Customer didn't get his Smart Meter.

[Dave OCD]

Had a call earlier from a chap I've worked for in the past, his CU [renewed around 12 years ago] and meter is sited in a cupboard under the stairs. The meter fitter was 'on site' and concerned about a buzzing sound in the aforementioned cupboard. He thought it could be dangerous and also thought there was a loose connection... So the chap I know put him on the phone and I explained that it could just be an MCB as some do make a bit of noise, I said could he switch them off one at a time and see when the buzzing stops ? No he said, not allowed to do that, so I suggested he fit the meter and I would check out the buzzing on the way home, ok he said.
So I called in on the way home and stuck my head in the cupboard, worked out within about 5 seconds that the offending sound was the doorbell transformer, totally harmless- it's also on it's own labelled circuit so not difficult to work out. And would you believe the old meter was still there, "Too risky" to fit the new one apparently. So the customer has now told his supplier that he won't be having a Smart meter now.

 

[Spoon]

Cool. So you are happy with 'Smart Meter' then @littlespark . I'm not.

 

[littlespark]

Cool. So you are happy with 'Smart Meter' then @littlespark . I'm not.

I didn't say I was happy. I said I was in two minds whether to get one or not.
What has been said against them doesn't put me off so far.

 

[sparksfly]

At a customers house 2 yrs ago, speaking to her relative from Canada, who worked for a smart meter company said to me avoid as they had many issues with inaccurate readings and the same were used in UK !! You can refuse to have one fitted, some companies are using it as a good excuse to get rid of E10 for E7 smart ones.

 

[stevels4]

At a customers house 2 yrs ago, speaking to her relative from Canada, who worked for a smart meter company said to me avoid as they had many issues with inaccurate readings and the same were used in UK !! You can refuse to have one fitted, some companies are using it as a good excuse to get rid of E10 for E7 smart ones.

Smart meters can be schemed to any current tariff including E10, bit of a PITA if replacing a 5 wire classic to a 4 wire Smart though!

 

[baldelectrician]

Watch if you have a smart meter and solar panels.
They can use the smart meter to obtain actual export readings and not deemed (50% of generation), if they do this they could cut your FIT payments.

My mate refused a smart meter on these grounds because the chap selling (sorry advising on) the smart meter mentioned it did do actual generation.
As my mate is quite savvy and has one of these immersion things that diverts export to the immersion heater instead of letting it go back to the grid

It massively decreases the export leccy.