That's exactly so.
This thread has generated more heat than light.
Th original post in this thread stated:
"Your electricity meter is out of date and requires urgent replacement. We are required to do so under governmental regulation of the Electricity Act 1989". The lifespan of your meter is set by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). This is to ensure your energy is always recorded accurately so you only pay for what you use".
There's a whole raft of legislation which covers gas and electricity meter accuracy:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/gas-and-electricity-meter-regulations
So no - it's not a 'wheeze' or a 'con trick' - the energy supplier is obligated to replace time-expired meters.
But to answer the question 'are smart meters compulsory - do you have to have a smart meter by law?'
No, smart meters aren't compulsory. You'll be offered a smart meter by your energy supplier before the end of the smart meter rollout, but it’s up to you whether you accept one, but what you can't do, if your meter has reached it's 'best before date', is refuse to have it replaced. If need be, a warrant can be obtained to enable that to happen, but whether you get a smart meter is completely up to you.
Nothing to see here - move along.
As to the smart meter rollout, the initiative for that is from the government, which requires energy suppliers to offer smart meters to all homes and small businesses across Great Britain by the end of 2025. As much as anything, the rationale is to enable customers to take advantage of variable tariffs. Off-peak electricity, for example, for overnight charging of EVs, or not using washing machines and dishwashers at peak times.
On the assertion that 'smart meters can disconnect you', why would the supplier want to if you are not in arrears with payments?
Technically, the supplier could do that remotely, just as they could visit the premises and disconnect the gas or electricity supply to conventional meters, but only under very strict circumstances,
no matter what type of meter you have. It's facile to suggest or infer that energy companies would do this remotely on a smart meter at the flick of a switch. Strict regulations protect you against your
energy supplier disconnecting your gas or electricity. This protection is as strong with smart meters as it is with traditional meters.
There is no difference between the regulation of energy supply for smart and traditional meters.
https://www.smartenergygb.org/about-smart-meters/smart-facts/can-a-smart-meter-cut-off-power
In any event, cutting off either the gas or electricity supply by energy companies means they will lose revenue. When it is done, it's as a last resort when all other methods of collecting arrears have been exhausted, and in some circumstances, with vulnerable customers they can turn if off at all.
Advice to energy uses from the National Debtline:
Quote:
Disconnection:
You should be able to prevent disconnection if you contact your supplier and arrange to repay your debt at an affordable rate, either by instalments, Fuel Direct, or through a prepayment meter. You must be asked if you want a prepayment meter before your supply is disconnected, if it is safe to install one. See the earlier sections
Make an arrangement to pay your debt and
Prepayment meters.
Gas and electricity companies cannot cut off your supply unless they have first offered you a range of payment methods to help you pay. They must only disconnect your supply as a last resort.
Contact your
local council and the Citizens Advice consumer helpline if your supplier is threatening to disconnect your supply. Your local council may be able to help you to avoid disconnection or to restore your energy supply through their
local welfare assistance scheme.
If you have children, consider contacting your local social services department for help with your energy payments. Tell your supplier that you have contacted social services as they will usually delay cutting you off if social services are looking into your case. This could give you time to make an arrangement to pay. The
Children Act 1989 gives social services the power to make payments in certain circumstances to families with children in need.
Your suppler
must not disconnect you during the winter months if you are a domestic customer and you:
- have reached State Pension age and live alone; or
- have reached State Pension age and live only with other people who have reached State Pension age or are under 18 years old. And:
Your supplier
must take all reasonable steps to avoid disconnecting you during the period
1 October to
31 March if your household includes somebody that:
- has reached state pension age;
- is disabled; or
- is chronically sick.
End quote.
https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/gas-and-electricity-arrears-ew/
With electricity, some chronically sick people have medical conditions which require the use life saving equipment at home, such as for dialysis or oxygen for COPD. Does anyone really believe than an electricity supplier would shut off a smart meter, not knowing it it's safe to do so? Really??? I don't think so.
The supplier has rights of entry, bestowed by the Gas Act 1986 schedule 2B and the Electricity Act 1989 Schedule 6 – called the Gas and Electricity Codes. The right of entry can be exercised either by consent, in an emergency, or by a warrant under the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954.
It's instructive to have a glimpse at the 'Magistrates Utility Warrant Checklist' to see the rigmarole involved in issuing warrants:
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/119560/default/
Not arguing - just saying.