I am informed my meter is out of test and needs replacing. Am I obliged to have a smart meter? I have a complex WiFi arrangement with multiple access points, I run a local web and email server requiring constant power and I am also a practising licensed amateur radio operator regularly transmitting signals of the order of 50-100 Watts. I already experience serious interference from local sources such as VDSL and other people’s faulty “home plugs”. I have also read of all the issues which can arise from smart meter installation, including reports of electrical faults being introduced by the installing engineer (who on occasions with some companies has apparently been shown to be uncertified) and failure of the installation to properly communicate, giving users sometimes months of grief with much blame-passing between providers of various parts of the infrastructure. I would much prefer to stay un-smart and provide nice, simple meter readings! Is this possible, or am I legally obliged to go “smart”?
Is a smart meter mandatory? As an amateur radio operator I'm worried the signals may interfere
Best answer by Lukepeniket_OVO
Hello all and happy new year!
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My manager has actually had smart (south central through the mobile networks) and is a keen radio enthusiast, HAM I believe, and has had no problems?
Edit 1: I didn't answer your question, no, smart meters are not compulsory at current but most tariffs require a smart meter to be installed.
Happy New Years,
Great to see our community experts
We’d always recommend going smart as it comes with some great benefits, however as long as your meter is functioning and not due for re-certification you’re free to choose not to upgrade just yet! 
+1- Plan Zero Hero
- 7910 replies
Long story short answer. Have it installed anyway and if you really are so badly desperate to not notice anything, put the IHD away in a cupboard, set the meter to Monthly readings and then completely ignore it. It’ll then just sit there quietly doing it’s thing for the next 10 years or so.
Everyone who has come here previously with similar questions has had more or less the same info iirc.
My property is circa 1970’s so the present electric meter is installed in a large box mounted in the wall - in, not on the wall. My gas meter is inside my small utility store built next to the house - the box holding the meter is within the wall of this utility store with a door to access the meter. From what I’ve seen on this site the measurements of the smart meter are such that it would fit inside this box basically replacing the present meter - this would suit me perfectly- and yes, being in this location means I only access it once a month to provide readings.
+1- Plan Zero Hero
- 7910 replies
As long as you found the dimensions for a Flonidan UniFlo then yeah, they fit pretty much the same spaces that any traditional diaphragm gas meter does. It’s the ultrasonic ones like the Flonidan SciFlo that are different to that!
+1- Plan Zero Hero
- 7910 replies
Correct. But both meters will likely be done at the same time which is pretty common.
+1- Plan Zero Hero
- 7910 replies
It depends on the job notes. If it says electric meter only, then only the electric meter gets replaced. If it says do both, then both get done.
I just know from previous experience and research that both often seem to get done.
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