Email saying Aclara SMETS2 will stop working properly on 1st June 2026 and needs replacing?

Where did you get that information from?

 Thanks, Firedog.  Readiing the message from Ovo I see that it says we need an essential upgrade to your smart meter, not the meter itself being replaced, but also says your current smart meter model is now being removed from the wider smart network. That sounds like the whole meter.  I’ll go ahead and book the update and hope  that it works with our nearby 4G.  The 4g signal is often down for a few days and I haven't yet checked how it affects the meter readings.

Woodstok - it was an email from Ovo, which said:

We’re getting in touch because we need to make an essential upgrade to your smart meter. We understand this will be an inconvenience and we’re very sorry.
 
Why your meter needs another upgrade
 
We previously replaced your meter to make sure your heating and hot water would continue to work. This was because the signal used by your old meter was being switched off.
 
Unfortunately, your current smart meter model is now being removed from the wider smart network on 1 June 2026. For your meter to keep its smart features, we need to upgrade it before then.
 
We’re sorry for the inconvenience of a second visit. It was essential to carry out the first replacement to protect your heating and hot water supply. That isn’t affected this time, but this second upgrade will make sure your meter keeps its smart features for years to come.
 
How this might affect you
 
If your meter isn’t upgraded before 1 June:
 
  Your meter won’t send automatic meter readings. This means you’ll need to send them manually. If you don’t, we’ll have to send you an estimated bill based on your average energy use
 
  You'll miss out on Beyond extras
         
  You won’t be able to track your energy use and costs in the app

Well that wasn’t much fun.  The email said I should follow a link to arrange the work. When I did it told me to phone 03450729466. I got passed from the first person to another, which cut off the line making me start over again.  After 20 minutes of dreadful music I got a third person who tried to help. Eventually he found how to arrange an appointment, but said they dont have any available, and I should phone again in a few weeks time to see if any appointments are free.  I told him that I’m going to all this trouble to suit the energy industry, not myself, and why can't they contact me when they have appointments to offer. But that didn't work, so I'll try to get  through another day when I have plenty of time to spare. If that doesn’t work either I’ll maybe not bother to have the meter upgraded - it’s perpetually set to Economy 10 and I can email a reading each month like I used to.

Hey ​@dutyhog,

I'm really sorry to hear there weren't any available appointments when you called! 

As the advisor suggested, it might be a great idea to give them a call early next week to see if any openings pop up. I completely understand how busy things can get, especially with the upgrades to meters like yours and the unexpected emergencies our engineers handle. They truly do their best to fit in as many jobs as they can. 

I definitely recommend following up in the future so you can get the work done—it can really make a difference, based on my experience!

Personally I wouldn't bother chasing round after OVO about getting perfectly good working meter(s) changed as they are in so much trouble no one has a clue, app/systems don't work properly and apparently no one knows why or how to fix.

My latest issue was on 16 Feb when I received email stating:

"You’re eligible for a smart meter.

Our engineers will be in your area from 17 February 2026, replacing old energy meters with smart meters. We're getting in touch, as you're eligible for an upgrade..." with a link to make appointment.

Email made no sense giving just 24 hours notice and as electric meter is smets2 fitted by OVO approx 5 yrs ago, so contacted OVO to query and received response that it was PROBABLY about my old (dumb) gas meter that was installed 2016 so coming to end of certification (certification typically 10-20 years). Why they couldn't have said this I have no idea!

So I duly clicked on the book appointment link and logged into my account to be greeted with the message:

"Sorry, we can't install a smart meter yet

We check multiple criteria to make sure we successfully install your new smart meters on the day. Your account does not pass our eligibility check right now. Eligibility can change so please come back to try again soon."

Words fail me as to how OVO is still trading with this level of incompetence. Not being prepared to waste further time I simply replied to OVO that as the message clearly states they can't install a smart meter yet as I don't qualify I will assume my meters are BOTH fine so will do nothing, and by all means they can contact me in a few months if things change once they have made up their minds whether one of both meters do or do not need replacing!

Well, my experience has been very good since that earlier exchange. I phoned OVO a few weeks later and an appointment was made for many weeks in advance. The engineer came slightly early and was very quick.The power was only off for a very short time when he checked the system.  As I was told above in this thread, he replaced the unit that communicates by mobile phone signal with one that can use 4G (and 5G if it comes?). 

Hey ​@dutyhog 

I’m glad to hear the appointment went quickly and smoothly!

Thanks for popping on the thread with that update.😊