Smart meters, can I insist on having a 'non smart' one?

[pendodave]

I don't want to have an arguement about why I should or should not have a smart meter. Please have that elsewhere....

Now, my electricity provider (OVO) are sending me lovely emails saying that my electricity meter may no longer have a valid certification and that they can't guarantee its accuracy. Therefore they want to install a smart meter and state that they can't install an old-style one because 'they don't make them anymore'.
Is this true? Has anyone else encountered this? Will any other provider actually install an old-style meter?
Any helpful information gratefully received.

 

[drdel]

I don't want to have an arguement about why I should or should not have a smart meter. Please have that elsewhere....

Now, my electricity provider (OVO) are sending me lovely emails saying that my electricity meter may no longer have a valid certification and that they can't guarantee its accuracy. Therefore they want to install a smart meter and state that they can't install an old-style one because 'they don't make them anymore'.
Is this true? Has anyone else encountered this? Will any other provider actually install an old-style meter?
Any helpful information gratefully received.

I've received the exact same email today!

At least they are installing the 2nd generation meters but I see on their web site that the particular meter they use is only compatible with a few suppliers so if you switch to another it may go into dumb mode and the internal display stops as may the comms to the supplier. This would mean a 'new' supplier would need to fit a new meter(s) which may not be a priority to them unless you agree it upfront. The North still have comms issues with the cellular network.

I'm undecided but can see the advantages.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think we all have to have a smart meter by a certain date, I think the end of next year. If this is the case then why would any mfr keep making old style ones? It would be illogical for them. Some suppliers may have an old one laying around but they may not be willing to come out and fit one when someone will have to come along within the next 12 months to fit a smart version. It doesn't make sense from a business perspective.

Good luck in your search but it may be tricky to get what you want.

 

[williamalex1]

We still have our original meter after 35 years with no problems, you could ask for a meter calibration/check.
I think some smart meters wont work with some other suppliers , if you wanted to change companies. We're with Bulb for gas and electric , we just phone/email in our readings every month

 

[Foxholer]

My supplier uses a 'really smart' method.... It emails me each month requesting I provide a reading! A method I rather like - though my knees and hips object somewhat!

 

[MegaSteve]

An elderly neighbour told us, over the weekend, she is having a 'smart meter' fitted this coming week... Puzzling how it will work as she doesn't have an internet connection to her home...

Thus far we've spurned any approaches to have one fitted... Really can't see the point...

 

[drdel]

An elderly neighbour told us, over the weekend, she is having a 'smart meter' fitted this coming week... Puzzling how it will work as she doesn't have an internet connection to her home...

Thus far we've spurned any approaches to have one fitted... Really can't see the point...

An elderly neighbour told us, over the weekend, she is having a 'smart meter' fitted this coming week... Puzzling how it will work as she doesn't have an internet connection to her home...

Thus far we've spurned any approaches to have one fitted... Really can't see the point...

They use the 'mobile' phone network.

 

[woody69]

I don't want to have an arguement about why I should or should not have a smart meter. Please have that elsewhere....

Now, my electricity provider (OVO) are sending me lovely emails saying that my electricity meter may no longer have a valid certification and that they can't guarantee its accuracy. Therefore they want to install a smart meter and state that they can't install an old-style one because 'they don't make them anymore'.
Is this true? Has anyone else encountered this? Will any other provider actually install an old-style meter?
Any helpful information gratefully received.

I certainly don't want to have an argument about it, but I am really intrigued as to why you wouldn't want a smart meter, especially gen 2 meters that essentially mean you no longer need to worry about an incorrect reading even if you change suppliers. Have I missed a trick by getting one installed?

 

[Fade and Die]

I don't want to have an arguement about why I should or should not have a smart meter. Please have that elsewhere....

Now, my electricity provider (OVO) are sending me lovely emails saying that my electricity meter may no longer have a valid certification and that they can't guarantee its accuracy. Therefore they want to install a smart meter and state that they can't install an old-style one because 'they don't make them anymore'.
Is this true? Has anyone else encountered this? Will any other provider actually install an old-style meter?
Any helpful information gratefully received.

Just ignore the email, the chances of your old meter requiring calibration is slim, it’s just a scare tactic to get you to change to a smart meter. Smart meters mainly benefit the energy supplier, there is little evidence that it actually benefits the end user. If your meter really is busted shouldn’t have much trouble getting a normal single tarif meter installed, after all what are they fitting in areas of poor mobile phone coverage?

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-ri...cept-a-smart-meter#can-i-refuse-a-smart-meter

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....wer-giants-tricking-getting-smart-meters.html

 

[pendodave]

Just ignore the email, the chances of your old meter requiring calibration is slim, it’s just a scare tactic to get you to change to a smart meter. Smart meters mainly benefit the energy supplier, there is little evidence that it actually benefits the end user. If your meter really is busted shouldn’t have much trouble getting a normal single tarif meter installed, after all what are they fitting in areas of poor mobile phone coverage?

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-ri...cept-a-smart-meter#can-i-refuse-a-smart-meter

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....wer-giants-tricking-getting-smart-meters.html

Thanks
Stalling was always my inclination. I'm guessing they get paid some sort of bonus for converting.
As it happens, we have a dual tariff meter (the old economy7 I guess, though we've moved in since it was put in.

 

[jim8flog]

An elderly neighbour told us, over the weekend, she is having a 'smart meter' fitted this coming week... Puzzling how it will work as she doesn't have an internet connection to her home...

Thus far we've spurned any approaches to have one fitted... Really can't see the point...

They have SIM cards in and use the ET method.

Personally I cannot see what the objection to having one is.

 

[Fade and Die]

They have SIM cards in and use the ET method.

Personally I cannot see what the objection to having one is.

I wouldn’t trust them with my personal data, I also think it will lead to “time-of-day pricing“ leading to more profit for the suppliers (why else spend £11Bn on rolling them out) and I do not want to feel guilty every time I make a cup of tea!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I wouldn’t trust them with my personal data, I also think it will lead to “time-of-day pricing“ leading to more profit for the suppliers (why else spend £11Bn on rolling them out) and I do not want to feel guilty every time I make a cup of tea!

Do you use online banking ? Pay for things online ? Amazon etc - there are hundreds of every day ways you expose your personal data more than a smart meter , hence why GDPR etc was brought in to protect your data.

Millions use “smart devices” and there will always be suspicions about them

 

[pendodave]

Do you use online banking ? Pay for things online ? Amazon etc - there are hundreds of every day ways you expose your personal data more than a smart meter , hence why GDPR etc was brought in to protect your data.

Millions use “smart devices” and there will always be suspicions about them

Will that be the 5 minute arguement, or the full half hour???
Read the op and then go back to all those other places if you don't mind

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Will that be the 5 minute arguement, or the full half hour???
Read the op and then go back to all those other places if you don't mind

What ? 😟

 

[Hobbit]

What ? 😟

Its pretty clear Phil, in the very first sentence of the OP.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Its pretty clear Phil, in the very first sentence of the OP.

I don’t have a smart meter - don’t see the point if it’s not really going to reduce my costs , my post wasn’t about “having or not having one” more about someone’s personal data and the other ways it’s grabbed from us on a daily basis so if someone is worried about it from a smart meter then there are more crucial areas.

But I surprised the OP didn’t pull up Fade and Die as he clearly didn’t read the OP then 🙄

 

[Fade and Die]

I don’t have a smart meter - don’t see the point if it’s not really going to reduce my costs , my post wasn’t about “having or not having one” more about someone’s personal data and the other ways it’s grabbed from us on a daily basis so if someone is worried about it from a smart meter then there are more crucial areas.

But I surprised the OP didn’t pull up Fade and Die as he clearly didn’t read the OP then 🙄

My post was in reply to jim8flog and his point about not having an objection to having one. It wasn’t trying to argue the toss for the sake of it.
I’m an Electrician with 35 years experience, I’ve worked with a lot of EDF guys and not one of them would have a smart meter.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

My post was in reply to jim8flog and his point about not having an objection to having one. It wasn’t trying to argue the toss for the sake of it.
I’m an Electrician with 35 years experience, I’ve worked with a lot of EDF guys and not one of them would have a smart meter.

As I said I don’t have one and at the moment in time not interested in one as not seen enough evidence of the financial benefits- some do but it should be a choice and no one should be forced into it. The only issue is if a meter does need changing and the only replacement is a smart meter. To be very clear - not arguing etc about having one or not

My point was more about your data - it’s taken from many areas that I suspect you use daily and a lot more than can be gained from a smart meter. And I used to work for a company that won one of the areas to install the meters

 

[jim8flog]

I wouldn’t trust them with my personal data, I also think it will lead to “time-of-day pricing“ leading to more profit for the suppliers (why else spend £11Bn on rolling them out) and I do not want to feel guilty every time I make a cup of tea!

Are you not on a fixed price contract?