SMART Meter Reading Frequency

Level 92

retrotecchie

21-08-23

5364 views

I seem to recall somewhere that if you have a smart meter, the website or the E.On Next App allows you to change the reading frequency. The options given are Monthly (for standard billing reads), daily or half-hourly (for Energy Shift, ToU tariffs or for tracking data on apps like Bright).

Now, the SMETS specifications state that there are FOUR rather than three options. The fourth option is NEVER. That is to say, this option causes the meter to act in 'Traditional' or 'Non Smart' Mode.

For those who have (through no choice of their own) had to resort to having a standard meter replaced with a smart meter against their will, either because an older meter has failed or because an old technology such as RTS has been replaced, this allows any so-called 'smarts' the meter has to be turned off.

The standard specifies that this is a perfectly valid consumer option. Clearly, the next incumbent of a property fitted with a 'disabled' smart meter can opt to change their read frequency to have it working smart again.

So why is the option to set the read frequency to 'Never' not available online or in the app?

Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player. I DON'T work for or on behalf of EON.Next, but am willing to try and help if I can. Not on mains gas, mobile network or mains drainage. House heated almost entirely by baby dragons.

12 Replies

Level 91

JoeSoap

21-08-23

@retrotecchie

Just had a look in my app and I only have the three options you have mentioned. Funny thing is, under each option it tells me that they need to collect my readings half-hourly for my tariff. Having the frequency of readings as part of the conditions of the tariff may be the get out clause.

I'm an Eon Next dual fuel customer with no particular expertise but have some time on my hands that I am using to try and help out a bit.

Level 92

retrotecchie

21-08-23

@JoeSoap

Obviously if you have a smart meter and sign up for a tariff which had regular read requirements, then I completely get that. However, if you've been suckered with a so-called smart meter, just have the bog standard Next Flex the same as us traditional meter owners and are happy to submit your own readings, then opting for 'never' as a read frequency should be permissible as that is what the standard specifies is one of the four options available to the consumer.

Level 91

JoeSoap

21-08-23

@retrotecchie

I agree. I was just surprised to see I had to have half-hourly. I probably didn’t scour through the small print when I signed up. We’re on the same tariff aren’t we? Next Loyalty Fixed v4.

Level 92

retrotecchie

21-08-23

@JoeSoap

Yes, but I don't have a smart meter so don't have smart meter preferences in my portal/app!

The Ts and Cs small print did say I would need a smart meter 'if eligible'. I'm not, thank goodness. They don't work round here!

Level 91

JoeSoap

21-08-23

@retrotecchie

I wish mine would send any readings whatever the frequency.

Level 91

JoeSoap

21-08-23

Originally Posted by retrotecchie

… Yes, but I don't have a smart meter so don't have smart meter preferences in my portal/app!

My mistake. I know you don’t have smart meters but thought you must be able to see the preferences in your app as you knew the Never option wasn’t there.

Level 92

retrotecchie

21-08-23

@JoeSoap

No. If you don't have a smart meter you don't have anything on the app or website other than the option to choose to be badgered to actually get one of the pesky things! Naturally I have that turned off.

No, the SMETS specifications clearly state four operational modes. Never, Monthly Daily or Half-Hourly. The default is monthly as any supplier cannot change the read frequency to something else without your explicit consent.

However, as 'Never' is a defined option within the standards, it should be available to anyone with a smart meter.

And possibly explains why, for non smart meter customers, the E.On Next app does absolutely nothing that the website can't do. Except of course allow you to toggle your phone flashlight to actually read a meter in the dark!

It may also explain why your meters may have gone dumb...they accidentally sent an incorrect command as part of the ongoing tariff update process. The command clearly exists as the spec says so.

Last edited by retrotecchie; 21-08-23 at 21:12.

Level 91

JoeSoap

22-08-23

@retrotecchie

The Ts & Cs https://assets.ctfassets.net/gmgnreshss7h/6X8apt4Vh6Iwiyv7o5vkTt/9ea7d881746844f30b1dc7c1913e99f2/Residential_Ts_Cs_July-2022.pdf
say, “You can change the frequency of your smart meter readings at any time by contacting us”.

Maybe, unless your tariff prohibits, you can select Never by contacting them but they just don’t advertise the fact by making it an option in your app or online account.

As for what happened to my meters, I may never find that out.

Level 92

retrotecchie

22-08-23

@JoeSoap

'Never' is certainly a functional option in the specification and, according to one of my sources with another energy supplier, is actually used in circumstances where a smart meter install has been attempted but aborted due to lack of WAN connectivity. The meter has to legally store 13 months worth of historical consumption data based on monthly reads so that in the event of connectivity being established, data for that period has not been lost.

Where the meter cannot be read, for connectivity reasons or because a customer insists on 'Never' as a read frequency, the data can be downloaded from the meter itself using a hand terminal by a meter reader.