Smart Meters

[PITA]

Octopus are excellent!

Overall, I agree that Octopus are good.

However, I pay £300 per month for Electricity (includes EV hybrid charging) and gas. I have been with them 2 years and my current balance is £3,618. This means that I am and have paid twice as much per month as I should have done.

My latest bill says this:

Your estimated annual cost is £849.39 a year for electricity£615.13 a year for gas.
This is an estimate based on your expected annual energy usage, and your current tariff rates, charges and discounts, including VAT.
Actual billings will vary depending on your usage and tariff selection. More information about your current tariff can be found overleaf.

An email that I received on 10 September said this

• We’re not adjusting your payments right now. We continually check your balance and payments, and suggest changes if it looks like you’re paying too much or too little.

I, like @Damo_1878, am not bothered because I see it as a way of saving. However, it troubles me that they say that they continually check balances payments but might be taking advantage of some people.

 

[Jokerdan]

I agree with Octopus - have been with them now for several years and always seem fine. Can't comment on their query line as never needed to use it and I just send them a reading every couple of months. If you're in credit with usage they will automatically put the money back into your Octopus account and if you are fortunate enough to have more than sufficient funds built up you can easily withdraw the surplus or they will contact you to lower your monthly bill to accord with usage.

As for smart meters can't say I've ever really heard anything good about them and they seem to create more problems than solve them (although that may be issues with the respective power supplier). But that's just anecdotal and not from my own experience so it's down to personal choice.

 

[Tramps_mate]

Overall, I agree that Octopus are good.

However, I pay £300 per month for Electricity (includes EV hybrid charging) and gas. I have been with them 2 years and my current balance is £3,618. This means that I am and have paid twice as much per month as I should have done.

My latest bill says this:

Your estimated annual cost is £849.39 a year for electricity£615.13 a year for gas.
This is an estimate based on your expected annual energy usage, and your current tariff rates, charges and discounts, including VAT.
Actual billings will vary depending on your usage and tariff selection. More information about your current tariff can be found overleaf.

An email that I received on 10 September said this

• We’re not adjusting your payments right now. We continually check your balance and payments, and suggest changes if it looks like you’re paying too much or too little.

I, like @Damo_1878, am not bothered because I see it as a way of saving. However, it troubles me that they say that they continually check balances payments but might be taking advantage of some people.

I've seen people saying this. But, each month I submit my meter readings and I get charged accordingly.. Never had an issue. Are you on Smart meter?

 

[PITA]

I've seen people saying this. But, each month I submit my meter readings and I get charged accordingly.. Never had an issue. Are you on Smart meter?

Yes., I am but only for electricity. I just pay £300 monthly and my balance falls when a bill is applied. However, since I have never had a bill for anywhere approaching £300 my balance rises when the 'payment in' occurs.

It's not an issue for me but for some people it might be.

 

[Joey66]

@Cels pmd you etc how did you fare with your meter...mate?

 

[Cels]

@Cels pmd you etc how did you fare with your meter...mate?

Alright, mate.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to call Octopus today, I was a bit agitated with SP calling me five times and leaving me a snotty voicemail, but I've saved the number you gave to my contacts so I'm all set to get in touch with them in the morning.

​

 

[Joey66]

Alright, mate.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to call Octopus today, I was a bit agitated with SP calling me five times and leaving me a snotty voicemail, but I've saved the number you gave to my contacts so I'm all set to get in touch with them in the morning.

​

Typical of SSE - Telephone Octopus they will transfer you & arrange for a smart meter as you are paying a fortune on a card meter - best of luck you may have to wait till octopus engineers are in your area depending on where you live, at least they are human ....

 

[Kurt.]

Sorry mate, I'm not 100% sure what you mean. I have £50 credit on the key thing but it's not getting credited to the meter when inserted. I've posted a photo of the meter below.

View attachment 280691



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Nice …. Where did you meter ?

 

[Cels]

My aunt who is 90 next month lives in a flat Ovo fitted a smart meter about 2 months ago which suits her because her bills are negligible.
2 people turned up and they were there about an hour and a half,
The power was turned off the whole time they were there.
They do safety checks and testing as part of the process.
They will replace your old meter with smart meter and give you a small monitor (size of a biggish phone) so you can see what its costing you.
You need to make sure you have clear access to the meter.
All done cleanly and efficiently in an hour and half.
P.s shes DD

Thanks for that mate.

​

 

[Joey66]

Nice …. Where did you meter ?

Get that out of the Beano ?

 

[Rita_Poon]

I've always refused a smart meter. I've told them to stop asking me if I want one.

yes but what was the magic phrase that got them to hear and respect this request?

 

[Rita_Poon]

Not a conspiracy theorist by any means, I have enough trouble spelling it, however here's my take, you tend to hear more bad than good about them.
I've managed to avoid them up to now and will continue to ignore the pressure to have one fitted.

Same about skiing holidays though by the same rationale?

 

[larbert toffee]

Same about skiing holidays though by the same rationale?

No, I can spell skiing holidays.

 

[Joey66]

Overall, I agree that Octopus are good.

However, I pay £300 per month for Electricity (includes EV hybrid charging) and gas. I have been with them 2 years and my current balance is £3,618. This means that I am and have paid twice as much per month as I should have done.

My latest bill says this:

Your estimated annual cost is £849.39 a year for electricity£615.13 a year for gas.
This is an estimate based on your expected annual energy usage, and your current tariff rates, charges and discounts, including VAT.
Actual billings will vary depending on your usage and tariff selection. More information about your current tariff can be found overleaf.

An email that I received on 10 September said this

• We’re not adjusting your payments right now. We continually check your balance and payments, and suggest changes if it looks like you’re paying too much or too little.

I, like @Damo_1878, am not bothered because I see it as a way of saving. However, it troubles me that they say that they continually check balances payments but might be taking advantage of some people.

If you use their online web page, you can transfer your overpaid funds to any of your current accounts in a minute - or telephone them up ....

 

[Tramps_mate]

yes but what was the magic phrase that got them to hear and respect this request?

I think I was quite polite. It was when I was with British Gas. 2-3 year ago. Just asked them to stop asking me and she said they'll take me off the list.

The only times Octopus ask me is through the app..