Alt-han any update on the rolling out?

If a smart meter installation does’nt go to plan due to the meter being in a riser and it not being capable of sending the signal to the house /.flat unit - what is the next alternative seeing as you can not and should not install old expired meters? 
 

also can you reinstall out of certification meters or is that frowned upon / against regulations ?

Hi ​@WeblyRa9 ,

As long as the Smart Meter itself can function, that’s the most important thing. The IHD in your flat is just an accessory. There’s things like Alt-HAN that can get the system fully operational though.

Meters that are on expired certifications CANNOT be re-used for legal reasons unless they’re re-certified.

There is no problem fitting a brand new smart meter, and it can usually still connect to the network and send readings in.
If for some reason it can’t connect to the network then you can still read it and send the readings in, exactly the same as you do with a not-smart meter.

However you seem to be talking here about a different issue which is sending a signal from the smart meter to an In Home Display (IHD) in the more distant flats.

The solution for that is called ‘Alt Han’ and it’s been in use for a while now.

A common type has a sender-unit that plugs into an electrical socket near the meter(s) that then sends signals through the electrical wiring to a receiver-unit which is plugged into a socket in the flat.
That second unit then broadcasts a Zigbee radio signal to your IHD so that you can read the meter and see what energy you are using without leaving your flat.

https://althanco.com/what-we-do/

Meters that are on expired certifications CANNOT be re-used for legal reasons unless they’re re-certified.
 

what about if it’s a crossed meter issue and both meters were expired / uncertified would the switch take place or would a smart meter need to be installed for both neighbours 

Gotcha. In that situation, Smart Meters would likely be installed for both properties once the cross-meter issue is resolved.

But you need to fix the cross-meter problem first.

What if one firm tried to install a smart meter but it failed for whatever reason - then identified a cross meter issue - again both meters were expired and 2 years outside of Certification,-  is it mandatory that a smart meter is needed for install for both properties as it’s unlawful to re install an expired meter-  or can the switch take place regardless and ECOES be updated to make it look like the old meters are new??, I say that to say a smart meter should be installed for both regardless and both energy firms should work together to resolve billing issues yeah???
 

. Not one firm take the other meter and not inform the other firm.. and mark the expired meters as new - apologies for the random questions I’m just trying to understand what the process is with these old meters and smart meters and if applicable cross billing and REC 30 D

No worries. That’s what we’re here for.

IIRC the best solution is to ALWAYS correct the existing records first before doing any meter swaps. All involved suppliers will work together and with ECOES/Xoserve to get that done.

After that is corrected, you can get the meters replaced if they’re expired - but it would be to Smart Meters as UK Law requires all meters to be actively certified in order to be used. Expired ones must be ripped out and replaced with one that’s active.

Ah ok thanks 

so both firms would with together I assume with the national grid 

resolve the crossed meter issue 

resolve the meter numbers (meter usage count)

then switch them both (customers) to a smart meter where applicable and bins your uncle everything is fixed.

so is there any thing I can look at (online) where it states that expired meters cannot be reused for crossed meter issues or anything that states that after a cross meter issue a firm can keep the old meter in place for 2years counting - as based on your expert opinion  the old meters should be ripped out (removed) and smart ones put in 

also would it be wrong for one firm to unilaterally resolve a crossed meter issues as surely both firms are supposed to work together to fix the crossed meter issue first - then install smart meters - 

I have a friend who had a high bill they disputed it the firm gave them a smart meter - it didn’t work for some reason- then they took another neighbours meter (and called it a crossed meter) but didn’t tell the other neighbours firm (not sure why) and used the expired meter to resolve the high bill (surely that can’t be right) my friend is obviously happy as the bills issue has been resolved - it seems that the other firm found out two years later and tried to back date the other expired meter to 2021

Tl;dr

firm a had high bill with customer a 

firm a >we have a expired meter let’s install a smart meter 

firm a>this doesn’t work let’s take the neighbours meter 

Customer a > Yaye my debts are resolved 

firm b > hey we found out two years later let’s backdate this received expired meter to a date we believe we should have known

customer b > hey what’s going on 

both meters expired 2022 but switch happened 2023 and to date no smart meters have been installed and held 

is that weird or nah a standard thing