An interesting phone conversation with my own electricity supplier (Good Energy) which was very disappointing, and made me sigh (professionally) 
They phoned out of the blue to ask if they could book a date to replace my gas and electricity meters with smart versions. I said I'd probably be up for it, but wanted to ask a technical questioned before I agreed. They said ok.
"My current electricity meter has a built-in isolator, which an electrician can use to isolate the supply if they need to change my fuse board, or perhaps install an EV charger. Smart meters don't come with built-in isolators. So I'll only agree for you to swap it, if at the same time you can install a double-pole isolator, so I'm in no worse position than I am now. Can you do that?"
After much to-ing and fro-ing with their supervisor, the answer was a resounding "no."
I said, "But if I wasn't aware of this potential issue, in doing this work you would have put me in a worse position than I am now. In order to update my board, I'd have to call you up to install an isolator, which would have delayed the job by weeks, and you'd have no doubt charged me for it."
It's just so, so disappointing. I don't know about the rest of the country, but around here the little Seimens meters with the built-in isolator under the flap on the bottom right are very common, and it's a joy when I come across one on a job that needs a new board.
I can't believe they're not just installing an isolator where the old meter has one built-in as a matter of course. But the fact that whoever they're getting to subcontract the works to can't even cope with it when it's a request... and that as a company they're not even aware that this is an issue... it's awful.
Of course, I could go ahead and fit my own isolator before they change the meter, but that's not the point! There can't be many people who they phone up to get this done are aware of the implications if they go ahead. WPD (my local DNO) charge £231.42 to install a 2-pole isolator, and more for a 4-pole, and elctrical supply companies generally charge £50-100, and it usually takes weeks but can take months.
It's just really, really disappointing. I made my views known. They promised to "make a note and feed it back."
They phoned out of the blue to ask if they could book a date to replace my gas and electricity meters with smart versions. I said I'd probably be up for it, but wanted to ask a technical questioned before I agreed. They said ok.
"My current electricity meter has a built-in isolator, which an electrician can use to isolate the supply if they need to change my fuse board, or perhaps install an EV charger. Smart meters don't come with built-in isolators. So I'll only agree for you to swap it, if at the same time you can install a double-pole isolator, so I'm in no worse position than I am now. Can you do that?"
After much to-ing and fro-ing with their supervisor, the answer was a resounding "no."
I said, "But if I wasn't aware of this potential issue, in doing this work you would have put me in a worse position than I am now. In order to update my board, I'd have to call you up to install an isolator, which would have delayed the job by weeks, and you'd have no doubt charged me for it."
It's just so, so disappointing. I don't know about the rest of the country, but around here the little Seimens meters with the built-in isolator under the flap on the bottom right are very common, and it's a joy when I come across one on a job that needs a new board.
I can't believe they're not just installing an isolator where the old meter has one built-in as a matter of course. But the fact that whoever they're getting to subcontract the works to can't even cope with it when it's a request... and that as a company they're not even aware that this is an issue... it's awful.
Of course, I could go ahead and fit my own isolator before they change the meter, but that's not the point! There can't be many people who they phone up to get this done are aware of the implications if they go ahead. WPD (my local DNO) charge £231.42 to install a 2-pole isolator, and more for a 4-pole, and elctrical supply companies generally charge £50-100, and it usually takes weeks but can take months.
It's just really, really disappointing. I made my views known. They promised to "make a note and feed it back."
