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Smart Meters

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Arrods | 08:31 Fri 30th Aug 2019 | Technology
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I'm not particularly bothered with having a smart meter, I'm perfectly happy to take the readings from the current meters and submit them on line. However, in changing energy supplier recently, I may have misread the following extract from the 'welcome' letter in thinking it was optional:

"By choosing this tariff you agree to be contacted, where eligible, for the installation of a smart meter and have one installed for each fuel we supply. You will stay on this tariff if we aren't able to fit a smart meter."

I'm now receiving communications suggesting I 'agreed' to have a smart meter as part of my new energy tariff. But at the end of the letter it states give them a call if I don't want a smart meter! (It doesn't say what would happen if I said no e.g. you'll go onto a higher tariff.)

If I have to end up having a smart meter, so be it - but my main worry is about getting one that will work if I need to change suppliers in the future. I've read that the first generation ones weren't reliable. Would appreciate ABers experience in the light of the above. Thanks.
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They’re just ‘plug and play’. If you change provider they will send you a compatible one. I think the reliability issues are long gone.
It depends on whether your smart meter would be compatible with your new supplier. I have just changed supplier and my meter is compatible with my new supplier.
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Thanks for the comments Zacs and Danny. I'm incommunicado for the rest of the day so thanks in advance to anyone responding later.
My worry about having one fitted is having a hastily recruited and undertrained workman making a right mess in our home with no benefit to me.
Ive had mine a while now and I think they are the best thing since sliced bread!
Hopkirk, they just plug into yr phone line.
Yes the current ones are VERY reliable , we have never had a problem! The older models have been replaced !
zacs master i though the smart meter (i have one) is not the plug and play monitor but the actual meter in the electric box or wherever the power comes into your home , this is from an energy supplier.........
"Having a smart meter doesn't affect your right to switch energy providers whenever you want. So if you've had a smart meter installed but you want to move to a new supplier, you will still be able to do so. However, you may find your smart meter loses its functionality and reverts to being a traditional meter."
You’re correct Derek. I was thinking of the little ‘dashboard’ thingy.
We got one when we were with Scottish Gas - when we changed supplier the meter lost its smart capabilities.

There was no benefit to having a smart meter as the monitor unit was worse than hopeless to use - so we never used it long term.

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