Should I fix in? & do I have to get a smart meter if so?

It’s not just OVO who does that - just about the entire market does. I’m afraid your reason doesn’t really make much sense in the full context either. The idea is that it’s an incentive to make upgrading more worthwhile.

The grid IS currently heading towards breaking point, so changes must happen to prevent collapse. Smart Meters are just one small part of that. What worked back in the 1980’s no longer works now...

I think you’re locking yourself out of the best deals @lynsgarden 

I got a smart meter in 2016. It’s never gone wrong, I haven’t had to submit a manual reading for 8 years. I’m able to see exactly what energy I’ve used every half hour of the day and night (the novelty does wear off after a while) and I’ve been on the best deals all that time. 
My bills are never estimated and I was able to change from economy 7, which didn’t suit our pattern of usage, with one phone call. I also changed supplier without any problem.

I’m interested to know why @Jazz was told he didn’t need a smart meter, the terms and conditions say if you sign up to the fixed tariff you agree to have one put in. Did CS fully appreciate @Jazz wanted a fixed tariff, not variable?

I stand by my word - I’ve seen recent Fixed Rate Tariffs from OVO just this morning which do NOT require a Smart Meter. I’m very much in favour of having one mind you - it’s very useful given that I can’t get the key to the meter cupboard very easily.

However… Take these wise words of wisdom that came from someone high up in OVO.

It’s the customers choice not to have a Smart Meter (assuming one isn’t already installed). However, if they refuse, then they’ll have to accept they cannot have certain products

There will eventually be a point when ALL Fixed Rate Tariffs on the market require one, regardless of supplier.

Please give us the link to these fixed rate tariffs that don’t need a smart meter. When I look at renewing in my account every one of them needs a smart meter installed.

The links I’ve got cannot be shared publicly, or they’ll leak personal info.

At the end of the day, you’ve got three choices:

1. Select OVO’s Fixed Rate Tariff offers and accept the attached Smart Meter if the offer requires it
2. Stay on OVO’s Simpler Energy Standard Variable Tariff (which is the worst value!)
3. Leave and find suppliers that don’t force Smart Meters - these are drying up however

By refusing the upgrade, you will find that you’ll eventually be much worse off as new tariff types become available that require Smart despite not being Fixed Rate. Octopus is already known for having several of them for example.

It’s up to you. But you still haven’t explained why you’re resisting Smart Meters. IIABDFI isn’t much of a reason...

The will be a point when all the non-smart meters need to be replaced because they are simply too old to function properly, most if not all must already be out of certification.

Yup, I’ve also been digging into that as well. The longest certification ever was 45 years for basically ONE specific model that was launched in the 1980’s. However, even those are now reaching EoL because it was the early 1980’s that it launched. It shouldn’t surprise you that there are barely any of that model still in service anymore.

It is very rare to see any that had more than a 25 year lifespan at launch.

Which I suppose begs the question of if a meter is out of certification then should it be mandatory to replace or disable it for safety reasons?

OK the meter certification is mainly about accuracy not safety, but still the safety of old, outdated, equipment has to be considered.

Maybe more important for gas meters, not so much for electricity, but outdated electrics can be dangerous (fatal) too.

Legislation doesn't allow a vehicle to be used out of certification because it may be unsafe to operate - so why allow an energy supply device to be used uncertified?

Of course any legislation mandating meter upgrades may be unpopular - with both customers and suppliers - but new legislation is often unpopular.

For legal reasons, it’s the same story for energy meters in the UK. The Supplier cannot legally bill the Customer with a meter that’s out of Certification (nor one has never been Certified), thus is legally obliged to replace it. The Gas Act 1986 and Electricity Act 1989 spell it out clearly.