Smart meters not so smart!

[rebbonk]

Millions of smart meters installed in British households under the Government's flagship scheme may need to be replaced due to an IT bungle.

For the first time major energy suppliers have admitted that some of the 8 million "first generation" smart meters fitted in households are incompatible with a new nation al communications network, which links their systems to the devices.

A row has broken out after the government last night denied that the meters would need to be replaced.

Estimates show a worst case scenario in which every smart meter has to be replaced would add as much as £100 to every UK household's energy bill, although sources said this was unlikely.

Meters not connected to the system "go dumb" when consumers switch energy suppliers to get a better deal, meaning they are no better than traditional meters as customers have to rely on estimated bills.

Under the Government's £11bn smart meter programme every household in the UK will have been offered a device by 2020. Energy suppliers which do not comply face heavy fines.

Last night consumer experts described the smart meter roll-out as a "cock up" while sources at major energy firms admitted the cost was "spiralling" despite customers receiving "sub-par experiences".

Until now the Government had presumed that the problem of "first generation" meters going dumb would be fixed as they could easily be connected to the system through simple computer programming.

But now it has emerged that many are incapable of being adapted to the central system, meaning they will have to be replaced.

It has also emerged that an unknown quantity of other meters may require expensive engineer visits to be brought onto the system.

To avert a potential multi-billion pound blow the operator behind the scheme is mulling various IT solutions. But even a programming overhaul would come at a cost of £500m, according to a consultation paper seen by the Daily Telegraph.

A year-long delay in the introduction of network, known as the Data Communications Company over "technical issues" also means millions more old-style smart meters than planned have been installed, further raising costs.

Speaking confidentially to this newspaper senior sources at major UK energy firms spoke out about the scheme's failure.

A senior source at one major energy supplier said: "We have a smart meter trilemma: if we don't roll out smart meters we can be fined. If we do, we know we could be offering a sub-par consumer experience. And all the while we're told by BEIS to never mention the costs."

An executive at another large provider said: "Some homes will need to have a new meter installed. Whatever solution we find is going to add huge costs on top of the £11bn estimate. We're talking hundred of millions of pounds to fix this mess."

Speaking to this newspaper in March, Smart Energy GB, which promotes smart meters in the UK, denied that any first generation meters would need to be replaced and suggested they would easily be able to be "enrolled" onto the network.

A Data Communications Company spokesperson said: “DCC was granted a licence by the Department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy (BEIS) to build and integrate a national telecommunications network for SMETS 2 meters. This highly advanced national network went live after rigorous testing at the end of 2016 and DCC is now consulting on enabling the first wave of smart meters (SMETS1) to access the benefits of the new national network.”

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "The rollout of smart meters has been a cock up and a catastrophe. Energy firms are now using it as a soft form of trapping people into poor deals as they can't switch providers without their meters going dumb."

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “SMETS1 meters will not need to be replaced. The Data and Communications Company will enrol these meters into their system, so that they can work in smart mode when consumers switch suppliers.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/millions-smart-meters-may-need-replacing-due-blunder/

[Melisandre]

They spy on you in your home also causes illness as well as some having bills £100 more than usual I read when they first came out I will refuse one I am ill enough as it is even though my bills are estimated on a big family in my area.
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/smart-meter ... omplaints/

[rebbonk]

I won't be having one either Melisandre. - There are far too many unanswered questions for me.

However, what has attracted my interest is that yet again we see a massive government sponsored foul up, and that the people are once again being asked to pay the price for it. These meters, as far as I can tell, offer benefits to the power companies. Why are they not paying from their outrageous profits?

As for meters not being compatible if you changed suppliers, that is simply beyond a joke.

[Melisandre]

Any thing the goverment have a hand in I would nt trust any more.
I dont blame you Rebbonk not wanting it.

[dutchman]

Shell Energy is trying to scare customers into having smart meters fitted by suggesting their existing meters will no longer measure off-peak consumption after March 2023. It's complete nonsense of course, smart meters are not even an option for customers on many estates.

[dutchman]

Martin Lewis warns Ed Miliband over ‘perverse’ smart meter rollout



Martin Lewis has urged Ed Miliband to overhaul the “perverse” smart meter rollout as an estimated four million broken devices sit in British homes.

Plans to introduce smart meters were first unveiled by the Energy Secretary when he previously held the role in 2008 and targets to install them were ramped up by the successive Tory government.

But the multi-billion-pound rollout has been mired in chaos amid anecdotes of customers being hit with unusually high bills thanks to faulty meters.

Mr Lewis wrote to Mr Miliband Tuesday morning calling on the Government to shift its “perverse” targets away from installing new devices to fixing those already in homes.

He said: “Too many resources are focused on installations, not repairs, leaving more existing meters not working properly. Repairs can be slow, if they happen at all, leaving consumers frustrated and at risk of mis-billing and further problems.”

He added: “Smart meters, done right, offer an exciting future. It’s just a shame the overly long history of the smart meter rollout is one of sloth, poor decisions, poor technology and over-expense.”

Mr Lewis said he frequently hears from households who are willing to pay more on their energy bills to avoid having a device installed.

Smart meters record energy consumption and costs in real time and submit regular readings to energy firms. The programme – which is forecast to cost more than £13.5bn by the middle of the next decade – was intended to save customers money on their bills.

Suppliers are expected to install the devices in 80pc of the homes they supply by the end of 2025, according to targets set out in a 2023 National Audit Office report. However, the latest official data shows just 61pc of households are currently using one.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero estimates there are currently 4.31 million faulty smart meters installed across Britain. So-called “dumb” devices leave customers at risk of being hit with unfairly high bills.

In December, artist Grayson Perry complained of a £39,000 bill he received on a smart meter. In the same month, broadcaster Jon Sopel revealed his device handed him a £19,274 bill.