - personal hydroelectric / tesla car / x-large water tank heating]

Unit rate is the same as standard, which is also the same as other tariffs they offer.

robj20 · 25 Jul 2016 at 07:53

I'm waiting until they work for all suppliers.

ValiantUK91 · 25 Jul 2016 at 09:36

the-evaluator said:
That was my motivation for having it done.

We do have a problem though where the in house display doesn't see the gas meter any more. NPower are being utterly hopeless. One day they say they are getting gas meter readings, the next they say they're not.

Have that problem aswel some days it shows up on the meter sonedays it doesn't and the display keeps disconnecting every so often its settled down abit now though.