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Talking about Smart meters

(52 Posts)
BlueBelle Wed 30-Apr-25 17:38:18

Now I don’t have a Smart meter I didn’t particularly want one but got bullied into it a few years back The workmen arrived on the scheduled day and time, took my old meter out then they received a phone call and said their company had told them to abort the meter change and they would come back another day so they put my old meter back in and I ve never heard a word since.
Now today listening to the radio I caught something about everyone having to have a smart meter by July 1st this year Now I ve heard nothing about this not, had a letter or anything about any cut off date. Does anyone else know about this ?
I ll have to ring my service provider but just wondered if anyone had information before I do ?

Silverbrooks Wed 30-Apr-25 17:57:33

This is to do with Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters which use radio signals to switch between peak and off-peak tariffs.

Most homes have standard meters and will not be affected, whether or not they have a smart meter.

More here:

www.itv.com/news/2025-04-30/is-your-energy-meter-among-300000-set-to-be-switched-off-on-june-30

kittylester Wed 30-Apr-25 19:11:06

Don't be concerned about having a smart meter. We have one and totally ignore it.

I was worried that we would end up watching it all the time.

I mostly use it to check that the car is charged.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Apr-25 19:13:36

We are like kitty

Just ignore it - I occasionally look toward the end of the month to se what the bill might be but that is all.

mae13 Wed 30-Apr-25 19:25:23

There was a lengthy item on the BBC webpage today about the signal for Economy 7 meters being switched off on June 30th, otherwise I would be none the wiser.

I haven't heard a dicky bird and my energy provider is operating with it's usual lack of efficiency, ie: worse than useless.

However that isn't surprising as it seems the Smart Meter roll-out is dealing with a backlog of 300,000 households......the roll-out was scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Yet another corporate success.

BlueBelle Wed 30-Apr-25 20:16:47

Mae13 well I have meter with two readings day and night is that what you mean?
I haven’t had any notifications or advice, so what do I do now ?

BlueBelle Thu 01-May-25 18:20:07

So everyone on here has a smart meter I m guessing as seems no interest or info in this thread

Squiffy Thu 01-May-25 18:31:07

Well, we don’t have a smart meter, Bluebelle! I just take readings and post them on my online account.

Fleur20 Thu 01-May-25 19:12:29

For your information:
energysavingtrust.org.uk/rts-meter-switch-off/

I have been chasing a smart meter installation from Ovo for almost a year.
I am all electric, have storage heaters, no gas available due to location.
The RTS meter will be switched off on 30th June which means EITHER 1. I will have no heating and no hot water OR 2. I will be charged at the higher rate for everything.
1. Is not acceptable.
2. Is unaffordable.

Ovo contact me almost every week, email, post, messages, even had a rep at the door assuring me I would be getting an engineer appointment ' within 2 weeks)... than was 8 weeks ago.
I phoned Ovo again today to be 're-assured' that I would be getting an appointment within the next 2 weeks..
I am not holding my breath.

BlueBelle Thu 01-May-25 22:20:42

It’s just come as a shock to me I knew nothing about it I have had no letter no email and nothing to inform me that I need to get it changed There’s been no warnings on TV or news as far as I know and the program I did hear the presenter even knew nothing about it
So tomorrow I have to ring them and see what they will offer but it’s their fault I don’t have a smart meter and how can they do this without written warnings

NotSpaghetti Thu 01-May-25 23:00:12

I have a 2-rate meter.
I think, being a relatively modern one it's not a problem.

It's not a smart meter

NotSpaghetti Thu 01-May-25 23:06:03

The one that's going to be obsolete is the black one on the left according to the link (above)

OldFrill Thu 01-May-25 23:21:56

You can check here if your meter needs changing
smartmetercheck.citizensadvice.org.uk/

25Avalon Thu 01-May-25 23:25:13

I can’t have a smart meter as mine is a Phase2 meter and apparently the technology isn’t there for a smart meter. The engineer came to change it a couple of years ago and couldn’t. I’m glad. Should still be ok.

NotSpaghetti Fri 02-May-25 07:22:35

25Avalon - does that mean that electric cars can't be on smart meters?

Homestead62 Fri 02-May-25 07:33:31

I won't be having a Smart Meter. They are the biggest ' white elephant' and people I know who got one fitted were complaining their bills went up, or, that they were not working properly. I really don't trust them to operate properly. These meters are benefiting somebody, but certainly not the customer.

BlueBelle Fri 02-May-25 08:19:54

Oldfrill I fall at the first hurdle on that check list as it asks is yours is an electric or gas meter well mine is both so it won’t take me any further
Homestead this is the point of my post after July1st it seems you have to have a smart meter whether you want it or not the old ones are being shut off

Aveline Fri 02-May-25 08:22:16

I don't have a smart meter. EDF tried to fit one a year ago but couldn't make it work. They then fitted an old one that doesn't rely on the Teleswitch so we should be OK. I think they said it was an infra red one.

BlueBelle Fri 02-May-25 08:23:46

notspagghetti mines a duel meter too although I ve had it donkeys years see photo
I m trying to ring them today

Lovetopaint037 Fri 02-May-25 08:30:33

Had our electricity and gas meters changed yesterday by British Gas. Previously had the earliest smart meters which were fine but a couple of years back we were told they were no longer sending the meter readings. So we read them ourselves and sent readings off via the app. We kept getting offers to “mend” our original meters which we weren’t interested in. Then a few weeks ago we were offered the new ones and as the gas meter involved crawling towards the back of the understairs cupboard with a torch my 86 year old dh said he would prefer not to have to do that. As the engineer was ready to go I asked if we were going to have a moniter

He seemed surprised and said most people didn’t want one! I said I would like one for the information that I might want about appliances etc. He had a sort out in his van and came in with one. It’s set up and should have collected all our info ina few days. Might not be bothered with it after awhile but useful to get to use how our useage of certain items affects bills. 💸

NotSpaghetti Fri 02-May-25 09:53:08

BlueBelle

notspagghetti mines a duel meter too although I ve had it donkeys years see photo
I m trying to ring them today

Mine looks like yours.
I believe it's fine.

I thought there was a photo of this sort on the link?

NotSpaghetti Fri 02-May-25 09:59:35

This is the thing that gives it away BlueBelle - it's the black thing and if you open up the photo you can see it's actually labelled.

NotSpaghetti Fri 02-May-25 10:00:00

These black boxes are the ones coming out.

Silverbrooks Fri 02-May-25 10:07:16

Moneysavingexpert has published a useful page about this.

They say:

Homes using RTS meters are typically in areas with no mains gas supply (they're often flats or in rural areas), and the property is usually heated using electricity or storage heaters.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/replace-your-old-rts-meter-as-soon-as-possible/#:~:text=To%20check%20if%20you%20have,RTS%20meter%20might%20look%20like:

BlueBelle Fri 02-May-25 10:34:50

Ahh thanks everyone panic over
Yes you’re right notspaghetti ours isn’t affected I rang Eon today and they assured me I m ok another thing to tick off the list
Plumber to hopefully cure my toilet leak Monday
Ab eye clinic appointment to try and sort out I thought I went straight to clinic from opticians (I did last time) but now have to go through the doctors
Ohhhh modern life eh I m sure I ll die of stress 🤣🤣🤣