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Third-party access to smart meter data: recent failures

  • August 1, 2024
  • 67 replies
  • 2439 views

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67 replies

BPLightlog
Super User
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  • Super User
  • October 2, 2025

Jane and her colleagues at Glow/Bright/Hildebrand have done a lot to help with this issue. It doesn’t help that the meter manufacturer nor DCC seemed to know what was happening.

Having been one of those impacted originally, I’m of the opinion that a firmware update caused the issue and it required a further update to clear the problem.


  • Newcomer
  • October 2, 2025

 I’m of the opinion that a firmware update caused the issue and it required a further update to clear the problem.

I still have the problem so no firmware update for me 😔


  • Newcomer
  • October 2, 2025

These are the last reading pulled by Glow/Bright - nothing since 19th June 2024
 

 


nealmurphy
Newcomer
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  • Newcomer
  • October 2, 2025

@sraper my Aclara meter stopped communicating last October. The eventual fix was to replace the meter, which was done in June. DCC/supplier were unable to get to the bottom of the issue of why access was being blocked. Hope you manage to get a resolution soon.


  • Newcomer
  • October 3, 2025

@sraper my Aclara meter stopped communicating last October. The eventual fix was to replace the meter, which was done in June. DCC/supplier were unable to get to the bottom of the issue of why access was being blocked. Hope you manage to get a resolution soon.

Problem is as the meter is sending information to my energy supplier (not OVO) they dont care - so no way they will replace the meter as they dont deem it to be faulty. 

Just 3rd party access is broken


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • October 3, 2025

Hey ​@sraper,

 

I’m really sorry to hear about the access issues you’re facing! It sounds frustrating. Maybe ​@JaneatGlow can jump in and help us figure out what’s going on?

 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we find a solution soon and get everything sorted out for you!


  • Newcomer
  • October 13, 2025

Hey ​@sraper,

 

I’m really sorry to hear about the access issues you’re facing! It sounds frustrating. Maybe ​@JaneatGlow can jump in and help us figure out what’s going on?

 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we find a solution soon and get everything sorted out for you!

Hi both,

As of this morning, we still have almost 100 of our Glow users with an Aclara meter not getting data - and believe that any other ‘Other Users’ have the same issue. It is frustrating as of course it isn’t a priority for either the supplier, understandably as they are getting what they need to generate a bill, or the DCC.

Not that it helps but we’ve got a similar problem with a subset of Kaifa meters - but in that case there seems to be no pattern of model/firmware/comms hub variant…. 

And to think we put all this time in for what is a free service to the market on our part! 😂

Sorry not to have anything more positive to update on.


Blastoise186
Super User
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  • Super User
  • October 13, 2025

Could be worse Jane - imagine if Trilliant managed to get a hold on SMETS2! 😜

Now THAT would have been fun...


  • Newcomer
  • Solved
  • October 13, 2025

Hey ​@sraper,

 

I’m really sorry to hear about the access issues you’re facing! It sounds frustrating. Maybe ​@JaneatGlow can jump in and help us figure out what’s going on?

 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we find a solution soon and get everything sorted out for you!

Hi both,

As of this morning, we still have almost 100 of our Glow users with an Aclara meter not getting data - and believe that any other ‘Other Users’ have the same issue. It is frustrating as of course it isn’t a priority for either the supplier, understandably as they are getting what they need to generate a bill, or the DCC.

Not that it helps but we’ve got a similar problem with a subset of Kaifa meters - but in that case there seems to be no pattern of model/firmware/comms hub variant…. 

And to think we put all this time in for what is a free service to the market on our part! 😂

Sorry not to have anything more positive to update on.

Thanks for the update 


  • October 23, 2025

I’ve just started trying to download my data using the Bright website. The “Day” data downloaded seems to be surprisingly wrong when compared to the half-hourly data downloaded. 

For example, one day when the usage from the half-hour figures (and other sources) was 34kWh, the Bright Day data indicates 46kWh.

Out of around 400 days of Bright day-data, only 140 are within 1kWh of the equivalent half-hourly figures.

Am I missing something?


  • Newcomer
  • January 7, 2026

Hey ​@sraper,

 

I’m really sorry to hear about the access issues you’re facing! It sounds frustrating. Maybe ​@JaneatGlow can jump in and help us figure out what’s going on?

 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we find a solution soon and get everything sorted out for you!

Hi both,

As of this morning, we still have almost 100 of our Glow users with an Aclara meter not getting data - and believe that any other ‘Other Users’ have the same issue. It is frustrating as of course it isn’t a priority for either the supplier, understandably as they are getting what they need to generate a bill, or the DCC.

Not that it helps but we’ve got a similar problem with a subset of Kaifa meters - but in that case there seems to be no pattern of model/firmware/comms hub variant…. 

And to think we put all this time in for what is a free service to the market on our part! 😂

Sorry not to have anything more positive to update on.

On a positive note.

Just had a 12 hour power cut!

And my meter is now working again. Other user access restored. Finally 


Firedog
Super User
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  • Author
  • Super User
  • January 8, 2026

  

Just had a 12 hour power cut! … And my meter is now working again. Other user access restored. Finally 
  

Worth noting by ​@JaneatGlow and any metering people watching that after an update to the CH/TC, it might take a hard reset to get things working again - i.e. pull and replace the main fuse if doing it OTA doesn’t help.


  • Newcomer
  • January 8, 2026

Hello ​@sraper - we are aware that appears to do the trick BUT obviously would not recommend the process as people should not be touching their electricity meter. Interestingly, we are seeing the numbers of affected people slowly go down - presumably due to local power cuts or other meter resets done by the supplier perhaps. Please do not engage with your meter (other than to read it!) without professional advice from an engineer or your supplier, thank you.

And Happy New Year everyone - if 8 January isn’t too late?!


Peter E
Super User
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  • Super User
  • January 8, 2026

Whilst the power cycling method of resetting might appear to be appealing (especially if your cutout fuse seal is missing)  then you need to note that if an individual does it then your smart meter would flag a power cut when that wasn't flagged by any other smart meter in the area perhaps prompting a visit by your meter supplier or DNO as an investigation.

 

Now the absence of a cutout fuse seal doesn't mean any wrongdoing. After my 2014 meter upgrade the seal wasn't replaced until my very recent meter upgrade. I asked the electrician doing the work and he said it not unusual. It now has a seal and a very prominent label stuck round it.

 

Peter 


Firedog
Super User
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  • Author
  • Super User
  • January 8, 2026

Just to be certain - I wasn't suggesting this as a DIY exercise. An electrician should be able to do it so long as he clears it with the DNO beforehand, though, shouldn't he?


Peter E
Super User
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  • Super User
  • January 8, 2026

Agreeing with what you are say. The message was just because your cutout fuse doesn't have a seal on it don't be tempted to pull it out as a fix for a temporarily dumb smart meter.


  • Newcomer
  • January 8, 2026

@hexhamuser 

I’ve just started trying to download my data using the Bright website. The “Day” data downloaded seems to be surprisingly wrong when compared to the half-hourly data downloaded. 

For example, one day when the usage from the half-hour figures (and other sources) was 34kWh, the Bright Day data indicates 46kWh.

Out of around 400 days of Bright day-data, only 140 are within 1kWh of the equivalent half-hourly figures.

Am I missing something?

Sorry - I don’t even monitor our own forum - we always suggest contacting support. We are small company offering a free service with related free support - we just don’t have the resource to monitor forums (fora?) as well!

Don’t forget that the data download is in UTC so it would depend what time of year you were comparing to. Also, because we started storing energy data back in the dark ages of 2008 (anyone remember energyhive.com? first energy consumer dashboard in the world) - we timestamp at the top of the half hour, whereas since then I believe the industry timestamp at the bottom of the half hour.

Anyway, I don’t think we are that far off as we’d have heard but do contact us if you still have an issue :)