Smart meters

Bristolian said:
This couldn't be further from the truth and I find your characterisation of my friend, with no knowledge of him or how he treats his tennants, to be crass and insulting.

@ everyone saying that the landlord can't prevent a tennant doing this please quote me chapter and verse from the relevant legislation, please, and I will discuss it with him.
Click to expand...

I said "a landlord" I didn't mention your friend anywhere, so I really couldn't care less about you feeling insulted by proxy.
The utility meter is the property of the utility company. The contract for it's usage and maintenance exists between the entity paying the bills, and said utility company.

https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/how-to-get-a-smart-meter/who-can-get-a-smart-meter/tenants

I'd suggest you (and perhaps your "friend") do a little reading and research of your own.
 
viv1969 said:
Well indeed. But a landlord forbidding tenants from changing their meter is breaking the law and probably a crappy landlord in many other ways.
I wouldn't be looking to renew in any case.
Click to expand...
How do you come to the conclusion that they're probably crap in many other ways? :thinking:
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
How do you come to the conclusion that they're probably crap in many other ways? :thinking:
Click to expand...

If they're willing to lie and impose this rule upon a tenant to suit their purposes, what's to stop them doing it in other ways?
 
viv1969 said:
If they're willing to lie and impose this rule upon a tenant to suit their purposes, what's to stop them doing it in other ways?
Click to expand...
Just because they're not happy about the meter being changed doesn't mean they're lying or likely to impose anything though. You're being rather assumptive :p
 
arclight said:
No meter readers need be employed.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but that's rubbish! We have just as many physical readings since we had a smart meter installed as we did before!
When asked, the meter reader said 'we just read those we are told to'
When I rang BG to ask why, they said 'the meter needs checking manually occasionally' WTF?
I wonder what would happen if I refused entry?
 
wontolla said:
Sorry, but that's rubbish! We have just as many physical readings since we had a smart meter installed as we did before!
When asked, the meter reader said 'we just read those we are told to'
When I rang BG to ask why, they said 'the meter needs checking manually occasionally' WTF?
I wonder what would happen if I refused entry?
Click to expand...
They have to be 'inspected' every 2 years, or the supplier faces a fine. You can refuse to give entry but you will start to get those polite cards reminding you that they are obliged to inspect their property. If you continue to refuse entry/ignoring them, you will be taken to court (or a court order will be issued, or something). Seems like a lot of people prefer to think they are being rebellious, for no real gain. Just let them in every 18 months, no big deal.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Just because they're not happy about the meter being changed doesn't mean they're lying or likely to impose anything though. You're being rather assumptive :p
Click to expand...
Not if they've forbidden their tenants to make the change I'm not.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
They have to be 'inspected' every 2 years, or the supplier faces a fine. You can refuse to give entry but you will start to get those polite cards reminding you that they are obliged to inspect their property. If you continue to refuse entry/ignoring them, you will be taken to court (or a court order will be issued, or something). Seems like a lot of people prefer to think they are being rebellious, for no real gain. Just let them in every 18 months, no big deal.
Click to expand...

The blurb they sent before fitting said, and I quote "No more meter readings" Clearly not the case.
And if it was only every 18months/2 years then fine, but we have been having them at roughly 6 month intervals!
AND it is never an inspection, just a reading.
It IS a big deal, especially as I cannot get a reason why!
 
Last edited:
wontolla said:
I wonder what would happen if I refused entry?
Click to expand...
There is something in the small print, that you actually can't, there is with EON anyway, its a reading and "safety check"
I've never been "safety checked" in all the years I've been with them, they come, they read the meter and go.
So that's a load of testicles!

edit too slow!
 
Cobra said:
There is something in the small print, that you actually can't, there is with EON anyway, its a reading and "safety check"
I've never been "safety checked" in all the years I've been with them, they come, they read the meter and go.
So that's a load of testicles!
Click to expand...

Correct!
 
Maybe they are inspecting them; do you hover around them? What are you expecting them to do?

Unofficially, the Eon safety check of smart meters is just a reading ;)
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
Maybe they are inspecting them; do you hover around them? What are you expecting them to do?

Unofficially, the Eon safety check of smart meters is just a reading ;)
Click to expand...

Yes, I do stand there while they 'look'. It takes about 10seconds to shine a light down the hatch and write down the number.
I'm expecting them to 'inspect' but they never do!
 
From the BG blurb that invited us to have our 'Smart Meter' installed.

Our "smart meters" are now being installed across the country. These devices are expected to be rolled out nationally from the autumn of 2015.
They will provide live data to the energy firm, negating the need for physical visits to properties."
 
From EDF (who also tried to install a meter, but we don't use them)

"It’s free to have a smart meter installed by us and it means:

  • You won't have to tell us your meter reading, or have someone come into your house to take one
  • You'll get accurate bills, not estimated ones
  • Linked with a smart energy display, you'll be able see how much it costs to use energy."
 
From GOV.UK

The new meters
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters and offer a range of intelligent functions.

For example, they can tell you how much energy you are using through a display in your home. They can also communicate directly with your energy supplier meaning that no one will need to come and read your meter in future.

Most of the smart meters that are being installed today use mobile phone-type signals to send meter readings to your supplier, and other wireless technologies to send information to the in-home display.

I think I have put the point across.
 
wontolla said:
From EDF (who also tried to install a meter, but we don't use them)

"It’s free to have a smart meter installed by us and it means:
  • You won't have to tell us your meter reading, or have someone come into your house to take one
  • You'll get accurate bills, not estimated ones
  • Linked with a smart energy display, you'll be able see how much it costs to use energy."
Click to expand...
It sounds like a good idea in theory, if its linked direct to your account, so you pay for what you use, not what they think you will use.
 
wontolla said:
I think I have put the point across.
Click to expand...
I think you put your point across clearly enough earlier; you were told that you would not be getting that knock at the door, yet they still come round to peer into your hatch :)
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
yet they still come round to peer into your hatch :)
Click to expand...
So many innuendo's so little time :D

Do they re-site the meters then? my electric is in the garage, and the gas is "under the stairs"
So they would need to knock.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
I think you put your point across clearly enough earlier; you were told that you would not be getting that knock at the door, yet they still come round to peer into your hatch :)
Click to expand...
Sounds a bit rude:D
Can't peer at anything here without a key to the garage.
The last one who tried claimed to be with BG on behalf of G4S or vice versa.
No ID...no access. :lol:
 
Cobra said:
So many innuendo's so little time :D
Click to expand...
Thought you'd like that :thumbs:

Cobra said:
Do they re-site the meters then? my electric is in the garage, and the gas is "under the stairs"
So they would need to knock.
Click to expand...
They'd be fitted pretty much where the existing meter is; you could of course pay to have them moved closer together or even outside, but they wont foot the cost, partly because you may well move to another supplier and they'd be out of pocket.
 
Cobra said:
It sounds like a good idea in theory, if its linked direct to your account, so you pay for what you use, not what they think you will use.
Click to expand...

It does work, we have no problems with the meter, charges or the accuracy of readings. In fact they are now always spot on.
It is just the frequency of 'surprise' readings they do.
I think it was G4S that read it last time, I did inspect his ID and there was a dark van with a logo on it parked opposite, but I always 'Hover' when a stranger comes into the house as advised by the police.
We have been (unsuccessfully) targeted in the past and don't trust anyone unknown.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
G4S, sent out when you've ignored the letters from BG (and the others) etc ;)
Click to expand...

G4S sent purely to read the meter, but couldn't be arsed to bring ID.

He bought it with him the next time.
 
wontolla said:
but I always 'Hover' when a stranger comes into the house as advised by the police.
Click to expand...
I just let the Rottweiler "stand by",
(but if she's at work I get the dog to do it instead :D )
 
viv1969 said:
G4S sent purely to read the meter, but couldn't be arsed to bring ID.
Click to expand...
And the 'inspection' that you don't notice them doing ;) You'd be surprised how many people still fiddle meters, not saying that's what they suspected you of doing :D

Cobra said:
So they still have to knock to do the "safety check" / drink your tea :D
Click to expand...
I think the inspection every 24 months obligation was imposed after the companies made the initial claims about no more knocks. If you look at Wontolla's quotes, 2 of them specify the no need for a reading.
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
And the 'inspection' that you don't notice them doing ;) You'd be surprised how many people still fiddle meters, not saying that's what they suspected you of doing :D

.
Click to expand...

The meters are in the garage.
Without ID, the only thing he inspected was the outside of the garage door. :D
 
nickEnackEnoo said:
You'd be surprised how many people still fiddle meters,
Click to expand...
You can hardly fit a drill to the meter and run the numbers back these days though :(
:D

nickEnackEnoo said:
If you look at Wontolla's quotes, 2 of them specify the no need for a reading.
Click to expand...
I can't remember who said it now TBH, I know someone did, they read mine the other day strangely,
And decided that the price has to go up a tenner a month. ( they do that every autumn and put it back down in the spring as I never use what they guestimate)

Erm, scusie EON, you can go and get stuffed, I'm on a fix term till Feb.
I have the CEO's email address, yes I do, Mr Cocker, ( tony.cocker @eon-uk.com ) and I'm not afraid to use it ;)
 
wontolla said:
Sorry, but that's rubbish! We have just as many physical readings since we had a smart meter installed as we did before!
When asked, the meter reader said 'we just read those we are told to'
When I rang BG to ask why, they said 'the meter needs checking manually occasionally' WTF?
I wonder what would happen if I refused entry?
Click to expand...

I started supplying my own readings 4 years ago (BG prompt me by email every month). Never had a meter reader since I started doing that although the readers call at nearby houses. BG told me that it is Ofgen who require meters to be manually read once every 3 years. (The BG engineer takes a gas meter reading at every CH annual service, but does not look at the electricity meter.)

Meter readers have absolutely no right of entry. Suppliers can have entry rights, but cannot just send an unannounced stranger and expect to get in just to read a meter.

The companies/employees that read meters may be reading meters they don't need to read (imagine that !!).
 
Last edited:
Ive just had British Gas fit my smart metres. The energy monitor worked for a couple of hours before it stopped linking to the gas metre, so I can only compare my electricity usage. I've spoken to BG customer services and was told" they are a bit flaky, leave it for a couple of hours and see what happens"

I'm not bothered for the monitor just the fact I will never receive a estimated bill or have to read it myself, plus once you have the new meets you can get free energy on a Saturday or Sunday.
 
Phil-1 said:
Ive just had British Gas fit my smart metres. The energy monitor worked for a couple of hours before it stopped linking to the gas metre, so I can only compare my electricity usage. I've spoken to BG customer services and was told" they are a bit flaky, leave it for a couple of hours and see what happens"
I'm not bothered for the monitor just the fact I will never receive a estimated bill or have to read it myself, plus once you have the new meets you can get free energy on a Saturday or Sunday.
Click to expand...

Ours lasted a couple of months after instalation, when I contacted them for a replacement they said that they did not supply that model anymore. I said it was only a few weeks old, they replied that they could fit new meters with a new monitor! Now I know why the bills are going up.
 
wontolla said:
From EDF (who also tried to install a meter, but we don't use them)

"It’s free to have a smart meter installed by us and it means:

  • You won't have to tell us your meter reading, or have someone come into your house to take one
  • You'll get accurate bills, not estimated ones
  • Linked with a smart energy display, you'll be able see how much it costs to use energy."
Click to expand...

The gas meter still has to be safety inspected every two years by law apparently, if you have gas. The meter reading company used by my supplier employs RGIs to do so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top