Enough space for a smart meter to be installed?

That’s a smart water meter which is significantly smaller than the electric variety so, as we’ve said previously, it would take a huge reconfiguration of the supply to be able to fit a smart electric meter unfortunately 

I understand, I thought I might as well as on account of this new new occurence inform the forum of this new occurence.

Are you going to ask an electrician if they can put in a smaller isolator box setup to give you more space for a smart meter? 

Nope. The building owner needs to do this at their cost

A Housing Association own the property so I will see what they say, presumably I just need to say in my communications what has been discussed on this forum but any further advice would be appreciated.

Blastoise186 am I correct in thinking that my Housing Association can be compelled to foot the bill for all required work that would be needed in order to fit a Smart Meter?

Well, technically… Yes. There’s no way for you to be able to do it and imo they screwed up when they installed the current setup. Typical really.

You can also remind them that the energy supplier for each flat owns the respective meter - and MUST be able to access the meter for the purposes of maintenance, meter replacements, emergencies and upgrades.

There are suppliers that won’t take kindly to deliberate obstructions or poor design that prevents them from doing so and this needs to be rectified. The Housing Association had an opportunity to design and build that meter cupboard properly and failed to do so, meaning it’s their fault and their responsibility to resolve it.

Be interesting to know if other tenants in the building have raised a query with the Housing Association about getting the room sorted so all occupants can have a smart meter. 

Hey @Dagiioq,

Welcome to the OVO Online Community,

Where are your meters located currently? (Or meter if you just have electricity). If they’re in a different location than inside the flat you’d need to get your meter(s) relocated before you could get a smart meter installed within the flat. 

This topic may be helpful to you:

I was discussing Smart Meters with your good self and as you might remember I sent photos of my utility cupboard located in the building of my abode.

I have since noticed that a Smart Meter has actually been fitted in the utility cupboard in the building of my abode, with this in mind I was wondering you had any new advise you found give, please advise?
 

Hi @matthewkevin84 , looking back (and remembering that this isn’t a direct communication channel to OVO), you were wondering about space for a smart meter. Presumably that’s now been sorted. 
The message on the card is confusing as there is a display (and reading) visible on the meter. 
You would normally just check that your account is set correctly with the new meter details and that after a short period, it begins to communicate and send reading that you can see on your account. 

Also, a request from me.

Please refrain from spamming all Forum Volunteers via Private Messages and posting multiple threads about the same question at the same time. We know when someone posts publicly - and we don’t need to have it blasted at full volume. You only need to post once, not 50 times.

Thanks

Hey @matthewkevin84,

I’m surprised to learn a smart meter was installed without your knowledge? We require someone over the age of 18 to be present when an appointment takes place.

I think it’s best to contact the support team to find out what’s happened here. 

No this Smart Meter is for another flat, it is not

for my flat! It is located in the utility cupboard of my abode directly next to the utility cupboard were my OVO meter is located.

When I originally posted on here re the OVO being unable to fit a Smart Meter in my flat I was not aware of this Smart Meter being fitted hence my new communications on here.

Ah my mistake, I understand now. Did you get any advice from @Lukepeniket_OVO?  

Hi,  Eon are insisting that i get a private electrician to make space in the cupboard for a new smart meter and isolator,  as my current one,  is at ‘end of life’.   Im not sure why they cannot remove their old meters, as this would allow space for the new unit.  The meters are not my property.  Is there anything  more I can say to Eon to get them to assist further.  thanks in advance….

Hi ​@michelleshelly ,

What tariff are you on currently? I’d say there’s probably enough space but knowing the tariff will help a ton.

Thanks!

Hi, Its Eon Next, flex variable. 

There did use to be the old storage rads (with bricks in) which run on a night time tariff.  Economy 7 I think. 

And when I place the monthly meter readings, one is day/normal and the other in night/low.

In the cupboard there is an old econony 7 unit,  but im sure obsolete?

thanks

Gotcha, thanks!

There should be MORE than enough space to sort this out once the old meter and the existing Radio Teleswitch come off the wall. It’d then be possible to use a Flying Lead to place the Comms Hub where the current RTS unit is to account for the limited space. E.On Next is the current “owner” of that teleswitch so they ARE responsible for removing it - a private electrician can’t touch it.

This is a pretty easy install by the looks of things. One of OVO’s own Smart Meter Engineers taught me a thing or two about how he does this stuff so I’m using his expert opinion to power my thoughts.

You have a couple of options here. If you just want this done, you may be able to switch to OVO and have one of OVO’s engineers give this a go. You’re on SVT anyway so the price wouldn’t change much and you’d have no exit fee.

Alternatively, if you want to stick with E.On Next, you can try raising a complaint with them to see if you can make progress. The details were at https://www.eonnext.com/unhappy if memory serves. If that link doesn’t work, let me know.

I wonder. Even with a flying lead, the combined height of the meter and adapter would probably not leave the ~80mm below the meter that curling 25mm² tails would require. 

There is perhaps a regulation that forbids mounting meters sideways on … ​@Lukepeniket_OVO will know!

Interesting thought.

Maybe not regulation as such but more of a long standing general installation instruction?

Fitting a meter sideways would certainly affect old rotating disc type meters, fitting them sideways would give more friction in the spindle bearings so they would run slow.
Only very slightly but still...
It would also mean a tendency for the bearings to wear more quickly and unevenly, so the disc would start sticking at times, which would give inaccurate readings.

However there are no moving parts in a  digital electricity meter / smart meter except for the buttons.
Or in ultrasonic gas meters for that matter - my ultrasonic gas meter is in a semi-concealed enclosure and is mounted ‘on its back’ with the display uppermost.

If a digital electricity meter were mounted sideways then it would of course make the display a bit more difficult to read, especially in an awkward location eg. at height, but does that really matter with a smart meter?

Luke is a very busy man at the moment, but when he has some time I’ll ask him & report back 🙂