Can Smart Meter Be Installed to a Fuse Box?
More than 20 million smart meters are now fitted in homes. Hither's what to wait if yous oasis't had a smart meter installed even so, and how long they're expected to final.
You don't have to accept a smart meter if you don't want ane. However, its worth knowing that second-generation meters don't have the bug you might take heard about with their first-generation cousins.
Energy companies should all now exist installing second-generation smart meters, although information technology's worth double-checking that's what yous'll get before you concur to an installation appointment.
Go along reading to find out what happens during a smart-meter installation, or find out what a smart meter is get-go. If yous have a first-generation smart meter and are concerned it may stop working, read our page on smart meter problems and how to solve them .
How to get a smart meter
Your free energy company will get in touch to arrange a suitable time and date to fit your smart meters. Every household in Britain will be offered a smart meter by 2025.
Alternatively, you can contact your free energy supplier to arrange an date.
Most energy companies volition make an engagement in advance, so in the unlikely event that someone knocks at your door to brand a smart-meter engagement, inquire to run across official ID to ensure they're non a rogue trader trying to scam you.
See common doorstep scams and what to do if yous think you take been scammed .
You'll need to hold a day and time for your smart meter installation. You should get a confirmation of your engagement by email, message or phone. Ask for i if yous don't become it. The installation itself will be carried out by a trained installer from the energy company, or a company working for it. You lot will need to be at home during the installation date.
If you don't want a smart meter installed, know your rights with smart meters. You're not obliged to have one, and tin can enquire your supplier to supplant your old meter with a smart meter that has its communications switched off.
How long does it take to fit a smart meter?
Information technology takes around 1.5 to 2 hours for a typical smart meter installation. But the time will differ from belongings to property and depend on where your current meters are located.
Earlier a smart meter installation
Earlier your smart meter is fitted, your energy business firm should tell y'all:
- what to expect
- how long the installation volition have
- if there'southward annihilation you demand to do earlier the installation tin can happen (eg clear out the cupboard containing your meter, or become access to the main fuse switch for electricity. In flats this tin sometimes exist behind a locked door, so you'd need to arrange access with the building manager).
If you know that there'due south something unusual about your domicile or meters, tell your energy visitor when you make the engagement, or at to the lowest degree several days in advance of your installation appointment.
This will assistance to reduce the risk that the installation tin can't become ahead considering of something the installer needed to know. Things information technology's worth telling your energy company about include:
- if you take solar panels or generate renewable electricity another way
- if your gas and electricity meters are very far apart (they demand to 'talk' to each other, which might require a special communications hub if this is a long distance)
- if your meters are inaccessible (for example high up on a wall, behind a locked door or gate, in a very minor closet)
- if you currently have a multi-charge per unit meter (for example Economic system vii, Economic system x, a grey or white meter, or whatever meter that directly controls your central heating)
- if you know your area no mobile telephone bespeak. Your energy firm may exist able to check in advance if smart meters will be able to connect to the smart meter broad surface area network.
During a smart meter installation
When the engineer arrives, they volition commonly do a visual inspection of your boiler and other gas appliances to check they are working properly.
They will have last meter readings from your old meters before removing them – this makes sure your account is up to date. You lot can note down the readings yourself, too, for actress peace of heed.
During the installation, the electricity and gas will demand to be switched off for effectually half an 60 minutes. The engineer volition let you know when they are going to do this.
You will go two smart meters: 1 for gas and one for electricity (or just one for electricity if you don't have mains gas). The smart gas meters are slightly smaller than current gas meters, but you may find that your electricity smart meter is slightly bigger than the old-manner meter you have now.
After plumbing equipment your smart meters, the engineer will check your gas supply by turning your gas dorsum on and relighting whatever pilot lights in your boiler. If you take any mains-connected alarms, check that they're working correctly.
They will besides exercise a test with a plug socket to check that things are working as they should be.
Your in-home display
Equally part of the installation, you'll be given an in-dwelling display (IHD). This is a handheld digital device which shows how much electricity and gas you're using, in existent time, and how much it's costing.
The installer should show you how to apply this. Yous may also be able to see your energy use via your online account with your energy company or app.
You should be given advice on saving energy in your home and how to use your smart meter to do this. But the installer should not endeavour to sell y'all other products while they're installing your smart meters. There's a code of comport which forbids smart-meter installers from doing this.
Read our ten ways to salve money on energy.
Safety bug institute by smart-meter installers
During the installation, engineers sometimes spot potential problems unrelated to your smart meter, such as defective wiring, equipment that is very old, cleaved fuses or faulty boilers. In 2022 and 2018, effectually 635,000 problems were identified by engineers fitting smart meters, according to Smart Free energy GB.
If a problem is institute, the installer's priority is to brand it safety. Some problems might mean information technology's not appropriate to install smart meters. If so, the installer will explain why, and tell yous what piece of work needs to be done (by you, your energy company or network operator).
Use Which? Trusted Traders to detect reputable electricians or gas safe engineers near you.
How often will my smart meter demand to be replaced?
Smart meters volition need to exist replaced around every 10 years – which is more often than current gas and electricity meters. Your energy company will permit you know when your smart meter is due to exist replaced, and arrange a time and date for this to happen.
Your gas meter is bombardment-powered and then, similar traditional prepayment meters, volition need to accept its battery replaced when it goes apartment. This is the aforementioned equally with traditional prepayment meters. Your gas smart meter should send a notification to your supplier when information technology needs replacing, but if you're concerned, contact your energy firm. Smart electricity meters are mains-powered.
In-home displays can exist either mains or battery-powered. If yours stops working, information technology won't bear upon your smart meter.
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Source: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-meters/article/smart-meters-explained/smart-meter-installation-aSTuj9y6lANt
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