Electric Meter Upgrade

[daveygh]

I have had a letter from my electricity supplier to say that my electric meter has reached the end of its working life and needs to be changed. They say that on the day they would need to access the property once they have changed it to do some safety checks, does anyone know what these safety checks entail? We are having the fuse board changed early part of next year but I don't think they will wait till then.

[EDDIE51]

You can no longer have the old type fuse box with actual fuse wire. You must have a modern consumer unit circuit breaker with Earth leakage trips. If you still have the old type fuse board then more of the wiring may need updating.
We had this last year, the wiring was over 40 years old and it all had to be replaced including all the plug sockets. It took 2 men 4 days!

[woofgang]

I think the only answer is to talk to them.....

[diddlydo]

Replacing the meter is a separate issue from the fuse box. We had our meter changed 3 years ago but we still have an old fuse board with fuse wire - they weren't remotely interested in that.

[Hopkirk]

I have twice had letters saying they want to change our meters to smart meters.

However I am not bothered about the 'benefits' of having them, and don't want the disruption so I am just ignoring them and not replying.

[Old_Geezer]

Is your meter outside or something ? If it were inside they would have access in order to make the change. Perhaps they just need to check the supply is getting in ok afterwards.

I'm getting these 'change meter' letters too. Damned cheek. I don't want a so called "smart" meter that gives me no advantages but probably allows the company to control stuff in my property without a court order, and probably malicious types finding a a way to take remote control too. Why doesn't the company go away and take their demands for more control with them ? I've not responded yet.

[Old_Geezer]

Can't believe it tool me >= 4 minutes to type that.

[Togo]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Business-and-Finance/Personal-Finance/Question1457281.html

I posted a question regarding smart meters a few weeks ago. Some of the points raised may be of interest.

[Old_Geezer]

For Funks Sake

...TOOK ME...

[Old_Geezer]

That's interesting, this site takes an abbreviation and makes it look as if someone had written something they hadn't. I think that is a bad thing to do. Worse even than not supplying an edit facility.

[Hopkirk]

They do say a bad workman blames his tool, OG.

[Togo]

^^LOL Hopkirk.

[Togo]

You should have said 'blames his took'

[Hopkirk]

(smiley face)

[diddlydo]

There's a difference between the company changing the "normal" meter and having a smart meter. You cannot be forced to have the latter!

[Old_Geezer]

They claim the meter needs replacing anyway, which I doubt as it wasn't that many years ago they put a new one in when I disputed the readings on the existing one. Nothing in their letters mentions you can tell them what you think of their "smart" meter replacement suggestion.

[EDDIE51]

you can have a new 'standard' meter it does not have to be a smart meter.

[Dogsbody2]

Eddie is correct 100%. Was told 12 months ago my meter needed changing, so specifically asked if they (SSE) intended to change to Smart meter, which I would have resisted. Meter in the property was only ten years old, which seemed no great age. Was advised that the meter, which was made by Siemens was problematic. The technician making the change said that the LCD display on this type was failing, meaning the meter reader couldn't see it.

The safety check is to ensure earthing and leakage of house circuits are acceptable. Nothing to do with whether you have old style fuses or not.

[daveygh]

Dogsbody, what happens if they change the meter then do a safety check and find that the earthing or leakage is inadequate ? would they then leave without connecting?

[BRIGHT SPARK]

They will carry out a polarity and earth fault loop test within the property to confirm that their own work is safe.Only in extreme circumstances will a prohibition notice be issued.

[sir.prize]

What might happen in the case where the meter is 'built-in', ie within a kitchen cupboard/work surface, and only has visible access for meter reading?