Talk to me about... Energy Tariffs.

[tek-monkey]

I don’t own the panels. Which meter do I look at ? The normal electric one or the one that’s connected to panels up attic ?

You got a smart meter?

 

[Alee]

Yes but I don’t have an in home display or anything. Think it’s an old one as British Gas rang me last week to book in to fit new one as mine is apparently going to stop working soon

 

[Alee]

This?

 

[tek-monkey]

This?

I can't tell from the pic if that shows export, but ask the installer of the new one how you'll know. Usually the in home display shows you.

You can also see it via an app, but tbh it's not worth the hassle as it'll stop again when the new one gets put in.

 

[Alee]

U means the British Gas app? I can’t have an in home display as the signal too bad here

 

[tek-monkey]

U means the British Gas app? I can’t have an in home display as the signal too bad here

So your smart meter doesn't work?

The in home display links to your meter and has nothing to do with your smart meter connecting to the outside world. If you can have a smart meter you can definitely have a display, but if your internal walls are particularly thick it may only work near the meter.

 

[Alee]

When I’m moved in here last year . I rang British Gas and asked them for a display . They sent someone out to set one up but he said he couldn’t do it because it was the older smart meter and they can’t get hold of the displays for them anymore and it wouldn’t work anyway because apparently those meter connect to the IHD with a SIM card… and you can’t get phone signal in my house .

I can see my usage etc via the app but there’s a couple of days Delay. Can’t view half the stuff though.

I’m just repeating what they have told me.
I don’t understand this house at all ! Don’t have a clue how anything works and the wiring just doesn’t make sense the anyone

 

[tek-monkey]

When I’m moved in here last year . I rang British Gas and asked them for a display . They sent someone out to set one up but he said he couldn’t do it because it was the older smart meter and they can’t get hold of the displays for them anymore and it wouldn’t work anyway because apparently those meter connect to the IHD with a SIM card… and you can’t get phone signal in my house .

I can see my usage etc via the app but there’s a couple of days Delay. Can’t view half the stuff though

If the phone signal was the issue then your meter readings would never get to BG? Inside your house the display usually uses zigbee (like bluetooth) to talk to the meter, this is independent of the meter talking to the network. Many people have displays that work on meters that don't, and vice versa.

Setting up the IHD will be part of the install, I'd be amazed if you didn't get one this time as it's the latest meter, but then it's BG so...

 

[Alee]

Well that’s what I thought too ( about signal getttibg back to BG) . Maybe engineer just took one look at my meter location and just thought F### that . My meter is in the kitchen ceiling .

Makes me wonder whether I’m even benefiting from the solar panels , since there’s no mention of them on any of my bills etc

 

[Cue]

If the phone signal was the issue then your meter readings would never get to BG? Inside your house the display usually uses zigbee (like bluetooth) to talk to the meter, this is independent of the meter talking to the network. Many people have displays that work on meters that don't, and vice versa.

Setting up the IHD will be part of the install, I'd be amazed if you didn't get one this time as it's the latest meter, but then it's BG so...

Yeah they used Zigbee for SMETS1 too, the difference with SMETS2 is that utility providers have to allow you to connect stuff to the HAN whereas they didn’t with SMETS1

Engineer probably didn’t have a clue tbh, they come and attach wires, they don’t necessarily understand the tech.

 

[tek-monkey]

Now on octopus flux, will see how it goes but means I should make money.

 

[tek-monkey]

Now on octopus flux, will see how it goes but means I should make money.

First few days on flux were a bomb, imported more than exported, but the last few have much improved to the point I think the last week has been a negative cost. Combine that with the <5p gas rates and the £50 referral credit from Octopus and this months bill should be under £50 for everything.

 

[Alee]

Yeah they used Zigbee for SMETS1 too, the difference with SMETS2 is that utility providers have to allow you to connect stuff to the HAN whereas they didn’t with SMETS1

Engineer probably didn’t have a clue tbh, they come and attach wires, they don’t necessarily understand the tech.

Engineer came , didn’t fit new smart meters as he said they wouldn’t work because of the crap signal 🫤 I give up

 

[Cue]

Engineer came , didn’t fit new smart meters as he said they wouldn’t work because of the crap signal 🫤 I give up

Aren’t there extenders that use your internet connection you can get?

 

[Alee]

Aren’t there extenders that use your internet connection you can get?

No idea I would have assumed that British Gas would have suggested something … actually no… it’s British Gas

 

[The Hawk]

No idea I would have assumed that British Gas would have suggested something … actually no… it’s British Gas

They can fit 'booster' aerials, if they can be bothered.

 

[Cue]

I didn’t realise that SMETS2 meters actually mesh if they don’t have a phone signal… they’ll bounce across neighbouring meters until they find one that can phone home and use that as their route back to the DCC

Very neat.

 

[tek-monkey]

I didn’t realise that SMETS2 meters actually mesh if they don’t have a phone signal… they’ll bounce across neighbouring meters until they find one that can phone home and use that as their route back to the DCC

Very neat.

Which either means:

- @Alee has no neighbours with smart meters
- @Alee has no nearby neighbours
- The engineer was lying

??

 

[Alee]

Just asked one of my neighbours , they have smart meter with an in home display and theirs works fine apparently . Seems both engineers were lying

 

[tek-monkey]

Just asked one of my neighbours , they have smart meter with an in home display and theirs works fine apparently . Seems both engineers were lying

That's what I suspected tbh, probably paid for the call out regardless.

Without reading back, are you with them because you're still on a good tariff?