[meldrewreborn]

Although I really didn't want or need smart metering I've decided to take the plunge and have booked an appointment for 12th August. Partly this is to stop the repetitive admonishments from the company, and with Mad Miliband in charge at the DENZ the pressure wasn't going to decrease in the next 4-5 years.

Are there any things I should insist upon during or before the installation?

Do I have to make sure my new electricity meter is Economy 7 compliant with a 5th (presently unused ) terminal? I don't expect there to be any communication issues for the HAN, my meters are only 40cm apart. But what about the comms hub - I get a good 5g signal on my mobile but should i insist upon a 4g WAN compliant hub?

I just want to to have an installation that is future proof as possible.

Once the installation is complete I'll have to get access to the Bright or other apps to enable even greater monitoring of my consumption - if I ever feel the need to do so.

At least then I'll be able to comment better on smart meter matters - I've felt a bit of a fraud up till now.

I'll document the installation for posterity and will post afterwards detailing my experience.

[WizzyWigg]

@meldrewreborn
🤞. Just the obvious old meter reading prior to removal and new meter reading before engineer leaves 😁. Wishing all best for the 12th and looking forward for a full blow by blow report. 👍
🤞

[meldrewreborn]

@WizzyWigg

First minor issue today. Got a very nice call advising me that my meters were out of certification and EON Next was under a legal obligation to replace them. Did I know this - Yes replies I, well says he (pronoun assumed!), we've got some dates coming up where the swap could be made. Yes says I, I've got one booked for next Tuesday already!!!!

Why waste effort calling people who already have an appointment????

[WizzyWigg]

@meldrewreborn Oooops 🤣🤣🤣.
Left hand right hand Networking failure 🤣🤣.

[meldrewreborn]

Well, last week Sam from Eon Next arrived and looked at my meter set up. Sam sucked his teeth. Unfortunately my set up dates from 1935 and included a fuse on the live incoming feed (normal) and a fuse on the negative side too (not to current specifications). So no smart meter installation. Don't worry says he, UK power Networks will come and rectify that Fused Neutral issue.

So they were due to come between 12 and 5 today. At 9:32 got a call to ask could they come in 15 minutes as they were in the area. OK says I. Low and behold 15 minutes later the doorbell rings. Two chaps outside, ready to do the necessary. Look at my set up. More sucking of teeth. They could deal with the fused neutral OK, but they then identified that the black fitting below the fuse carriers would need to be replaced too, at some unspecified future time.



So they replaced the old fuse carrier and fuse with a grey plastic box to connect the neutral without the fuse. We had power again.

So then a device was temporarily clamped around the incoming supply cable which allowed them to trace the cable under my driveway. What for you might ask? Well the fitting that requires replacing cannot be done while the supply is live inside the house. So the cable outside needed to be traced , so that it can be exposed, cut to isolate my home from the mains, and then reinstated.

This will involve:
1) team to expose cable
2) team to cut supply out side, do work inside house and then reconnect cable outside
3) team to make good damage to driveway.

So that's 3 more teams to visit, in addition to the 2 visits I've had so far, plus the visit from Eon Next (yet to be arranged) to actually fit the smart meters that if I had my way would not be needed at all.

The cost of all this is zero to me at this moment, but is of course a cost to all of us as our standing charges will include elements for all this in months to come.

So its all going very smoothly 🤣and to some sort of plan😂. The saga continues.

[DebF_EONNext]

That @meldrewreborn belongs in a museum! I am following your smart journey with all the positive energy I can muster! Looking forward to the next installment 😊

[meldrewreborn]

Originally Posted by DebF_EONNext

That @meldrewreborn belongs in a museum! I am following your smart journey with all the positive energy I can muster! Looking forward to the next installment 😊

along with me, perhaps!

[Andy65]

At least it seems to be being dealt with in a timely manner @meldrewreborn.
You must be gutted about all of the delays in having your smart meters fitted though, we know how much you want them 😉

[retrotecchie]

@Andy65

I'm just pleased that his gaff is being 'made safe'. Sure, that fused neutral has been there for 90 years or so and doesn't seem to have been an issue up to now....but in event of a fault causing that fuse to blow (as opposed to the live one)...😲

The smart meter is a completely separate matter. I think there is still opportunity for more shenanigan's and entertainment to come in due course 🤣🤣🤣

[DebF_EONNext]

Originally Posted by meldrewreborn

along with me, perhaps!

Oh I don't think you're quite a relic yet, maybe we could perhaps put you in the hall of fame as Iconic instead 😎