So after getting a small solar array installed under a grant scheme, I've decided to move from Bulb to Octopus to access their Agile tariff and Agile Outgoing (export) tariff. Seems sensible given current export rates on this tariff.
Obviously for this I will need a smart meter & have booked this in. I'd resisted getting one previously & given the mess that surrounded SMETS1 meters, I am glad for my caution. I still have some reticence, for a couple of reasons, but one aspect that I may have the ability to pre-emptively avoid is the (too common) issue of ongoing sagas around a faulty meter slightly over-estimating usage. It seems that eventually (after much work/time in identifying that it is not actually a vampire appliance or similar problem with internal electrics) people can get the supplier to install a check meter.
I am wondering if it would be possible for me to request that the smart meter installer leave the original meter in situ (I previously paid to have an isolation switch fitted between meter and consumer unit) as a comparison so that I can ensure the new meter is counting accurately? Alternatively, could I get an electrician to install something similar? I will be having my electrician round for various other tasks soon anyway, so could add this job on.
Can anyone see an issue with this? What type of meter would be best? I realise (from Bulb's info re export tariff) that you can get export meters that aren't 'smart', I'm guessing it would make sense to have both an import and export meter (or combined if there is such a thing)
I'm not interested in people saying 'it's unlikely to be faulty'. I recognise some believe this to be the case, but I have heard too many horror stories (at least two within my own circles of friends/family) and want some extra insurance against that. I realise if there was a problem the supplier would need to install their own calibrated check meter or whatever. However, having a secondary permanent consumer side meter would mean I would be alerted to & could be sure there was an issue before going down the route of asking the supplier for assistance & would provide extra evidence for expedience. I also realise that to others it may seem like an unnecessarily complex step to avoid an unlikely occurrence - however given the current prices of electricity, and my own sanity in the face of previous battles with companies - I'd rather that pre-emptive preventative action if possible.
Obviously for this I will need a smart meter & have booked this in. I'd resisted getting one previously & given the mess that surrounded SMETS1 meters, I am glad for my caution. I still have some reticence, for a couple of reasons, but one aspect that I may have the ability to pre-emptively avoid is the (too common) issue of ongoing sagas around a faulty meter slightly over-estimating usage. It seems that eventually (after much work/time in identifying that it is not actually a vampire appliance or similar problem with internal electrics) people can get the supplier to install a check meter.
I am wondering if it would be possible for me to request that the smart meter installer leave the original meter in situ (I previously paid to have an isolation switch fitted between meter and consumer unit) as a comparison so that I can ensure the new meter is counting accurately? Alternatively, could I get an electrician to install something similar? I will be having my electrician round for various other tasks soon anyway, so could add this job on.
Can anyone see an issue with this? What type of meter would be best? I realise (from Bulb's info re export tariff) that you can get export meters that aren't 'smart', I'm guessing it would make sense to have both an import and export meter (or combined if there is such a thing)
I'm not interested in people saying 'it's unlikely to be faulty'. I recognise some believe this to be the case, but I have heard too many horror stories (at least two within my own circles of friends/family) and want some extra insurance against that. I realise if there was a problem the supplier would need to install their own calibrated check meter or whatever. However, having a secondary permanent consumer side meter would mean I would be alerted to & could be sure there was an issue before going down the route of asking the supplier for assistance & would provide extra evidence for expedience. I also realise that to others it may seem like an unnecessarily complex step to avoid an unlikely occurrence - however given the current prices of electricity, and my own sanity in the face of previous battles with companies - I'd rather that pre-emptive preventative action if possible.
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