Smart Meters, Who Has them Now.

**Paul** · 31-01-2023, 21:27

I'm curious to see how many people now have these, and any issues you may have.

This is not a topic for discussing the merits of SM's use one of the other topics for that.

This is just a survey on how many members now have them, and what issues they may have had.

**Hugh** · 31-01-2023, 21:29

Had them for a few years, no issues.

denphone · 31-01-2023, 21:32

We have had then for at least 5 years, no issues at all.

Mr K · 31-01-2023, 21:54

I don't have one, no issues.

joglynne · 31-01-2023, 22:21

Had a smart meter installed in early 2020 and have had no problems. It is set to give Octopus half hourly readings. It occaisionally stopped transmitting but by the next day it always caught up, rarely look at it now just check the charts online now and again for interest sake.

admars · 31-01-2023, 22:55

I used to, now don't

was with british gas years ago, they fitted one, switched supplier, they didn't use them

had to switch supplier again, few years ago, new supplier couldn't use old smart meteres, so sent enginner round to install new type.

he put new bits again at gas and electric meter, "finished" installation, but couldn't connect to the suppliers network (the engineers are outsourced rather than working for the power supplier) said problem at their end, nothing more he could do, but could give readings as before. Said the electricity meter was connecting, but gas wasn't (or vice versa)

so he told me to contact them and when they were ready they're send an engineer again.

so, several months of sending msgs, trying to phone, whatsapp, photos of the meters, explaining what had happened, a colleague had same issue, same supplier, used a complaint website, got some money back, but basically for some unknown reason the new smart meters don't work in my house, which is what 2 colleagues were told, same supplier!

odd the old style worked, so still giving readings now and again!

pip08456 · 31-01-2023, 22:59

Don't have one, there is nothing that one will do to assist me in any way.

GrimUpNorth · 31-01-2023, 23:08

Thankfully don't have them. Had them in the old house and they were a nightmare and caused no end of hassle.

SnoopZ · 31-01-2023, 23:58

Don't have one, don't want or need one as I don't think I would benefit from it.

**Chris** · 01-02-2023, 00:30

New build, has both but they aren’t functioning as smart. Several on the estate have apparently been badly installed and don’t send readings back so a meter reader is still wandering round here.

**Paul** · 01-02-2023, 02:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

Thankfully don't have them. Had them in the old house and they were a nightmare and caused no end of hassle.

What kind of hassle ?

Sirius · 01-02-2023, 08:15

I have had one for 3 yrs no issues at all.

heero_yuy · 01-02-2023, 09:03

Got one on the lecky. Has never worked properly (no signal!). I still have to read it manually and send in the reading. The remote display has also never worked properly and is currently dumped in the meter cupboard. Dead and where it belongs.

I keep getting offered one for the gas but after the lecky disaster I've declined.

GrimUpNorth · 01-02-2023, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

What kind of hassle ?

They just didn't work properly.

The electricity meter used to record readings every 30 mins but when downloading the data from the First Utility website it showed readings for 23.00, 23.30, 24,00, 00.00 and for some reason the system made up for the extra midnight reading by deciding 02.30 didn't exist which in turn meant the bills were screwed up.

The gas meter suddenly decided to become a random number generator when sending readings and the numbers it sent we're nothing like the readings on the meter. After a couple of months we were about £1800 in debt. First Utility refused to come and read the meter 'because it was connected and sending readings' despite sending photos of the actual readings.

First Utility eventually agreed to let us out of the contract early but then refused to let the transfer happen because they decided we owed them nearly £2000 in unpaid gas bills.

Finally got away from First Utility and as the meters were old ones they became dumb so we went back to reading them ourselves.

SnoopZ · 01-02-2023, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimUpNorth

They just didn't work properly.

The electricity meter used to record readings every 30 mins but when downloading the data from the First Utility website it showed readings for 23.00, 23.30, 24,00, 00.00 and for some reason the system made up for the extra midnight reading by deciding 02.30 didn't exist which in turn meant the bills were screwed up.

The gas meter suddenly decided to become a random number generator when sending readings and the numbers it sent we're nothing like the readings on the meter. After a couple of months we were about £1800 in debt. First Utility refused to come and read the meter 'because it was connected and sending readings' despite sending photos of the actual readings.

First Utility eventually agreed to let us out of the contract early but then refused to let the transfer happen because they decided we owed them nearly £2000 in unpaid gas bills.

Finally got away from First Utility and as the meters were old ones they became dumb so we went back to reading them ourselves.

What a stressful horror story! Glad I can still read mine manually.