Smart meters

We also have smart meters from EDF. The electricity meter failed completely and we tried for 2 years to get EDF to fix it. The meter had no reading at all so bills were estimated. During this time they were even sending meter readers round, who reported the fault also. I was very concerned and anxious about it because I wanted to know our usage, and didn't want to be faced with a huge bill if usage had been underestimated.
I complained to EDF and after I think 8 weeks with no satisfactory response, I took it to the Ombudsman. This resulted in a new meter being installed, which has worked fine since. I had a refund from them and a credit against my account as a goodwill gesture. (£100).
One of the meter readers said the problem is EDF has no target to repair or replace faulty meters, as they do for new installations.

I'm stingy in the first place, so I don't think I could cut down usage.

I may be tempted by a lower overall rate, though.

I’m with Octopus, have traditional metres and Octopus do not badger me to have a smart meter
I do not need a little gadget with the wheel spinning round madly when I use the kettle to tell me that. I use what I use and that’s that.

I really don’t understand the fuss about smart meters. For years, I’ve been grovelling on the floor trying to read the old type meter and then submitting readings. That was very annoying.
Now I have a smart meter, the readings go directly to my provider EE. The figures for gas weren’t automatically collected for a while, but that wasn’t up to me to sort it out, the company did that !
The companies are required to install as many smart meters as possible to meet green targets. I say ‘pick your battles’ and get a smart meter !

vickymeldrew
You just explained your POV perfectly.
You wanted a smart meter, you got a smart meter, you’re happy with it.

The fuss as you call it, is about those who don’t want one, but are told they need to have one or those who have had problems with them.

I’m glad you had the choice of whether or not to have one and that you have had no problems with it.

Fortunately, so far, I still have the choice.

Important: Take a photo of your old meters before they are taken out.
A few years ago we switched to smart meters and the engineer wrote down one wrong digit (a 9 instead of a zero). Consequently our reading was recorded as 90,000 units more than it actually was! It was the xmas period so it took weeks to sort out. My photos were the proof.
We have had no problems at all with them since then - it was purely human error on the day.

vickymeldrew

I really don’t understand the fuss about smart meters. For years, I’ve been grovelling on the floor trying to read the old type meter and then submitting readings. That was very annoying.
Now I have a smart meter, the readings go directly to my provider EE. The figures for gas weren’t automatically collected for a while, but that wasn’t up to me to sort it out, the company did that !
The companies are required to install as many smart meters as possible to meet green targets. I say ‘pick your battles’ and get a smart meter !

I really don’t understand the fuss about smart meters.

Well you wouldn't if it works well for you.

But there are around 4 million people who have had or are still having problems with them who are experiencing quite a bit of "fuss".

And for those of us who don't have to crawl along the floor to read the meter but find it quite convenient to just open a small door, take a reading and ding it over the App... the prospect of being in a lottery where you could be a winner or loser, tends to make us want to just stay with the devil we know.

Bearing in mind the hassle and faff many people have getting in touch with various suppliers and other organisations when "things go wrong"; the endless press-this-that-and-the-other options, promised call backs that don't happen, being "number 14 in the queue" etc, I think it's quite justified to not disturb a situation that is, currently, stable.

What Dickens said. 👏

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

(Or change it).

We put one in to take advantage of really really cheap night rates. They installed meter it didn't work, they stopped the tariff we wanted. Took 4 months and the ombudsman to get the meters working and we are still arguing over the bills for the period they weren't working.¹