My Landlord doesn't want smart electricity meters. Do they have a choice with this?

OP, See electrical forum for discussion on smart meters sometimes failing to perform

It's an odd one tbh. Because if the ESB is entirely your name then the landlord kind of isn't really the contact at all. But then they own the building. But again they are not the contact on the account. So ... How does one navigate that is the question

The replacement of over 2 million electricity meters with the next generation electricity meter over a six-year period will cost some €1.2bn. Like other infrastructure upgrades, the cost of the meter upgrade will be recouped over time in charges paid for use of the electricity network which means there is no upfront charge to have a Smart Meter installed. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has done extensive analysis of the plan and is satisfied that the investment involved represents value for money.

Source: Electric Ireland.

My guess is as its a physical electrical installation the landlord would be required to be involved, whilst the account in tenants name, landlord would retain a vested interest as such.

But as I've explained, there's really no sense to an objection, perhaps they think there's a charge when there is not.

Yep that's it and in essence if a customer gets one or not, over time every one will pay but crucially nothing upfront and I suspect there will come a time we're customers who've not had one installed within a prescribed roll out, they could potentially be charged for installation, albeit, that's quite some time away

That's perhaps true but a little dramatic and a condition reserved in cases of absolute emergencies, hardly appropriate in this situation.

This Roll out is about upgrading the systems throughout the entire country for I presume the long term benifit of everyone. I've no personal objection and respect everyone decision to install or not. Theres no hooded ESB technician special operations team being sent out to rip out old meters, infact installation are being done by a contracted company under total supervision of ESB Networks.

There's absolutely NO suggestion or even hint, amyone is being forced into a decision and as I've stated there is currently a choice.

Honestly I'm no property law expert but I'd lean more on the side that any physical installation or indeed removal would require the properties owners consent. Let's also not forget the Meter is not the account holders property, their only obligation is to pay the bill. Also worth pointing out the actual account may not even be with the ESB, this is ultimately down to the physical installation and removal of fitted equipment that is owned, always by ESB networks. Also worth pointing out only authorised ESB technicians can connect or disconnect a meter.

The consent aspect has also partly a common courteousy element to it.

The conspiracy theories I'll leave to other threads but my god, there are some wild ones out there, I'm happy however, to confirm my Cat hasn't grown horns, since mine was installed two years ago 🙄

You certainly had to get the landlords permission to change the meter in the past, I had this enquiry made to me when I was a landlord by electric OR networks Ireland when a tenant I had wanted to change to a prepay meter (on the behest of Electric Ireland) as the bill wasnt being paid. My understanding was, Id have to consent for some reason or other, but also because the meter was free to install, but not free to change back.

Yes,there is a charge of e5.50 per bill for several years chargeable to all ESB personal customers to pay for the installation.The ESB state this in the blurb around the new meters.

Absolutely, where are people getting their information from. What part of no upfront charges are people not getting, we're is this absurd €5.50 per bill coming from, it's complete nonsense.

Not only was mine installed nearly two years ago, I've not had a single charge applied to my bill relating to installing a smart meter and I'm an electric Ireland customer.

I wish people would check their facts, or better still actually read this thread we're they'll see clear information on the facts pertaining to the cost of installing smart meters.

Perhaps "Not So Smart" meters could be considered for some 😊

Nope, its exactly the same, that was not that prepay power crowd, it was networks that changed what was in the electric meter box they changed the meter and added a device connected to it to input a code when you bought a top up and electric Ireland were the supplier anyway, They required permission to do that, because they told me I needed to grant it, this was not like someone changing their account supplier.

Changing your meter does not change your tariff. The tariff you choose is your choice. The smart meter gives you access to a whole range of new tariffs, but does not oblige you to use any of them. You may not be able to change the meter back, but you can always change your tariff and the flat rate will remain available as long as people have old meters, they may become less competitive though.