can any one get their heads round these meter readings request?

tanith

I’ve always done mine on the last day of the month I get a reminder from Octopus.

i would like to become an octopus, but e-on owe me nearly £200 and i feel i better use it up first.
i anticipate a struggle if i change now and try to get my money from e-on.

Thanks NorthFace, explains their couldn’t care less attitude

I thought that the whole point of having a Smart Meter is to cut the need, to read meters. I have informed Scottish Power if my smart meter is not sending them the readings, they will have to send someone out. The meters are placed too low for me …..

Tizliz

I also keep a detailed spreadsheet of my usage and pointed out to Shell that the graph they put at the end of my bill showing usage compared to last year was not only inaccurate but the graph on their website showed something different.

The reply “we only use estimates for these graphs”.

Why can’t they use my actual readings which they ask for every month? I thought the idea of these graphs was so you can see if you are reducing your usage.

Shell’s systems are antiquated and not fit for purpose. I had been with First Utility/Shell for a long time and reasonably happy but then a systems failure on their part caused me huge problems that dragged on for three months. They just couldn’t get my bills right despite having all my readings so I left and went to OVO. Happy so far but early days.

Shell are said to be getting out of the domestic supply market possibly to be taken over by OVO or Octopus. That’ll be why they aren’t investing in their systems.

This:

www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/29/ovo-reportedly-planning-bid-for-shell-household-energy-customers

Grannynannywanny, my gas meter is in the far corner of the understairs cupboard - below the third step. I don't want to slide in there on my stomach to read it anymore - so take a photo, just like you.

Theexwife, I still dislike the idea of smart meters. Reasons? Concerns about accuracy - and also about the future plans of energy companies to charge different rates according to demand. They plan to charge more at times of peak demand, less at quiet times - good for some people, impossible for others.

They charge me 31p per kWh (and 42p daily standing charge) yet pay me 15p per kWh I feed back to the grid. Luckily, I only use a kWh or two daily in the summer and provide, on average, 14 kWh.

My smart meters were fitted in November but Ovo continue to ask for readings even though two “engineers” have checked the meters in the past month. They are both too high for me to read so we have an impasse - when, that is, I can actually speak to a person. I am at my wits’ end!

We pay gas and electricity by direct debit, and I too provide meter readings monthly to avoid estimated bills.

Thank you. I didn't know that. Much fairer.

AGAA4

We can't have smart meters as the meters are in a cupboard where there is no signal. I'm quite happy with this as each company has its own smart meter making it difficult to change supplier.

This used to be an issue but the smart meters being fitted now, including mine, fitted at least two years ago, continue working if customers choose to change supplier.

I also keep a detailed spreadsheet of my usage and pointed out to Shell that the graph they put at the end of my bill showing usage compared to last year was not only inaccurate but the graph on their website showed something different.

The reply “we only use estimates for these graphs”.

Why can’t they use my actual readings which they ask for every month? I thought the idea of these graphs was so you can see if you are reducing your usage.

AGAA4

We can't have smart meters as the meters are in a cupboard where there is no signal. I'm quite happy with this as each company has its own smart meter making it difficult to change supplier.

Not entirely right, I just changed from Shell to Octopus and the same smart meter is in use.
Northface my display unit has never been plugged in since day one of my smart meter, it’s boxed in a cupboard, if I choose to look at usage, it’s all on the app.

We can't have smart meters as the meters are in a cupboard where there is no signal. I'm quite happy with this as each company has its own smart meter making it difficult to change supplier.

Theexwife

I know that some people do not want a smart meter, it is not a criticism I would just like someone to give me a reason why they wouldn’t have one.

The only difference in having a smart meter that I know of is that you do not have to send your own meter readings.

I don’t find reading my meters and sending them in on a monthly basis a problem, which is one reason why I don’t want or need a smart meter. I fully appreciate that for some people this is a problem, and also that one day I may be glad of a SM. Just not yet.

Also I don’t see the need to constantly monitor what I use. If I want the oven on, plus a hot plate, whilst boiling the kettle and maybe using the microwave all at the same time, so be it. If it racks up the cost, and is how I want to cook, well, that’s it really.

My gas meter is positioned in a way I find physically difficult to read . To overcome this obstacle I take a photo with my phone and I can then read the numbers when I zoom in on the photo.

Ashcombe. Fortunately, my meters are easy to reach and read. I am meticulous about sending in my readings and calculating my energy bills. I could get a smart meter but so many of my friends seem stressed by them, constantly watching the units clock up. I suspect its a phase that people go through but there are also technical problems with smart meters.

I loathe how energy companies try to nanny us over budgeting, just to make us pay in advance. I refuse to pay for more energy than I have used each month. I’m perfectly capable of budgeting. I suspect I am now flagged in a national energy database. Don’t argue with this woman! Don’t even try! She has a spreadsheet and she isn’t afraid to use it!

Theexwife. I see no reason to have a smart meter unless and until such time as I can’t read my meters or energy companies offer a discount for having one but that would be unfair to those who cannot have one. Their main purpose is for energy companies to monitor and manage supply and demand.

The roll out of smart meters has been hugely costly, over 11 billion so far, costs that have been passed onto customers.

The technology isn’t without its problems …

The NAO found that some 3 million smart meters were not working properly, leaving bill payers with inaccurate readings and incorrect charges.

... and as wi-fi technology advances, devices will become obsolete.

More than 15 million first-generation smart meters and nearly 14.8 million second-generation ones will require upgrades after 2G and 3G mobile networks are switched off in 2033.

But the technology capable of connecting second-generation smart meters to 4G will not become available until at least 2025, according to the Data and Communications Company.

www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/millions-smart-meters-obsolete-soon-bungled-rollout/

I was told, not to worry about readings, my smart meter would send them through. Looking at the web site,no recent meter readings sent. Went outside to check, and lo and behold meter on nought, pressed magic button, meter read. Only problem is,I can't get low enough down to read my gas meter.
Any way long story short, they've reduced my direct debit it payment.

I know that some people do not want a smart meter, it is not a criticism I would just like someone to give me a reason why they wouldn’t have one.

The only difference in having a smart meter that I know of is that you do not have to send your own meter readings.

We had an email from Scottish power last week to say that as we have a smart meter, we need do nothing.

It's because the prices have changed - although I have noticed that they've put the standing charge up a fraction on gas as my smart meter states I'm 11% over my budget, which is 29p!

I have a smart meter for electricity (begrudgingly, for the solar panel input payments, I had no choice). For gas, I sent the reading last night - although, for me, it makes no sense. It's the same old number, all through summer, as I use no gas at all until the winter.

I have a smart meter, NorthFace, as both meters are difficult for me to access, partly due to arthritis. I’m with Good Energy who, even after the smart meter was installed, continued to (over) estimate my usage and DD my a/c accordingly.

When I complained, they said it was to protect me from higher bills in the Winter, to which I l left them in no doubt as to my financial position and my ability to budget for the higher usage months. Eventually, they agreed to DD my a/c for the amount used each month. Result! And a good reason for having a smart meter!

Martin Lewis said prices are going down by an average of 17%.

If you are planning to do something that will use a lot of energy between today, 1 July and your next meter reading date, e.g. mowing a big overgrown lawn, hedge trimming, binge-watching six series of a TV show, batch cooking to fill the freezer, and you haven't sent in a reading, usage will be averaged over the billing period and you will end up paying for some of those units at the old higher rate.

If you are planning to be away from home sometime between now and your next reading date, averaging will work in your favour.

If your usage over the month is consistent it shouldn’t make a great deal of difference but it’s worth sending in a reading now if you want your bill to be as accurate as possible and it will help to budget for coming months.

My reading date is the 8th of the month. I sent a reading yesterday 30 June. My next bill will show me what 8 days at the new rate has cost so that will give me a good indicator of what my ongoing monthly bills will be.

I don't want a smart meter for various reasons but this is one of those times when it would be good to have one.

Actually, I just decided to disregard that and do it now.
So I have. Not sure why I felt the need to do it now.
I'll do it again on the 6th.

I just tried to send in meter reading but a message appeared telling me that the best day to do so is the 6th July.
So I'll do it then.

If you haven’t got a smart meter, you need to send a meter reading today - forthwith! As the new charges started at midnight, so make sure you aren’t paying too much for your use.

Mind you it isn’t terribly cheaper, but every penny counts.