Smart meters, less smart companies

prpr said:
I know all about the calculation. I just wanted them to tell me what the number actually refers to.
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I just checked my latest bill and the difference between gas meter readings are shown as gas units. Gas units? Why can't they say cubic metres? It really is cubic metres.
 
You see what I mean then. The unit of Units on the meter/bill used to be 100 cubic feet. Now it's cubic metres, but nothing tells you. You just have to guess.
The calculation between Units and kWh used to include another fudge factor of 2.83 (the number of cubic metres in 100 cubic feet) and now it doesn't.
 
Yeah, but it doesn't say that on the web site when you look at the meter reading history.
 
If you aren't on a fixed tariff make sure you take manual meter readings today and add them to your account. Don't expect the smart meter to do what you expect and read itself this morning. Mine never does. If you don't do this "they" will estimate the readings probably in their favour.
 
EEPhil said:
It's so slow at delivering the hot water it's a good job I haven't got a water meter.
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I think they should be compulsory.
Years ago, when I got a meter, I received a refund from Brizzle/Wessex Water for the difference between previously unmetered water then metered water for whatever fraction of 6 months it was. When I went to pay the cheque in at the bank, the woman behind the counter was astounded that the water company were paying me (for once) and asked me why.
 
prpr said:
I think they should be compulsory.
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I agree, water meters should be compulsory. My parents have neighbours without a water meter and they waste so much water because it doesn't cost them extra. Washing machine on almost daily with tiny loads, bright green lawn watered all the time etc.
 
A friend wanted to get a meter, but they came to look and sucked their teeth and said it couldn't be done without ripping up the road. They just put her on the social rate and she's a very happy bunny.
 
We did not have a choice, they fitted everyone with water meters here and it halved my bills, I have 4 water butts to catch all the rain from my roof for the garden so rarely have to use mains water there and according to my bills I am always on the low side of being a low user according to the amount of occupants in the house.
 
prpr said:
They've now upgraded it to a formal complaint. So let's see how that goes.
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Well, it hasn't really gone anywhere. The only thing that's happened is repeated (futile) attempts to try and request readings from the meter (whatever that actually means).
It's not clear where the fault is - I suggested they send people with knowledge, training and equipment to diagnose the problem all the way from the meter to the DCC, on to $energy_company and their API and then to me. Nothing happened. Was I surprised?
I've now had the "8 week" email where they're supposed to co-operate with the Ombudsman's findings (when I've submitted it all), but first they want "one more try with a customer experience specialist" or WTTE. I think they're supposed to pay you an amount of compensation too.
 
They're insisting on fixing my aunt's smart meter. Good luck with that. It's effectively in a concrete bunker 10 feet underground.
 
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prpr said:
:eek: I've not heard of that as a common thing. What sort of pipe and what caused it? Is this a pressurised system?
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Underneath the bathroom sink there was a flexible bit of pipe between an isolation valve and the tap. I'm told by the plumber that they always fit these now. How true that is - I don't know. Anyway, walked into my hallway and couldn't see properly. Heard water running, but that could have been my naughty neighbour and her hosepipe. It wasn't. It was my bathroom getting a steam clean and flooding as the flexible pipe had burst. When I spotted it the process may have been going on for an hour*. The main stopcock doesn't stop. The isolation valve before the flexible pipe was a bgr to shut off as I was getting covered in very hot water. Had to dig out Marigolds and a screwdriver to solve the problem. Because I'd stopped the leak it wasn't classed as an emergency. So no hot water in the bathroom for a few days.

*Probably longer. The 30min readings show quite a duration!
Screenshot_20260826-152719~2.jpg
(y-axis kWh, x-axis time in hours)

Edit: It is not a pressurised system. The flexible pipe could be rubber with a weaved metallic covering.
 
Black Hole said:
It is. It is also standard to use push-fit, and I wouldn't trust those either.

There is some logic to the flexible tap tails – if something moves it doesn't strain the plumbing.
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I have had push fit fllexible tap connectors on all my taps for 20 years since I plumbed in a new bathroom suite and have had no issues, the pipe is more substantial than in the metal flexi tap connecters Phil has described. However you should not use them on chromed copper pipe and instead use a compression fitting onto the chromed tube and an insert in the push fit pipe for the compression fitting. My system like Phil's is not pressurised
 
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