Forum Topic

Electricity Meter

Advice or information please. My energy supplier emailed me to say “ Like anything mechanical that's getting old, an electricity meter can stop working properly. Occasionally, old electricity meters can cause serious problems – they can overheat, causing a risk of fire. We don't want this to happen, so please get in touch with us to book an appointment.” I telephoned them: “29% of electricity meters in England experienced overheating to setting on fire in 2020”. This seemed above what I expected so I selected to have a replacement conventional meter costing me £125. I’ve never heard of having to pay for a replacement meter: has anyone else?

James Petri ● 1468d10 Comments

It sounds like they were hoping to pressure you into having a so-called smart meter and signing up to a direct debit. Having this year experienced estimated bills from a smart meter (yes, I couldn't believe it either) and a different supplier trying to take £650 by direct debit when the real amount due was around £50, I am inclined to avoid both, although charging you £125 to replace your meter seems over the top; presumably that was just another incentive to switch to a smart meter.

Richard Greenhough ● 1468d

Its a total con.Fires in electric meters are caused by faulty connections to the meter. No matter how old your meter* providing nobody messes around with the wiring in and out it can't catch fire.Most mechanical meters were all updated compulsorily a some years and so the possibility of the connections deteriorating in the meantimne given modern materials is well nigh impossible.HOWEVER smart meters being fitted by cowboy installers working on bonus are quite another matterGoogle headlines not follwed up" POORLY fitted energy meters are believed to have started a number of fires in home, potentially putting millions of households at risk, an investigation has found. The big energy companies have been tasked with installing 53 million smart meters in all homes and small businesses by 2020.27 Jul 2017"Are smart meters a FIRE hazard? BBC Watchdog investigation finds ...www.thesun.co.uk › bbc-investigates-smart-meters-safety-house-fireshttp://emfsafetynetwork.org/smart-meters/smart-meter-fires-and-explosions/ (abroad)michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1468d

I am sorry Richard to hear of the troubles you have had. I asked my supplier if my new electricity meter will come with a guarantee and it was explained that the standing charge included the cost for replacement if my meter becomes faulty, however far into the future, even 10 years. When I asked if my existing Standing Charge included coverage for my existing electric meter needing replacement (ie the situation they say now exists) they say I am not covered (surprise surprise!!). But the facts are that it DID exist and then they changed their terms and conditions. Hardly surprisingly I didn’t pick this up when it happened. It feels as if my raising the subject has again changed the terms and conditions. Having been instructed to telephone a specific number, the person couldn’t help me so passed me on to a 2nd, then third, fourth and fifth person. The call was 59 minutes long. But trying to return to common sense, if you have a faulty meter do you think you should pay for it or do you think your energy supplier should pay for it?

James Petri ● 1468d

I sense you are spot on Michael. But BG say quite clearly that in 2020 29% of electricity meters suffered overheating to catching fire in England. In fact my question to them was how many electricity meters caught fire in England per year and they said 29% in 2020.  Only when I said that that meant on average that every meter would catch fire every 4 years or less did they adjust it to overheating as well as catching fire. This is British Gas we are talking about so not flybynighters.  29% overheat or catch fire every year: can this be true??? Or am I being told porky pies???

James Petri ● 1468d

The house owner or tenant does not own the Electricity meter. The electricity meter is owned by the supply company, so if they think that your meter is old and pasted the normal 10 year replacement cycle. They should fit a replacement meter for free as its their property not yours.Don't pay them a cent or refuse a replacement, the supplier has a duty of care to their customers, so if they are admitting there's a problem with there meters, they should be replacing all of them at the same time, not just picking on one or two customers.There's something not quite right with this supplier they need to be looked into, unless its a con to get your to change you to smart meters.     

Bernard Allen ● 1468d

" Only when I said that that meant on average that every meter would catch fire every 4 years or less did they adjust it to overheating as well as catching fire "" Or am I being told porky pies??? "While most people would soon become of their electric meter catching fire, how many people go around measuring whether their electric meter is overheating or not ?(Oveheating is caused by too big a current trying to flow through too thin a wire - as in an electric fire. Howver you can rest assured that the wiring in a meter is rated ao as to accept any current that could possiblty be supplied. Fires are often result from short circuits caused by inadequate insulation - in the case of meters of the external connections. However just so long as these haven't been touched or damaged in any way then there is no danger, " This is British Gas we are talking about so not flybynighters "I'm not sure that British Gas, or the North Thames Gas Board ever had that good of a reputation to start with, but they did have a monopoly. Neverthless their present owners have been able to trade on that logevity, customer inertia, plus their stataus as suppliers of last resort to try and convince  their customers that they're not simply another bunch of flybnighters.This is from a reluctanat re-returnee who it seems now has two BG accounts. But only the one gas meter (that I know about anyway) There's probably another one in the next street racking up bills on my other account running into the thousands,michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 1468d

One of my problematic suppliers has made it quite clear that the meter is their property (and if you change supplier, its ownership passes to the new supplier). It hardly seems right that they should charge you for changing it in that case. Anyway, if you are thinking of changing supplier from British Gas, avoid Pozitive Energy and Yu Energy like the plague. I had just about tamed Ampower when they went bust late in 2021 and these two utter incompetents took over from them (on two different supplies). Their idea of customer service is about the same as Vladimir Putin's idea of peaceful co-existence with his neighbours.

Richard Greenhough ● 1468d

29% of meters catching fire? Definitely porkies.All electricity companies had a legal obligation to replace all old meters with smart meters at their own cost (not yours).  They will deny this - but just tell them that you will take the matter up with Ofgem.  It sounds like that they are simply trying to push this (their) cost on to you.I am not sure why you would not want a smart meter.  Is there a particular reason?I have problems with several electricity companies over the years, with massive overcharging on mnay occassions, and general incompetence (which seems to be designed into the system to prevent overcharging problems being resolved).  The odd thing is - the "mistakes" are never in the customer's favour - they are always in the company's favour.Most recently - British Gas estimating and overcharging for electricity by about 30%, and also charging the day rate for electricity used at night.  I have tried to move to Octopus (who supply to the annex, and I have generally found to be excellent for our particular use pattern and high usage at night (heat pump . electric car)). The British Gas telephone options labyrinth cuts you off with "sorry too busy to deal with your call at the moment" if you chose the "move AWAY" option. But, miraculously, you can get straight through if you select transfer TO British Gas.  Make of that what you will. In the country we only have electricity (no gas), and a (very efficient) heat pump (heating our house from the river).  So we have high electricity use (12,000 kWh a year), so I keep a very close eye on usage and costs.  The energy companies' charging models can be very complicated to work out.So I wonder how many other people are systematically overcharged.  I suspect a lot - particularly people who are not familiar with the charging models, or with spread sheets to work out the overcharging  - it can be very time consuming to work out.I get the sense that overcharging lies at the heart of many electricity companies' business models.The UK’s entire market model for domestic gas and electricity makes no sense at all.

T P Howell ● 1467d

" My energy supplier emailed me to say " " This is British Gas we are talking about From the information you'll have seen on here its seems highly probable that this is indeed a scam and that the original email did not in fact originate from British Gas.For all their faults To whom exactly were you supposed to pay the £125 ? Into the same account as you pay your bill ? As I've seen it suggested else where that having paid the £125 thats the last time you'll hear from them.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1467d

I have never been asked to pay for a new electric meter, the last one about 5 years ago, they had the opportunity to put in a smart meter but never.

Janice Evans ● 1467d