Smart Meter Installation.

[ImLostAgain]

I get my elec through e-on and they informed me my smart meter needed replacing. EDF have been in touch telling me it could take up to four hours to install (actually they say my electricity could be off for four hours).

Any idea why so long. The one they are removing is just plugs into a socket but I can't remeber how long it took to install.

[Old_Geezer]

Companies continually tell me they need to install a "smart" meter. I ignore their lies. The existing one works fine.

[bookbinder]

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-meters/article/smart-meters-explained/smart-meter-installation-aSTuj9y6lANt

[barry1010]

They don't want to pay compensation if your electricity is off for longer than they said.  

I doubt the letter was tailored to your specific circumstances and they estimate four hours for everyone.

[ImLostAgain]

Thanks all. I was guessing they would just unplug the old one and plug the new one in so the four hours had me flummoxed.

[ImLostAgain]

Oooh just a thought. Why is edf supplying a meter when e-on is my electricity supplier?

[perseverer]

That is a question I was about to ask.

Also any electric meter, smart or otherwise, needs more than just being plugged in.

[davebro3]

 I don't think a smart meter just "plugs into a socket" - mine is wired into the mains supply.

Are you thinking about the home display unit?

[barry1010]

They just send replacement HDUs through the post. 

[davebro3]

yeah - but the OP may not know the difference between the HDU & the meter...

[Maydup]

The new Smart Meter will be installed near to where the electricity comes into the house and will require a technician to work on the live mains cables. It might not take the full 4 hours but it is not a plug and play either.

The display unit just plugs in but that is not the actual meter, just a link to the meter to save you having to stand on a chair to read the Smart Meter!

[davebro3]

I'm not sure the HDU gives the actual meter reading - just tells you the level of consumption.

[perseverer]

Our HDU can show electric and gas meter readings, once you figure out which buttons to press.

But as the OP said, I would first sort out why EDF want to supply a meter to an E.ON property.

[ImLostAgain]

Ok. Once again thanks all.

Yes I had ho idea what a HDU was. I do now.

Anyway the situation is this. I rent a flat in a small block of flats and although I get my electric through e-on my landlord deals with EDF so they will be installing it next to the meters in the hallway.

Makes sense now.

[Arrods]

My wife has always wanted a smart meter. I'm old school.  We received an email saying that our type of meter (night and day readings) need to be replaced by June 2025 when the radio signal to switch between night and day would be turned off.  (No idea if that's the case.)

in the end, I succumbed and agreed that a smart meter would be installed as a birthday present for my wife. :-)

The process took about an hour. The engineer said that ours was a straightforward installation. 

[Hopkirk]

I think the radio switch off story is true, Arrods. I remember reading about the upcoming issues a while ago.

[Hopkirk]

Was that her only birthday present?

[Arrods]

Hope not hopkirk - I'm hoping that others will be buying her something. :-)

[Atheist]

We will be given a (compulsory) smart electric meter in our French chateau at the end of July. We are told it will take about 30 minutes.

 

[barry1010]

Atheist, how do the French feel about compulsory smart meters?

[Atheist]

barry... I don't know. I'll ask when I get over there next week. It doesn't bother me.