Smart meters

[lizdb]

We've got one. Had it a couple of months. No problems. Interesting to see the usage of gas and electricity.

[Regorian]

Thank you very much for all your input. I will go ahead with installation, although as explained previously no need for them. Anyway keeping warm is only priority.

This morning I received a cheque for £30 for no show of men. A phone call explaining why would have been quite adequate. 

[LizzieW]

As I understand it, if you have a Smart Meter fitted now, it makes life difficult if you want to change suppliers as all suppliers' Smart Meters are different.  The first generation of smart meters, called SMETS 1 – which are the one ones that almost everybody has installed - is not a standardised system.

So,if you switch from one provider to the other, the new provider doesn’t have that connection any more, the signal is lost, your meter won't work as a Smart Meter and you’ll have to give manual meter readings once more. 

SMETS 2 which are standardised were supposed to be rolled out this year, but not every energy supplier is fitting these.

So the most important thing to ask your supplier is whether the meter they intend to supply is SMET 1 (some suppliers are still fitting these) or SMET 2.

[Greensleeves]

Useful info from everyone - thanks.  I've just had a letter from my supplier saying they want to fit a smart meter and I have been in two minds about it.  Reading Lizzie's post above, I'll contact them and ask if it will be a SMET2.  I have heard elsewhere that first generation ones are a problem and to go for second.

Regards
GS

[Millmoor]

I recently had a letter from my electricity supplier asking me to confirm my smart meter appointment.(ie an appointment to have my smart meter fitted).  I thought this this was  strange as I had not requested such an appointment. Before I could ring them I had a call from the company in question. I pointed out that I was not impressed by the letter I had received as it was effectively a fait accompli. Their rep manfully tried to claim it was an offer to have  a smart meter installed. I have cancelled the appointment as to my mind the company has gone about it in completely the wrong way.

William