Do I Have To Do This?

[Caran]

Hi

Your electricity meter is approaching the end of its certification period and needs to be replaced. Electricity meters should be replaced periodically, generally every 15 - 20 years, to ensure absolute accuracy and safety. We've written more about what that means here.

We'll upgrade both of your meters to the latest generation of smart meters (SMETS2) at no extra cost to you. Book your appointment now:
Book my smart meter appointment
There’s even more reason to book now: we’re giving away a year’s free energy to one customer every month for the rest of 2022.

Caron from Essex won this month's year's free energy give away! Secure your appointment now and get monthly chances to win.

Here's what you have to look forward to once you have a smart meter:
Automatic meter readings - that's right, no more battling hairy spiders to get to your meter. Smart meters take your readings, so you don't have to lift a finger.
Track your energy use in pounds and pence - you can see how much you're spending every day, week or month so that you can stay on top of your bills.
More accurate statements - smart meters send us your usage data so you'll only be charged for what you use.

Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.

Love and power,
The Smart Metering Team

[-SharonA-]

Yes. Old meters are on the way out. By the way, free energy giveaway I wouldn't it for this reason alone.

[pastafreak]

Which energy company gives away free energy for a year?
That shouts scam to me.

[Caran]

I really do not want a smart meter. I have read too many reports on the cons of having one.

[bobbinwales]

Dont seem like a scam to me pasta- its a prize draw for to give free energy to one customer a month for a year... thats a drop in the ocean to a energy company if they have millions of customers.

Yes, its the way forward, we expect our mobile phone usage to be read automatic and our credit card use without us having to keep and submit record's so why not energy

[Zacs-Master]

Cons, such as…….?

[pastafreak]

I don't think you have to get one if you don't want one...though you may still need a new meter.
I'm concerned about the energy giveaway.

[bobbinwales]

the usual con claim is they can turn your energy off remotely on a whim but is there really any chance of that, and some claim they may start charging diffrent rates at diffrent times.. well if its a chance to get my bill down by using the washer at certain times then bring it on

[Tuvok]

I keep getting emails wanting to change mine - but I ignore them. So they then sent me a letter - ignored it as well.

We have a first gen smart meter, but that was from 4/5 suppliers ago.

[ToraToraTora]

what are the "cons"?

[Captain2]

Caran, why not phone your energy supplier first to see if they can verify that the message/letter has come from them?

[Old_Geezer]

I ignore that sort of nonsense. They can keep their so-called "smart" meters.

[THECORBYLOON]

You don't need to have a smart meter unless it's the first one or the current one needs to be replaced and there is not a good reason for for not doing so.

If you want to have the regular meter and the provider agrees to do that, they can charge you for doing so.

[ferlew]

Following this because I had a call from EDF this afternoon saying mt meters had to be changed.
I told them my previous supplier said they couldn't nstall a smart meter as my gas meter is below/at ground level. EDF replied they wpuld replace them with new (non smart) meters instead. Still in a quandary whether to let them do it or not. But I accepted an appointment in August, hopefully giving me time to suss out if it really is a genuine exchange.

[bobbinwales]

whys it nonsense OG?
Do you phone your phone provider with details of your calls or do you expect them to keep track. Same with broadband? And debit credit cards?

[ferlew]

`Tch, "my" not "mt".

[Old_Geezer]

It's nonsense because it gains me nothing, can be hacked, gives the utility supplier control and they have no need for it. It's bad enought a phone service supplier has that sort of power as they're just as b useless but at least that isn't a vital service like power is. It's all lies and a con job. And many past threads here have covered the problems.

[davebro]

I've had smart meters for several years with no problems whatsoever.

[sandyRoe]

One customer can win a years free energy. Not everyone taking the new meter gets it.

[ladybirder]

I wish I could get smart meters. I am sick of the effort of trying to read a meter which is below ground level in a hole full of mud, spiders and their webs. The numbers are impossible to read because of the grime and I have to drag out a chair to sit on, prop up the lid with a brick, and then get my mobile phone as near as I can to take a photo of reading after cleaning the glass with a duster on the end of a stick. All this when I am disabled and have problems with my eyes. BG has been promising to fit smart meter for over a year and I still can't find out when I will get them. Can't be soon enough for me.

[Hopkirk]

I've got a smart meter. I still have to battle the spiders every month.