Do I have to accept a Smart Meter?

Do I have to accept a Smart Meter?

14:44 PM, 28th October 2020, About 4 years ago 50

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My new tenant wants to have a smart meter installed. I’m not so sure as they have been problematic and not always able to give accurate readings plus some suppliers don’t like taking on new customers with these.

I would therefore prefer her not to.

I understand that we can’t legally say no, but can I insist she changes it back to a normal meter when she leaves so the next tenant does not have any issues? If she doesn’t can I take the cost to revert back out of her deposit?

Many thanks

Reluctant Landlord


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Comments

FirstNinjaGamer

11:39 AM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by jbw63 at 31/10/2020 - 08:52
They were not supposed to install SMETS1 meters after 14 March 2019, any that they do install can not be counted towards their total, and they risk being hit with a fine by Ofgem for not hitting their install targets

Gunga Din

11:47 AM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Hello FirstNinjaGamer,

I think four of my SMETS1 units were installed after that date. What chance do I have of compelling Utility to replace them with mk. 2 meters?

Many Thanks

FirstNinjaGamer

12:43 PM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Gunga Din at 31/10/2020 - 11:47Not sure, I've not got any data points on this.
By all means ask them, however,they may point out that SMETS1 meters are undergoing migration into the central DCC system and when complete, SMETS1, will work with any energy provider

jbw63

13:03 PM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by FirstNinjaGamer at 31/10/2020 - 11:39
FirstNinjaGamer - 14 March 2019 - that is very interesting. OFGEM didn't tell me this when I called them a few months back.

To Gunga Din - it seems that it is not just Utility that is in non-compliance then....

Anyhow, great, that just supports my current position going back to EON - a big firm 'no' to them installing a SMETS1 in my Bristol property as since 14/03/19 they are not being compliant with OFGEM targets and will be fined.
.... AND the software is not yet working!

As to the London property - there is still no hope of my current energy provider Scottish Power fixing my SMETS1 meter since I switched to them over a year ago now (after their sales team telling me that my meter switch would work at point of agreeing to switch to them!) ... I was recently told they are way off finding a solution and are not sure as to when/if it's possible.

FirstNinjaGamer

13:07 PM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by jbw63 at 31/10/2020 - 13:03
Do you know the meter manufacturer in the london property?

jbw63

14:20 PM, 31st October 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by FirstNinjaGamer at 31/10/2020 - 13:07
Hi FirstNinjaGamer:
possibly: Secure?
Elec: Liberty 100 - type E180B1
Gas: Liberty EG4v11
Thanks

FirstNinjaGamer

5:57 AM, 1st November 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by jbw63 at 31/10/2020 - 14:20
Secure meters are currently under migration, not sure when it is due to complete, but as the migration is under way the energy company is less likely to send an engineer out to replace it

FirstNinjaGamer

5:57 AM, 1st November 2020, About 4 years ago

Secure meters are currently under migration, not sure when it is due to complete, but as the migration is under way the energy company is less likely to send an engineer out to replace it

jbw63

12:24 PM, 1st November 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by FirstNinjaGamer at 01/11/2020 - 05:57Hi FirstNinjaGamer,
Re the London property, this is exactly where I'm at exactly ONE full year on AFTER switching suppliers having been originally FALSELY been told by the energy sales team of my current energy supplier that if I switched suppliers my meter would switch over so I could still self-monitor my supply without any issues. Scottish Power refuse to replace the meter with one "currently fit for purpose", and yet they STILL have absolutely no idea and no deadline as to when (frankly it sounds like, if) the software issues will be fixed.
I appreciate you checking for me though.
Regarding the Bristol property, I am refusing the offer of a SMETS1 nor am I going to have a SMETS2 installed in the Bristol property until I know the whole switching-over system is working seemlessly at national level.
Frankly I would be far better off in the London property right now with my original meter-at least I could easily read it.
Another point is that other friends whom have had smart meters installed and have not switched complain to me that they also can't read their smart meter, and although the monitor indicates how much they are spending, the monitor doesn't report the actual meter reading itself, and they do not like the fact that the monitor neither states the unitary reading and the new smart meters don't display this either. They therefore, rightly or wrongly, don't trust them.

FirstNinjaGamer

19:46 PM, 1st November 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by jbw63 at 01/11/2020 - 12:24
Interesting points.
1. London - The integration is under way, but I can't find a confirmed completion date for Secure meters.
2. Bristol - in my view, you are right to refuse a SMETS1 meter, but i can guarantee that the change of supply process works fine on SMETS2, all the time, across all DCC customers - ofgem has made enrollment into DCC mandatory for all energy companies, and has issued fines to new energy start ups who haven't joined by a certain deadline.
3. Meter readings - for the actual meter value you often either have to physically check the front of the meter or use an online account (at least my online account with Npower gives me this info).

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