Web
Analytics Made Easy - Statcounter
Smart meters - Page 4 - General Chat - TLF - Totally Lotus Jump to content


IGNORED

Smart meters


oneshot

Recommended Posts

Yes...I got that (RTS) explanation from Octopus about my economy 7 meter needing to be changed @Pete.  But I asked questions about what would really stop happening.  There will in fact be no impact on my economy seven metering.   I'm told that the switches were used in some installations to trigger when eg Hot Water or Heating or similar would come on, so once RTS is switched off those functions would cease.  In practice I've never heard of a domestic set up using RTS for controlling appliances - they've always been set using programmers/timers/thermostats - so there will actually be no change to function of my installation at all once RTS goes and I do not need to have a smart meter replacement.  Your set up may be different of course, but I just saw it as another misinformation attempt to get as many more smart meters installed as possible with no benefit to the individual - much along the lines as the "it will save you money" bollocks.

  • Like 1

Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely switches mine over with an audible click and the meter display changes  (not a smart meter).   If it was just done on the timer/programmer, everyone would cheat.... 

Edited by 910Esprit
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, as I said, I was told different after some questioning where the story kept changing (mainly about when exactly my off peak hours are - which is obvs not relevant here).  Here's an extract from their original email which appears to confirm what you say

Hi Mike,

 We need to exchange your meters with the latest smart meters. This is because your meters use the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS). The RTS switches your meters between peak and off-peak times and controls your heating and hot water. 

Then after a further exchange and in response to my direct question vis: It is not clear from your text if my dual rate metering (only) will continue to operate post March 2024 - can you confirm please?

In regards to your query about the dual rate as your meters are for export they will remain as economy 7 set up where you will have the on and off peak times throughout the day.

…and later

Thanks for getting back to me, your off peak hours will not be effected by the clocks going forward or back and will be charged accurately to your current time zone via the eco 7 timer situated in the meter.

…and then finally after another exchange after a different support person had spouted some obvious drivel

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your email and apologies for any confusion caused. I'll do my best to answer your questions.

1.     The off-peak hours for Economy 7 have not changed from midnight - 7:00. It is still the same as it was when you joined Octopus. I apologise for any confusion caused by my previous response.

2.     The off-peak hours for Economy 7 are set by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) in your area. Octopus Energy does not have control over the off-peak hours.

3.     Your meter is updated automatically to reflect the off-peak hours set by the DNO. There is no need for anyone to come to your site to alter anything. The meter is programmed to switch between peak and off-peak rates at the appropriate times.

I hope this helps to clarify things for you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know.

 

So their story is that my metering will all still work post the RTS switch off – but any controls will not.  Of course I have absolutely no confidence that the support staff actually have any idea what will happen and I could have got them to admit electricity grows on trees if I’d argued that way.  But it will be interesting to see what happens.  If it does stop switching post March ’24 I’ll obviously have to get a new meter to continue with economy 7 which by law will have to be “smart”, but they may have produced one that works most of the time by then so I’ll continue to hold out as long as poss.

Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Presumably a smart meter wont need the RTS switch as the Supplier can see the usage in real time via 'the internet' and bill accordingly for the appropriate tariff.    

Edited by 910Esprit
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks @pete that last post from Gerry1 is exactly what I'd hoped from the exchanges I had.

  • Like 1

Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Friends of ours have been trying to get their smart meter to work for over 9 months now. Numerous phone calls, but nothing changes, it still doesn't work as it should, doesn't provide any reading to the supplier.

They're losing the will.

Margate Exotics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

So for the 8th time today they actually came to fit a smart meter,after numerous calls confirming they needed to send someone small lo and behold they sent one of the previous operatives a rather large gentleman . However he said he would try,that didn't last long unfortunately as being probably the fifth person to actually look in the cupboard he declared he had the wrong smart meter as my earth leakage is on the 'wrong side' of the mains and the meter he had would trip it. After numerous phone calls a special meter has been ordered which needs a specialist to fit it. The fitter I had said he had never seen this in the 8 years he has been doing and is outside his remit . All this after the previous ones who dug up my path therby ruining it by cutting through the middle of the slabs instead of a long a joint . All of them are supposed to be specialist in their field . I despair

  • Haha 1

hindsight: the science that is never wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still picking myself up off the floor. That has to be a world record sized post for you, Pete!
 

I had a message from Octopus saying my meters were out of calibration and they were going to fit smart meters for me. I told them I had no wish to be part of the 4 million people whose so-called smart meters don’t work, and am perfectly happy providing them with readings every month.

They mailed me back saying they had dropped the matter.

 

Margate Exotics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Gold FFM

@pete had mine fitted about 8 months ago they worked for exactly 24 hours haven't worked since, still waiting for an Octopus engineer to come and have a look. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got mine fitted about 3 years ago. Never had an issue with it, once it was fitted - the previous two times they tried to fit one but realised the network coverage was too poor (even though I told them that before each fitment).

Oh and by the way, the smart meter does not communicate directly with your retailer - it communicates over a private secure network to a Government setup company who then processes the readings and sends them on to the retailer. So they're not "immediate and direct" readings to the retailer.

Some retailers piggyback off, say, your home wifi, or through their own proprietary networks to provide real time info and functions, but that is not "through" the smart meter, if that makes sense.

God doesn't want me, and the Devil isn't finished with me yet.

 

The small print.

My comments and observations are my own, invariably "tongue in cheek", and definitely, sarcastic in nature. Therefore, do not take my advice, suggestions, observations or posts seriously or personally and remember if you do, do anything, that I may have suggested, then you have done this based solely on your own decision to do so and therefore you acknowledge responsibility and accountability (I know, in this modern world these are the hardest things for you to accept) for your actions and indemnify me of any influence, responsibility, accountability, or liability, in what you have done. In other words, you did it, so suffer the consequences on your own!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing about smart meter makes sense

 

  • Thanks 1

hindsight: the science that is never wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My mate down the road has had smart meters for two years. He told them the phone signal was shite before they were fitted but the energy company insisted it would all be fine. They’ve never worked properly since they were installed, despite numerous visits by so-called engineers.

Margate Exotics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Dan E said:

@pete had mine fitted about 8 months ago they worked for exactly 24 hours haven't worked since, still waiting for an Octopus engineer to come and have a look. 

Is it possible to have an elcb connected to the wrong side of the mains

hindsight: the science that is never wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Barrykearley said:

Pop up a photo chap

PXL_20240613_191822153.jpg.c3e526c1fa704cf0ca57307fafe29782.jpg

hindsight: the science that is never wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Gold FFM

That’s the correct location for that. It needs an upgrade at some point but there’s no reason he should not have swapped that meter. 
 

Was he too fat to fit in the cupboard 

Only here once

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
On 11/06/2024 at 20:44, pete said:

So for the 8th time today they actually came to fit a smart meter,after numerous calls confirming they needed to send someone small lo and behold they sent one of the previous operatives a rather large gentleman . However he said he would try,that didn't last long unfortunately as being probably the fifth person to actually look in the cupboard he declared he had the wrong smart meter as my earth leakage is on the 'wrong side' of the mains and the meter he had would trip it. After numerous phone calls a special meter has been ordered which needs a specialist to fit it. The fitter I had said he had never seen this in the 8 years he has been doing and is outside his remit . All this after the previous ones who dug up my path therby ruining it by cutting through the middle of the slabs instead of a long a joint . All of them are supposed to be specialist in their field . I despair

Back again today and guess what 

Same engineer with the same meter,he said he thought the address looked familiar. So gone again saying he needs to talk to his boss

hindsight: the science that is never wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Gold FFM

He’s still fat then.

seriously - he’s got four bloody wires to swap. It’s literally like for like. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be in and out in 10 mimutes

Only here once

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking " I Accept ", you consent to our use of cookies. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.