ChatterBank2 mins ago
Do I Have To Do This?
27 Answers
Hi
Your electricity meter is approaching the end of its certification period and needs to be replaced. Electricity meters should be replaced periodically, generally every 15 - 20 years, to ensure absolute accuracy and safety. We've written more about what that means here.
We'll upgrade both of your meters to the latest generation of smart meters (SMETS2) at no extra cost to you. Book your appointment now:
Book my smart meter appointment
There’s even more reason to book now: we’re giving away a year’s free energy to one customer every month for the rest of 2022.
Caron from Essex won this month's year's free energy give away! Secure your appointment now and get monthly chances to win.
Here's what you have to look forward to once you have a smart meter:
Automatic meter readings - that's right, no more battling hairy spiders to get to your meter. Smart meters take your readings, so you don't have to lift a finger.
Track your energy use in pounds and pence - you can see how much you're spending every day, week or month so that you can stay on top of your bills.
More accurate statements - smart meters send us your usage data so you'll only be charged for what you use.
Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.
Love and power,
The Smart Metering Team
Your electricity meter is approaching the end of its certification period and needs to be replaced. Electricity meters should be replaced periodically, generally every 15 - 20 years, to ensure absolute accuracy and safety. We've written more about what that means here.
We'll upgrade both of your meters to the latest generation of smart meters (SMETS2) at no extra cost to you. Book your appointment now:
Book my smart meter appointment
There’s even more reason to book now: we’re giving away a year’s free energy to one customer every month for the rest of 2022.
Caron from Essex won this month's year's free energy give away! Secure your appointment now and get monthly chances to win.
Here's what you have to look forward to once you have a smart meter:
Automatic meter readings - that's right, no more battling hairy spiders to get to your meter. Smart meters take your readings, so you don't have to lift a finger.
Track your energy use in pounds and pence - you can see how much you're spending every day, week or month so that you can stay on top of your bills.
More accurate statements - smart meters send us your usage data so you'll only be charged for what you use.
Just so you know, we can't replace your meters like for like as traditional meters are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.
Love and power,
The Smart Metering Team
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Caran. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I've had dozens of email and letters like your one from British Gas but I just ignore them.
I've no objection to having a smart meter, per se, but I know that any work on my gas supply will involve testing my gas wall heater (that I've not used in over two decades because I know that it doesn't work) and my gas oven (where I don't use two of the four burners because I know that they both produce carbon monoxide). So both appliances would be failed and disconnected, leaving me with a legal obligation to get them fixed and reconnected and with no way of cooking meals until I did. That means that I'd have to buy a new cooker and wall heater and pay to have them fitted. Therefore the 'free' meter change would end up costing me a hell of a lot of money!
I've no objection to having a smart meter, per se, but I know that any work on my gas supply will involve testing my gas wall heater (that I've not used in over two decades because I know that it doesn't work) and my gas oven (where I don't use two of the four burners because I know that they both produce carbon monoxide). So both appliances would be failed and disconnected, leaving me with a legal obligation to get them fixed and reconnected and with no way of cooking meals until I did. That means that I'd have to buy a new cooker and wall heater and pay to have them fitted. Therefore the 'free' meter change would end up costing me a hell of a lot of money!
One of the cons (to me) of a smart meter is that I would no longer need to go into the garage to get a reading and remind myself that the garage needs tidying - that is, until it's time for the next reading when I remind myself that I should have tidied the garage the last time.
I take the view that it's little hassle to fill in readings online when requested and that I don't need a meter to tell me to be careful with fuel consumption.
I take the view that it's little hassle to fill in readings online when requested and that I don't need a meter to tell me to be careful with fuel consumption.