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Anonymous
Jan 23, 2025 2:13 PM UTC
Solved

Refused a smart meter due to work at height?

Hi,

 

After the constant nagging from OVO to install smart meters, I finally gave in about a year ago. The installer came and refused to fit it, because they were unable to climb a ladder (the meter box is above the front door).

 

We share a common entrance wirth next door and their smart meter (fitted by Utility Warehouse) is next to ours in the same place.

 

I am now not able to request a SMART meter. We are looking to rent our property out soon so it would be very useful (I don’t think the tenants will want to climb a ladder to read the meter!)

 

The gas meter is outside the front door and easy to access. Any suggestions for a way forward?

    Ben_OVO
    Ben_OVOBest Answer
    Community Manager
    Jan 23, 2025 2:52 PM UTC

    Updated on 27/10/26 by Chris_OVO

     

    Hi ​ 

     

    Thanks for your post, and a warm welcome to the OVO Forum! 😁

     

    If the meter is at height, then the advisor who books the job must clearly note this in the job booking. The reason you won’t be able to book an appointment at the moment is because of the previous aborted attempt.

     

    My advice here is to contact our Support Team, as they will need to remove the appointment blocker so that this can be re-booked. When you do re-book the job make sure to tell the advisor that the meter is positioned at height, so that the engineer can bring the necessary kit. You’ll need to let them know exactly how high the meter is off the ground. Please note, if the meter is above six feet off the ground then we may not be able to do the job, in which case your District Network Operator will need to move the meter.

     

    You can find some useful information on all of this in the previous topic below:

     

     

    I hope this helps.

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    51 replies

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    Anonymous
    Jan 24, 2025 10:12 AM UTC

     

    Anonymous
    Jan 24, 2025 10:13 AM UTC

     

    Nukecad
    Super User
    NukecadSuper User
    Super User
    Jan 24, 2025 10:18 AM UTC

    Any resolution would be good - I don’t even mind paying £50 or so for the installer to rent the platform,

    LOL, the one I posted an image of can be bought outright for £88 at Screwfix.
    https://www.screwfix.com/p/werner-aluminium-600mm-x-0-6m-folding-work-platform/762jl

    Others (not as wide) are available for under £50, eg. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-aluminium-470mm-x-0-6m-folding-work-platform/5892p

    However even if you bought your own (and they can be handy to have) then a company employee may not be allowed to use it - after all, it’s yours and so hasn’t been safety checked/approved by his/her company.

    Out of beer error >>>> Recovering memory.
    Anonymous
    Jan 24, 2025 10:23 AM UTC

    You would need to be standing about 4 feet up I reckon to work comfortably.

    OVO Staff
    Lukepeniket_OVO
    OVO Engineer
    Jan 24, 2025 10:23 AM UTC

    Hey all!

    ​@portland555 is it possible to have a photo from the front door looking in and a photo of the cupboard open showing all of the metering equipment and consumer units etc.

    Thank you!

    OVO Operations Excellence Manager and Former Field Operations Team Leader
      Anonymous
      Jan 24, 2025 10:28 AM UTC

       

      Anonymous
      Jan 24, 2025 10:29 AM UTC

      Our meter is on the left side and our consumer unit is on the right side (go figure...)

       

      Nukecad
      Super User
      NukecadSuper User
      Super User
      Jan 24, 2025 10:35 AM UTC

      It looks a bit close to the stars to get much of a platform in there. (and we can see why scaffolding was a daft suggestion, perhaps they though it was outdoors?).

      Luke is the expert here so will know what is possible in such situations.

      Edit, that was a typo, but I’ll leave it there for a laugh - stairs

      Out of beer error >>>> Recovering memory.
        Anonymous
        Jan 24, 2025 10:44 AM UTC

        I guess they meant something like this.

        Nukecad
        Super User
        NukecadSuper User
        Super User
        Jan 24, 2025 10:48 AM UTC

        Yes, stair platforms are a bit more expensive than the simple one that I posted, and the meter engineers definitely won’t carry those round all the time.

        Out of beer error >>>> Recovering memory.
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