Energy companies so-called 'estimated use'

My mum had been considering having a smart meter, following pressure from her energy supplier. Having read all these comments, I will advise her against it, as I can't face the thought of having to sort out any subsequent meter problems with them, having found out the hard way how utterly incompetent they can be in dealing with what should be simple, straightforward matters!

You couldn't make it up!

It would seem that problems abound in all directions including energy supplier staff training.

Several months ago, as my Smart electricity meter was unable to talk to my current energy supplier, I had been taking manual readings.

Then it started displaying an Error Code. I contacted my supplier for advice and was told to, 'Press the button' (to reset). When I said that I was unable to access the button owing to the Perspex bubble, she replied, 'What bubble?'

I said, 'the bubble covering the meter to prevent tampering with the equipment'. The conversation continued with, 'Why does it have a bubble - Smart meters don't need a bubble!'

As the conversation progressed, it became increasingly like a Monty Python sketch. At the point when I had had enough, I said, 'Will you just take the Smart meter away and replace it with a dumb meter, please?'

The reply I received was, 'You have to have Smart meters - it's the law!' I corrected her by saying that it wasn't the law to have a Smart meter, only to be offered one.

Eventually I was given a date seven weeks in the future, when an engineer would call to perform the swap.

When that day came, it was lashing down with rain! The engineer said he couldn't do the meter swap for Health & Safety reasons (the house has outside meter cabinets) and I would have to make a new appointment!

I asked him if he had a tent similar to those used by BT and other utilities. Answer - 'No!' I said, living in a country where the likelihood of rain was quite high, don't you think ....!

I think he felt sorry for me since he said, 'well, at least I can change the gas meter', which he did. By the time he'd finished, the rain had reduced to a drizzle and I offered to stand with an umbrella over him while he changed the electricity meter!

I can laugh about it now!

I'd heard that the current roll out, scheduled to be completed by 2020 is likely to run into difficulties (!) because new versions aren't up and running yet and when they are, are unlikely to be compatible with former versions. Great joy all round by the looks of it!

Many years ago, when Windows 95 was current, a friend of mine cracked the Windows code (that's a terrible pun, sorry!) of one of the computers at work, such that when the user next logged-on, the splash-screen displayed,

Welcome to Microsoft Windows 95 and a half!

Blinko

Ah, the age of technology! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Luddite but I do wish there was greater in-depth testing of the some of the more important technology prior to its release (or should that read 'escape'?)

The problem facing any manufacturer of high-tech equipment is that the very complexity of its software results in potentially millions if not billions of permutations of the code.

To test for vulnerabilities in that many variations is simply not practical. Consequently, this is why we so often see the 'Beta version' being released, whereby the public effectively test the software, simply by using it and report their findings/problems back to the manufacturer, who then issues a 'patch' to fix the highlighted problem.

Hackers, on the other hand, just love to explore software for vulnerabilities, which they then either exploit or bring to the attention of others, dependent upon their mindset.

One of my greatest concerns is the Internet of Things. This can be anything one buys these days, from a washing machine or other 'white goods', through TVs and audio-visual equipment, and even down to individual 'light bulbs', all of which may have the potential to wirelessly connect to your home router/hub without your knowledge, for the purpose of communicating usage information to the manufacturer.

The problem lies with the software which, often devoid of any security measures due to cost, represents a potential 'back-door' method of entry to hackers/criminals seeking to exploit access to legitimately connected equipment such as pc's, laptops, Kindle's, etc.

Hi Beattie9. I've also read your other post about saving energy. It's good to have an energy buff amongst us! In this instance, the smart meter was originally installed by SSE before I migrated to EDF (who never got to grips with it), then when I returned to SSE after about 18 months (well we are advised to keep switching, are we not?) I rather expected that SSE would be able to pick up the meter where it left off. Apparently this was more complicated than one might think. After another phone call this morning, they might be on the right track...

The first generation (no pun intended) of 'Smart' meter (SMETs1) did have a lot of problems, in particular an apparent inability to communicate with the 'new' energy supplier after a consumer has switched.

At the risk of sounding like Mr Micawber, I suppose something (better) will turn up with the second iteration, SMETs2!

In the interim and whilst waiting for 'SMETs3 - The Trilogy', I've gone back to the 'dumb' meters and read them at the end of each month (for my records).

I'm really mystified by the energy company systems in the UK. From a local forum page, it appears that almost anyone can set up as an "energy broker" because there are some independent, one-man operatives that advertise on there.

So ... how on earth does one know which or what is the best deal?

As an aside, I would avoid British Gas at all times, I have a long-running dispute with them about a bill for a residential property where we were charged an extortionate "standing rate" because the supply was erroneously categorised as being for "Business" not "Domestic" use. When you phone British Gas, you get to speak to very helpful, friendly and on-the-ball Capetonians, yep, the call centre is based in Cape Town, South Africa. But that's where the good customer service ends, as soon as I am handed over to the "backroom staff" (not sure where they are) all my emails and promises to return calls are ignored. I've given up.

I am surprised that British Gas has any customers (I never signed up with them, a tenant in our rental property put my name on the account when they left ...) That someone can even do that, is bonkers.

Sorry to hijack the post with a rant! As you were.

SSE have been estimating my gas bill since last November when I joined them on dual fuel. This is despite having an SSE smart meter which they took several attempts to activate. Clearly they omitted to activate both fuels and only did electricity. How hard can it be??

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask on his escapades!

On a more general note, may I refer you to my posting on the 'Saving Energy' thread.

I was with EDF and I got fed up with them raising or lowering my bills on a monthly basis. I am now with Octopus, have been with them for over a year and they have not raised or lowered my bills once but I do attempt to read the meters monthly when asked.

They are very efficient and apologised the other day when they did not reply to my email within I think 4 hours! Large companies take many days.