Reading a smart meter

Alec_t

Alec_t

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I am in the process of moving into a house where both gas and electric supplies have smart meters. The previous occupier had broadband and both meters could be read remotely. However, there is currently no broadband at the house and I wish to supply initial meter readings taken manually, to set up accounts.
The electric meter has a readable display but the gas meter display remains blank despite my pressing the two buttons as instructed on the meter itself. Does this indicate that (1) the meter battery needs replacing, (2) the meter is faulty, or (3) the meter is configured for remote reading only and manual reading is not possible ? (The gas supplier's Help-line staff have so far been unable to provide a convincing answer).
The meter is a Landis & Gyr model G370.
Is it a legal requirement that the cutomer should be able to take readings manually, to check that billing is correct?
 
Interesting. I thought the supplier was legally obliged to take actual readings every so often, rather than use indefinite estimates?
 
I thought so too, but there has been chaos since they began with the smart meters. I'm on the third pair of meters, after changing supplier each year. I have been stuck with none reporting back meters since my supplier change before last, 18 months ago - but lots of promises to fit the later compatible versions.
 
They'll rip your backside with improbable remote readings.
That's the all point of forcing smart meters upon consumers.
What other reason would they have?
That's without counting the remote "moving" of meters.
My friend got stuck at his mum's abroad during lockdown and I went to his place to empty the fridge and turn electricity, gas and water off.
I took a picture of the meter readings as he wished.
When he came back he found that meters had magically moved to higher readings.
Suppliers are still investigating since June, in the mean time his bills remain at zero.
He's been told in writing that until investigation is over he won't have to pay for gas and electricity.
I bet they'll terminate his contract and run away now they've been caught.
 
Must admit, that apart from the smarts not being remote readable, the readings have been fine. I record E, G and W readings weekly, every Sunday.
 
Do they use the consumers broadband?
I thought they had their own network?
 
So the issue is not the meters communicating but the OP being able to get online to the data.
Can a phone be used to make a hotspot so a connection can be made?
 
mattylad said:
So the issue is not the meters communicating but the OP being able to get online to the data.
Can a phone be used to make a hotspot so a connection can be made?
Click to expand...

No. The gas meter talks to the electric meter, which then uses a private secure mobile network to 'talk' back to base. The electric meter also 'talks' via a different wireless network to an indoor display, to show consumption etc.. It might be possible to hack into that last mentioned system, to show data on a PC, but I have never heard of anyone managing it yet.
 
johnny2007 said:
They'll rip your backside with improbable remote readings.
That's the all point of forcing smart meters upon consumers.
What other reason would they have?
That's without counting the remote "moving" of meters.
Click to expand...

My bills have always been absolutely accurate, no issues at all in that respect here, despite my annual changes in supplier.
 
mattylad said:
Do they use the consumers broadband?
I thought they had their own network?
Click to expand...
You thought correctly. I initially assumed consumer broadband was involved but have since learned it's done as Harry says in post #11.
 
Seems to make sense, I refused to have an electric smart meter but agreed to having a gas smart meter, and they refused to fit the gas smart meter without also changing the electric one.
 
ericmark said:
Seems to make sense, I refused to have an electric smart meter but agreed to having a gas smart meter, and they refused to fit the gas smart meter without also changing the electric one.
Click to expand...

That's because the gas meter relies entirely on a long life battery for its power. The electric meter has the mains available to power it, so its the obvious choice to use that for reporting back to both base and the indoor display.
 
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