Electric meter advice

[Stevejd58]

To be clear I have no intention of messing with this, I just need to pick a few brains on the following.

British gas are sending me this on a regular basis, a ploy I think to get me to install a smart meter which i don't want.

"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter to make sure it continues to work after June 2025.
Your current meter switches rates using a radio signal, helping your meter change between day and night rates. This is often used by people who have electric storage systems, panel heaters or immersion heaters in water tanks – as some of these typically charge up overnight."

My current meter is an AMPY Reporter 5184A which, if I have read the manual correctly Ampy 5184A manual doesn't have a radio connection.
Have I got this right and its a BG trick to get me to swap to a smart meter?

 

[snowhead]

Mista-Z
As Brian has said, meter change not required.
I've got a dual rate meter and Octopus and before that Shell and before that Robin Hood Energy all used the combined reading for the total.

5196D has a Certification period of 25 yrs

My 2008 5254E has a certification period of 20yrs

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66aa06d549b9c0597fdb0846/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240730.pdf

 

[Simon47]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66aa06d549b9c0597fdb0846/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240730.pdf

Ooh, useful. Just looked mine up, and since it says "Property of Norweb" assume it is faily old. But with a 30 year certification, still got (if I assume the sticker saying "certified 6 00" means June 2000) another 5 1/2 years

Interesting to look down the list and see one meter certified for 45 years, while there are huge numbers only certified for 10 years. When you think how long it's taken to not fit everyone with a new smart meter, and it looks a lot like they are replacing meters that had 20 year, 25 year, or even longer lives with ones that have a 10 year life at best - how long before they just fit a socket for it to plug into and post out new meters for the customer to swap (he writes, only slightly tongue in cheek)

 

[freddo]

I seem to recall the last time I read my suppliers smart meter terms and conditions, it suggested the smart meters needed replacing every 5 years!

 

[MisterZ]

Mista-Z
As Brian has said, meter change not required.
I've got a dual rate meter and Octopus and before that Shell and before that Robin Hood Energy all used the combined reading for the total.

5196D has a Certification period of 25 yrs

My 2008 5254E has a certification period of 20yrs

https://www.electriciansforums.net/attachments/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240730-pdf.119658/

Thanks snowhead.

I was asked by Octopus to send pictures of my setup, which I sent over to them to see what they would come up with next. All I got back was that they confirmed that I have an RTS setup, and when would I like to book in for a smart meter upgrade!

I duly replied, stating that I have already informed them that the meter will continue to read total units used, without being reliant on RTS for heating or hot water, and that I will not be booking in for an 'upgrade'. They are relentless.

 

[Avo Mk8]

They are relentless.

They will be, and you can't blame just them, being under the cosh from the Government to meet smart meter installation targets, and being penalised if they're not met.

https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7705/update-on-the-rollout-of-smart-meters/

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmpubacc/1332/summary.html

 

[brianmoooore]

Any idea how much the cost is to the suppliers is for each meter not changed? I'm not interested in a 'smart meter' for any of my supplies, but an adequate financial incentive might persuade me.
(Just had another email from Scottish Power claiming their meter is out of certification. It's certified for the next six years.)

 

[snowhead]

(Just had another email from Scottish Power claiming their meter is out of certification. It's certified for the next six years.)

I think they must keep a spreadsheet for everyone, that haven't changed, with a list of excuses and try a different one each time.
I haven't had the out of Cal one yet.

 

[MisterZ]

Mista-Z
As Brian has said, meter change not required.
I've got a dual rate meter and Octopus and before that Shell and before that Robin Hood Energy all used the combined reading for the total.

5196D has a Certification period of 25 yrs

My 2008 5254E has a certification period of 20yrs

https://www.electriciansforums.net/attachments/electricity-meters-schedule-4-240730-pdf.119663/

So I've contacted several suppliers to see if they would accept a single, total reading, and they've all said no, it has to be day and night readings. Will the RTS switch off affect these readings? I expect the total reading to be fine but not sure about day and night.

 

[brianmoooore]

Simple. You still submit two readings, as now. The difference is that one will never change.

 

[MisterZ]

Simple. You still submit two readings, as now. The difference is that one will never change.

Simple. You still submit two readings, as now. The difference is that one will never change.

Sorry, not following. It's been a long week

 

[snowhead]

At the moment I supply Night and Day readings.
They are itemised and costed separately, at the same rate per Kw, but then totalled to give the final bill.
As Brian, on the assumtion that the meter will be permanently reading either Day or Night, depending when the radio signal drops off, 2 readings will still need to be submitted, to confirm that the inactive rate is not recording.

 

[MisterZ]

At the moment I supply Night and Day readings.
They are itemised and costed separately, at the same rate per Kw, but then totalled to give the final bill.
As Brian, on the assumtion that the meter will be permanently reading either Day or Night, depending when the radio signal drops off, 2 readings will still need to be submitted, to confirm that the inactive rate is not recording.

Ah, ok, that makes sense. Thanks.

At the moment I supply Night and Day readings.
They are itemised and costed separately, at the same rate per Kw, but then totalled to give the final bill.
As Brian, on the assumtion that the meter will be permanently reading either Day or Night, depending when the radio signal drops off, 2 readings will still need to be submitted, to confirm that the inactive rate is not recording.

At the moment I supply Night and Day readings.
They are itemised and costed separately, at the same rate per Kw, but then totalled to give the final bill.
As Brian, on the assumtion that the meter will be permanently reading either Day or Night, depending when the radio signal drops off, 2 readings will still need to be submitted, to confirm that the inactive rate is not recording.