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Smart meter installation. Just received this. The latest lie to get you to have one.

aligarjon

Hi Gareth,

 

Your meter is approaching the end of its certification period and needs to be replaced to ensure absolute accuracy. Don't worry, the install's a breeze; our friendly engineer will be with you for about an hour per fuel.

 

As traditional meters are not readily available anymore, we'll replace yours with smart meters.
Book my smart meter appointment

What is a certification period?

Just like food, each electricity and gas meter is given a 'best before' date when it's manufactured. In the industry, it's called a certification date, and is set by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). It's our responsibility to let you know when your meters are approaching their certification date and get them replaced.

 

Love and power,

The Smart Metering Team

 

P.S. Getting a smart meter won’t cost you any extra (just like the installation and maintenance of traditional meters - the costs are covered in everyone's energy bills) and comes with a few perks: Smart meters unlock a whole new world of smart energy, help you track your energy use in pounds and pence and send us your monthly meter readings so you don't have to.
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  • What evidence do they have that my meter that was installed about 10 years ago when i had it moved is suddenly inaccurate.

    They don't. But equally they no longer have a piece of paper saying it's reasonable that they can assume it's still accurate. Rather like a pot of yoghurt at the supermarket that's a day or two past its use by date - they have no evidence that it's actually unfit to eat - but for the sake of administration it's easier/safer to assume the worst. This is nothing new, they're been regularly periodically replacing meters (both gas and electric) for as long as I can remember. In the old days they'd often refurbish & recalibrate mechanical meters and re-install them somewhere else, but I suspect that's gone the way of TV repairs.

    Are they going to swap my new smart meter in 10 years time.

    Nope. They'll do it in 20 years. Mechanical meters are normally certified for 10 years these days, ones with no moving parts for 20. I think that's been the case since the 1990s.

       - Andy.

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  • What evidence do they have that my meter that was installed about 10 years ago when i had it moved is suddenly inaccurate.

    They don't. But equally they no longer have a piece of paper saying it's reasonable that they can assume it's still accurate. Rather like a pot of yoghurt at the supermarket that's a day or two past its use by date - they have no evidence that it's actually unfit to eat - but for the sake of administration it's easier/safer to assume the worst. This is nothing new, they're been regularly periodically replacing meters (both gas and electric) for as long as I can remember. In the old days they'd often refurbish & recalibrate mechanical meters and re-install them somewhere else, but I suspect that's gone the way of TV repairs.

    Are they going to swap my new smart meter in 10 years time.

    Nope. They'll do it in 20 years. Mechanical meters are normally certified for 10 years these days, ones with no moving parts for 20. I think that's been the case since the 1990s.

       - Andy.

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