Electricity / Gas Smart meters

Warning! make sure when you get your next bill / yearly statement that your meter is sending your provider it's readings. British gas just tried putting my monthly DD up by £40 on the strength of estimated readings. When I asked why they had estimated them and not used the smart meter readings they admitted they hadn't been receiving the monthly reading from my meter for nearly a year but had done absolutely nothing to fix it.
Their estimate had me well in debt but once I gave them the correct readings I'm well in credit meaning a £40 increase in monthly payment will become a small decrease. Not sure whether it's sharp practice by BG or rank incompetence.

 

British Gas always asks me to manually submit meter readings alongside the smart meter readings at least twice a year. They send quite a few email reminders too as the date draws closer because I always leave it until the last minute as I'm lazy. Their app is really good and shows the exact amount of energy you use each day, it's easy to see on there straight away if the readings aren't being sent so it might be worth getting it if you've haven't already. In fact, if you've been with them over 12 months and never checked it or swapped to a new deal it's probably worth switching to someone else or at least switching to a new one of their fixes. You can get cashback if you do it through a cashback site too. I use MSE energy club and it tells me the cheapest provider.

 

Not been able to sign onto my online account or the app for about 12 months due to a Muppet trying to change my provider instead of his the last time it was up for a tariff change I've tried to get them to sort it but apparently there's a pandemic and they're only dealing with emergencies. Think I'll be dropping them and switching when my current deal finishes in a couple of months.

 

Don't talk to me about effing smart meters.

We have smart meters, complete waste of space. They were fitted by one supplier but then we changed supplier and guess what? The new supplier's systems are not compatible with the meters so we have to manually read them and submit via their web page. Also the little screen we have in the house does not show you the current meter reading so you have to go out in the cold to read them. You press a button on each meter while the stupid things cycle round the various displays till it eventually gets the the actual one you want, before the screen goes blank before you've had chance to even take a picture of it on your bloody phone.

Rant over.

 

I just dropped them about 2 weeks ago because I like to chase the deals and there's always money to be made/saved by switching.

 

I literally never look at the little screen thing, just click on the app which is much more detailed. I forgot we even had one to be honest!

 

I put mine in the draw and refuse to use it, i am not watching what I use on a box.

 

Never had one don't see the point, also I change supplier every 12 months anyway. They are all happy to over estimate though.

 

I refuse to have one

 

Sometimes they are a requirement, if you're looking for a new provider. e.g. the latest deal we got with Scottish Power. Cheap rate reverted to their standard rate if you didn't have smart meters installed within 3 months of signing up.

 

Noticed that when I was looking last time. Took one that said within 6 months they called and I just said I didn't want them to enter the property due to Covid. Said no problem would leave me on the cheap deal until it was safe to do so.

 

Ours were installed just as Covid started. They didn't need to come inside as our meters are on the outside wall. The only problem we've had is with the Internal Display Unit, which refuses to show any electricity data, although it shows the gas data. Doesn't affect the link between the meters and SP though, so now it's been shoved in a drawer. Shame really, cos I found it quite interesting.

 

We had smart meters fitted october 2017 they were gen 1, in house display didn't work so checked meters, electric showing a reading but gas was blank and not reading usage, neither sending readings to company. Reported fault, 60 recorded phone calls and 2 years later eventually got it changed, didn't pay a gas bill in all that time and they aint getting owt either. New meters reading usage but gas not sending reading to company, so I send a reading every month. A complete waste of time, I've thrown the towel in and just send readings every month and keep an eye on my account on line.

 

Even though I have smart meters, I still log on to my online account every month, submit the readings manually, and force a bill to be generated. That way, my balance is updated and if necessary my direct debit can be tweaked. I like to be in control of my money - and old habits die hard. I can't see me ever changing tbh.

 

I miss talking to the metre man,he always had a big torch and cunning smile

 

I could be interesting to see the usage I suppose but I just think everything I have turned on I want on, my Gas and electric Bill's are acceptable to me so I'm happy. I'd hate to start running round worrying about every little electric appliance.

 

A bit like a diddyman then?

 

So blackmailed into having the pointless thing

 

When Lady Kaht and I became 'empty nesters' (two or three years ago) we reasoned that we couldn't possibly fail to save money by having a water meter installed. Those who saw what we paid in water rates (the Yorkshire Water engineer included) wholeheartedly agreed. Wrong! The first 2-3 bills looked like totally shafting us until we returned gratefully to paying the considerable sum in water rates (or whatever they are called now). Any poor sods that own our house hereafter will have no option but to go with the meter. Things were checked out - we had them investigate whether next door's supply was feeding through our meter - but to no avail. Don't understand it to this day!

 

I was really worried about moving into somewhere with a meter. In fact, when we first began house searching, we even ruled out a few houses with one. In the end, the house we just had to have had one so that was that. We pay around £20 a month but I have no idea if that is good or bad as in our last place that we rented for 10 years, the landlord paid the standard water rates so this is the first time we've ever paid for water. I can't find anything that says what it would cost if we weren't on a meter. As we only moved over the road and there is an outside tap on the side of the old house, I sometimes look at it longingly when we are filling the paddling pool up for the dog and wonder if I could stretch a giant hose pipe across the road