EDF direct debit

They won't be, it's a factory job AIUI, and in any case, after 13 years, they'd want to replace the meter anyway, recalibration etc...

I could understand the logic behind that for a Pre Payment meter (just), but where's the logic for a normal tariff, and why fit an actuator to close a valve, when there's probably no juice left to perform such a task, unless it's something the meter does as a dying gasp ?

I think the meters have to charge a supercapacitor to activate the shut-off valve, not sure where I saw, maybe a Mike or Clive teardown?

Getting an energy company to confirm the behaviour of a gas smart meter, when a battery dies is like trying to grab a wet bar of soap with oil on your hands, but by the time you get to Page 2 of this, it woyuld seem the gas shut off only (should) apply to pre payment meters ?

Maybe the battery holds the valve open against a spring, and then lets it close when it runs out. Like a dead man's handle.

I successfully re battery'ed my bank PIN Sentry after 20 years...

I doubt that, if it's spec'd to last over 10 years, transmitting its data every 30 mins, 24/7 ?

Golly - they expect the battery to last? I settled on 3xAA for my d-i-y 'remote sensor' and I hope that lasts a year doing once every 2 hours wakeups...

I am expecting a once-a-year replacement., Transmitting RF takes power.

Thats big. AND expensive.

Of course the reason they don't allow users to touch smart meters are

- they are so stupid they might break them

- they are so smart they might reprogram them.

All your bases are belong to us...

The transmitting is ultra low power to the nearby electricity smart meter.

Safety - some idiot will short out the battery

Here's a rabbit hole to spend the rest of the day down...

I wonder if anything has changed in the 17 years since that was published.

The laws of physics and chemistry won't have !

For some value of "nearby" - the layout of this house (and many others) make them complete strangers.

Mine are 30ft apart, through two solid brick walls. But it used to work (until I think the electricity meter's connectivity with the outside world got borked).

I've been nagging Octopus to get it fixed for about two years now, and finally they offered me an appointment to swap out the meter. That was three weeks ago and they didn't turn up, didn't apologise. I suppose I need to try booking a new appointment now.

They are liable to you compensation, for a missed appointment, without prior, adequate notice.

In message <10ir1hr$5sr1$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 10:42:04 on Sun, 28 Dec

Very possibly, but I wasn't inconvenienced by having to be at home that day, although the inconvenience of having a broken smart meter continues.