Smart meter not communicating

[Protagoras]

My SMART meter isn't. It won't communicate to send data because there's not enough signal. Being in the north zone, it's my understanding that SMART meters use a UHF radio network, as opposed to the south zone where they use GSM modems and the mobile phone network.

The top of a smart meter takes the comms module. This can be a radio module for the north or a GSM module for the south. Where, in the north, there's insufficient signal for the radio module to work, its possible to 'persuade' ones supplier to replace the radio module with a GSM module, but my supplier is refusing to do so.

At least two of my neighbours did manage to get their suppliers to upgrade their meters to GSM.

Anyone got experience of this and know how to persuade the supplier to get this sorted?

[ladymuck]

It's not mandatory to switch a dumb smart meter to a working one, as they still measure the energy used. It's just that you have to send in meter readings to the energy supplier.

I think many suppliers are being beaten up enough about the rollout of smart meters to worry about fixing the ones that aren't transmitting.

[Protagoras]

They installed a SMART meter earlier this year and the same time as installing a new customer's isolator.

Presumably they'll need to come out to re-configure it for a new tariff if they can't do that remotely.

And without it working, it's not easy to keep an eye on consumption.

[anonymouse]

Mine (OVO) stopped sending readings, both gas and electric, in August. A complete PITA to get an engineer to visit, so far 4 arranged and no-shows. For every missed visit I get £40, so can't complain. I spoke to Alan, from the Extra Care Team, last week, it turns out that the format of the address isn't liked when the 2 systems link, causing the engineer request to fail. The earliest available is always 2 weeks away. They wanted meter readings from me, I told they to fix the smart meter, as it was what they wanted installing.

[Protagoras]

Mrs P tells me that she spoke to our supplier who apparently can't switch us to a better tariff because the so-called SMART meter isn't.

I think it's time to launch the formal complaint since this is denying us access to cheaper energy.

[hobnob]

Is the smart meter indoors or outdoors? If it's indoors, you could get a repeater. Here's some advice from Ofcom:
Using a repeater to improve your indoor mobile phone signal

[Protagoras]

Sadly, a mobile phone signal booster won't work since the comms module on the meter is the 'northern' one which uses a UHF radio network.

The meter is indoors and RSRP is -106dBm on 4G LTE. It's about 10dB better outside. Not great, but certainly good enough for meter data although my energy supplier will probably say not.

Just need to find a way to persuade my electricity supplier to swap out the comms module for a 4G one.

The supply chain appears complex - one company leases the meter and another the comms module.

[ladymuck]

Back in 2012 I backed out of a contract working on something to do with the early smart meter rollouts. If I hadn't done that, I'd have some 10+ year old information to share on the topic.