Smart Meter Faulty

Gadge

Hi Guys.

I got a smart meter installed in March '24 and switched to Yuno fixed rate which was very good at the time. Once the year was up the prices shot up as expected, so I attempted to switch provider. I had settled on Electric Ireland but shortly after I confirmed the switchover they sent me an email saying my smart meter signal was very low and they can't complete the process until this was sorted. I checked my Yuno bill and it didn't indicate any readings were estimated so I checked the ESB smart meter page and found no data from March '24 onwards. After this I went out and checked the meter itself (XS211 model) and it was completely dead, nothing on LCD and none of the LEDs lit. Got on to ESB, they said they can't do anything unless Yuno report the issue, and that Yuno should have reported this as soon as the signal was gone for x amount of time… Anyway, I got on to Yuno and raised the issue, and from talking to ESB recently, they have scheduled a replacement meter for August.

Our bills were about €250 per month before the year ran out, in all this time Yuno have been sending me larger and larger estimated bills (my most recent one is €460 for the month which is scandalous!), am I entitled to money back for all the bills since the meter died? Especially since I'm unable to switch to a different provider on a cheaper tarriff currently. Yuno have not been helpful at all with answering this question and are saying they will only discuss it when the ESB get back to them about the meter replacement.

Any advice would be appreciated.

ethernet

I had to have mine replaced as well. Went through Energia to get ESB Networks to do the replacement. Mine had stopped communicating with ESB Networks, similar to you. Energia rep did mention that a common symptom of this is when the screen stays blank, like yours. Remember, it will take 30-40 days before your meter will grade it connection quality and before you have the option to move to any new smart tarriff. I've heard of other people in this situation seeking a partial refund but that might be a whole other battle. It might be worth making a formal complaint with Yuno to move things along.

Gadge

Thanks for that, would hate for it to have to come to that. The neck of them estimating my consumption at over 23% more than this time last year and charging me top rate for it!

ethernet

Another potential option is to submit a meter reading directly with ESB Networks but they ultimately decide whether to accept it or make up their own. That then gets passed to Yuno for them to (re)calculate your bill. This aspect left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth with "smart" metering.

eeepaulo

i had a smart meter fail, nothing on the screen, esb came out, replaced the meter, i was chatting to the engineer and he plugged into it and said normally he can see the usage at the time even when the screen is blank, but he said sometimes they cant, which is what happened here.

i had really inconsistent usage at the time, (one of us away for a few days, then the other, then both of us for a week) i rung up bordgais to say this (and that they had charged us normal predicted usage) they gave me credit as a GWG.

about 3-4 months later esb emailed me to say there had been an overcharge and gave me 30 odd euro credit, it seemed accurate based on no one in the house. i said i'd already had a credit and had switched to energia in the meantime but she said just take it, more hassle than its worth.

Good Afternoon Paul,  

As you may be aware the faulty meter at your property was replaced 09-11-2023. Upon removal of the meter ESB Networks complete an investigative report and calculate whether any adjustment is required in your usage and thus billing to date.

They have determined that 66 units were over-recorded at day rate.  

Please see attached report from ESB and below table with a breakdown of Energia’s adjustment calculation.  

A credit of €29.33 ex VAT and €31.96 incl. VAT has now been applied to your account. 

If you have any further questions or queries please do no hesitate to respond directly to this email or call our exceptions line on0818 767 778. 

im certain there was something that told them how much i had used, it was accurate,

Gadge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123628586#Comment_123628586

If I was able to read that on the meter I would definitely do that but the screen is dead. I wouldn't even have been bothered if the estimates are based off last year's usage but all cases are similar to the one I posted below, some are far worse!

Pistachio19

I currently have the same issue. I discovered recently that our meter is dead and when I checked my ESB Networks account it turns out they have not received data since October 2024. So we have had estimated bills since then, yet nobody bothered to let us know. Energia said they just go by the figures ESB send them. There are probably many more around the country with this issue and they won't even be aware. I am waiting on a technician to call to replace the meter. Having had solar panels installed last month we are living mostly from the solar/battery so I don't expect to have to pay much from the date of installation. Not sure how that will pan out.