It's all Martin Lewis' fault! [grin]

One power company on the radio yesterday said they were receiving 40,000 calls an hour - usually 2000 a day. All the big companies are apparently accepting metre readings for 31/3 for a week to 10 days after and if you have a smart metre it will be read automatically.

I'd be happy to vote, like the OP, for 'Martin Lewis for Prime Minister!'

Martin Lewis should be knighted. If you don’t get his emails I really do recommend that you sign up for them. We’ve saved loads of money over the years thanks to him. (Money Saving Expert).

Martin Lewis is someone who really cares about us ordinary folk. I have a lot of time for him and can recommend his Money Saving Expert website for all sorts of advice.

the usual stupid attitude of the government has made things worse. If they had insisted that there should be one type of smart meter, then changing companies would not cause problems, but no each one does not work properly with other companies. What a waste of time and money. They did not even learn from years ago with the two sorts of recorder. The same with the electric cars. If there was one type that all could use more people would consider it and it would be cheaper and easier to use. It takes very little effort to find the best of the bunch and then insisting that these are the ones used. Allowing all these different smart meters was both expensive and stupid and a waste of peoples time having to change them over!

Chestnut

Octopus has a helpful message saying to read your meter Saturday as their prices go up from midnight Saturday! So now I have to go down to the cellar again. They say we have a week to submit them. I love ?Octopus ?

I love Octopus too. We were switched to them when our last company failed and they've been great - and have also installed the smart meter which I've been trying to get from our last provider for three years. They seem to be what I want, a company that tells me everything and gives me a fair price.
I organise the utilities for three different house and always used the MSE site. They must have been giving me the lowest priced fuel because 2 of the three companies went bust!

Applegran

I'd be happy to vote, like the OP, for 'Martin Lewis for Prime Minister!'

Martin Lewis is far too honest and straightforward to be a politician. I think he should be given a job on the group that oversees fuel companies and maybe also involved with the financial ombudsman.

He talks to fast for me I can't understand him

I sent in a reading to Octopus with no problem at all.
Unfortunately it was only for gas, as my electricity meter hasn't been working since October.
First they said they would send a meter reader to look at it; after a couple of months and a query from me they said that I would have to have a new meter and they would let me know when someone was 'in the area'.
I emailed back and said I did not want a Smart Meter, but their reply was that it was company policy to install them.

Does anyone know if I have the right to refuse a Smart Meter and insist that I have the old style meter replaced??
I'm still waiting so it's been around 6 months now. I'm also worried about how they are going to estimate the electricity used over such a long period of time.

I’ve got a smart meter so didn’t need to input my readings but advised my son to do his. I subscribe to Martin Lewis Money Expert emails and find it really useful in all sorts of ways. It’s a good job we’ve got such individuals otherwise big business and the government would do us over even more than they already do

No - you do not have to have a smart meter if you don't want one! Don't let them bully you into having one

Sorry if this is a diversion but why do people not want smart meters? They are a godsend.

I second that Volver
My Ovo fixed rate ended yesterday and I received a bill this morning just after midnight that had an accurate final reading from my smart meters and explaining the increase now that I'm on the variable rate. They even say that this is the best rate to be on at present.
I am happy with smart meters especially as I didn't have to go out in the snow to read them!

I like not having to go out and read meters too, but my smart meter is switched off in a cupboard as I’m being an ostrich.

I’ve been able to give yesterday’s meter readings to EDF. I couldn’t do it through the app but they also have an online form you can use if you know your account number.

Jaxjacky

I like not having to go out and read meters too, but my smart meter is switched off in a cupboard as I’m being an ostrich.

That's only the display for your information. Mine only comes out of it's box for special occasions, such as making a note yesterday when my fixed rate ended. The actual smart meters are the big meters that send the info to the company.

That’s why it stays in its box Pittcity I don’t want to see the figures!
I get a monthly email so I can login and check my account, comparison with a year ago will be interesting next month, my fixed rate finished yesterday, timing could’ve been better.

I'm on a fixed rate until July next year (thankfully).
I usually submit meter readings on 1st of the month but I'm waiting until next week this month.
I've told so many people on various social media platforms that if they're on fixed rate contracts they don't need to submit readings on 31/3 coz their rate won't change until the contract ends. I've said that on the last day of that contract they'll need to send in a reading so avoid what's going on now happening to them at that particular time.
It's amazing how many people don't realise this.

madeleine45 its called competition. Most of the time it works for the every day people. Times are a bit different at present. Not just COVID but lots of other issues around the world. BREXIT doesn't help either. Lots of other countries are having similar problems with Cost of Living including food and petrol.

rowyn

I sent in a reading to Octopus with no problem at all.
Unfortunately it was only for gas, as my electricity meter hasn't been working since October.
First they said they would send a meter reader to look at it; after a couple of months and a query from me they said that I would have to have a new meter and they would let me know when someone was 'in the area'.
I emailed back and said I did not want a Smart Meter, but their reply was that it was company policy to install them.

Does anyone know if I have the right to refuse a Smart Meter and insist that I have the old style meter replaced??
I'm still waiting so it's been around 6 months now. I'm also worried about how they are going to estimate the electricity used over such a long period of time.

I can’t have a smart meter even if I wanted one as the supply features not on our property cannot support them. In any case I don’t want one. I explained this to Octopus and they stopped sending my marketing messages.

DD2 had ordinary meters fitted by Octopus as she didn’t want smart meters either. It is definitely possible so insist you have what you want.

Pittcity

I'll make a note of my smart meter readings later but won't need to send them.
Martin Lewis weekly email highlighted a new bank account with a good interest rate. It is app based and the app crashed yesterday.
He's got a lot to answer for but is an invaluable source of sensible advice.

I read his article and immediately opened the bank account - it was really easy to open, but so far I haven't been able to send any funds.
I've done loads of things in the past on his recommendations!

Is the message getting through? British Gas are worse than useless. Octopus are fine. just saying.

I'd still be really interested in why people don't want smart meters.

Not sure you’re right on that Blinko, I submitted my reading to British Gas this morning for 31st March with no problem at all, the site had been updated with all the necessary info.

volver smart meters may be a godsend for some, but until the manufacturers/installers get them to work for all suppliers and deal with places where mobile reception is not that great, some of us don't want one. I believe that you can choose how often your readings are sent, but I wouldn't want them to be sent often enough that it was obvious when I was away from home.

Fortunately we still have a choice.