Smart Meters

It was on in the background here, so I can't really say what was discussed, but if anybody wants to know more, it was MoneyBox on R4.

I believe it's "impossible" to reverse the switch, as it would allow people to get rid of the smart meters the government is so keen for us to have. Not dissimilar to the way water meters can't be removed one installed.

Thank you - that is worth knowing.

The main point was said to be that with "first generation" smart meters it is not possible to take a simple cumulative kWh (or gas m^3) reading. Therefore you can't take ordinary readings to send to a new supplier if they're not set-up for smart metering.

I find that utterly amazing. Is it true though?

Not on the one I have. You just don't need to get to the meter to get the reading, its on the remote display.

I have "first gen" smart meters, I did enquire of another supplier if they could read them if I changed supplier and they didn't seem to think so, thankfully I'm happy with the supplier who fitted them, you can read a cumulative reading either from each meter, or from the remote display,

I'd say it's not .. you could read the meters and submit them online, or let a meter reader bod read them (though *not* having to be "in" for meter readers so frequently was my main reason for getting smart meters, the gas one has been "manually" read once and the electric one not at all since fitting them in 2011)

That might be a bonus as presumably they then can't switch you off remotely or monitor your usage and presumably they could still send a meter man to read it.

Is this not why we have British standards and a regulator? Surely its fundamental that in a market situation all suppliers need to have a standard meter.

Brian

When Ovo changed my meters to smart meters last year they said something about if switching to tell the new supplier what sort of smart meters you had as the systems weren't all compatible.