Esb smart meter

tismesoitis · 26-06-2020 9:06am #1

Has anyone had one of these new meters fitted in their meter box. We had one fitted about 3 months ago (just before lockdown) and have noticed a significant spike in our power usage. Not sure if it's a case of the new meter is recording wrong or the old one was out. All I know is our usage for May was almost 1200 units when our normal usage is roughly 1400 for 2 months. Now I do realise lockdown has meant the kids have been home more so maybe power usage is up but it seems excessive. Thanks in advance.

tallaghtjoe · 26-06-2020 9:19am

Funny you mention that, we thought the same. We are building at the moment and got our first bill a couple of weeks ago at e280 - this was 1433 units. (The usage in our current house, wouldnt be anywhere near this) I thought this was v high considering we arent in the house yet and no appliances running, just whatever the builders are using. We have air to water so wasnt really sure how much it might be. This has now been switched off the last month while we are getting the tiling done, so im interested to see what the usage is and what next bill is, as the usage would be minimal - radio, saws etc. I'll be keeping an eye over it and hoping it balances over the next few months.

tismesoitis · 26-06-2020 9:26am

tallaghtjoe wrote: »

Funny you mention that, we thought the same. We are building at the moment and got our first bill a couple of weeks ago at e280 - this was 1433 units. (The usage in our current house, wouldnt be anywhere near this) I thought this was v high considering we arent in the house yet and no appliances running, just whatever the builders are using. We have air to water so wasnt really sure how much it might be. This has now been switched off the last month while we are getting the tiling done, so im interested to see what the usage is and what next bill is, as the usage would be minimal - radio, saws etc. I'll be keeping an eye over it and hoping it balances over the next few months.

Yeah we've decided just to watch it close for the next couple of bills.

autumnalcore · 27-06-2020 2:52am

If your old meter was mechanical it may well have been running slow but its highly unlikely to have been that slow. You havn't been heating a paddling pool or anything?

John.G · 27-06-2020 1:23pm

If you run a fairly high consumption user like a immersion of known wattage then you could monitor the usage, the old mechanical meters were quite smart in their own way, they measured the usage in tenths of a kwh and also had a rotating disc to help calculate the power consumption, mine is 225 revs/kwh, do the new meters measure the kwh in decimals?.

coylemj · 27-06-2020 3:35pm

John.G wrote: »

...do the new meters measure the kwh in decimals?.

Mine doesn't. Installed in March last, make & model is 'Kamstrup DK-8660' and it shows whole kWh units only, no decimals. Usage so far is in line with previous consumption.

chewed · 17-07-2020 11:24am

With these new smart meters, can you avail of night saver options with suppliers? Or will this be a separate unit?

coylemj · 17-07-2020 11:49am

chewed wrote: »

With these new smart meters, can you avail of night saver options with suppliers? Or will this be a separate unit?

Yes, the suppliers will be rolling out price schemes which encourage you to avoid period of peak demand, you won't need a separate unit. It's supposed to happen by 2021, might be delayed a bit but my smart meter was installed during the lockdown so it could happen next year.

The regulator has decided that there will be three tariff rates: Day (08:00-23:00), Night (23:00-08:00) and Peak (17:00-19:00).

Essentially, the new tariffs will encourge people to set the immersion timer to heat the water before 8 a.m., not use the dishwasher or washing machine between 5 and 7 p.m. and avoid giving the immersion a boost between 5 and 7 p.m.

This is from the ESB FAQ on smart meters....

Currently your electricity meter is manually read by ESB Networks up to four times per year. Smart meters will be able to automatically send your meter readings to ESB Networks so the need for estimated bills will be significant reduced.

When smart meters are fully operational, you will have a choice to be provided with more accurate information about your energy usage to allow you to better manage your bills with greater accuracy than at present. This information will also enable you to be more energy efficient, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

From 2021 onwards, electricity supply companies will begin to offer new smart products and services, giving you more choice and enabling you to shift some of your consumption to off peak times of the day when electricity is cheaper

chewed · 17-07-2020 12:08pm

coylemj wrote: »

Yes, the suppliers will be rolling out price schemes which encourage you to avoid period of peak demand, you won't need a separate unit. It's supposed to happen by 2021, might be delayed a bit but my smart meter was installed during the lockdown so it could happen next year.

The regulator has decided that there will be three tariff rates: Day (08:00-23:00), Night (23:00-08:00) and Peak (17:00-19:00).

Essentially, the new tariffs will encourge people to set the immersion timer to heat the water before 8 a.m., not use the dishwasher or washing machine between 5 and 7 p.m. and avoid giving the immersion a boost between 5 and 7 p.m.

This is from the ESB FAQ on smart meters....

Currently your electricity meter is manually read by ESB Networks up to four times per year. Smart meters will be able to automatically send your meter readings to ESB Networks so the need for estimated bills will be significant reduced.

When smart meters are fully operational, you will have a choice to be provided with more accurate information about your energy usage to allow you to better manage your bills with greater accuracy than at present. This information will also enable you to be more energy efficient, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

From 2021 onwards, electricity supply companies will begin to offer new smart products and services, giving you more choice and enabling you to shift some of your consumption to off peak times of the day when electricity is cheaper

Cheers for info. I just moved to SSE Airtricity today and was asking if my new smart meter could be used for the night saver option. The guy on the phone didn't seem to have any idea about it.

autumnalcore · 20-07-2020 6:33pm

chewed wrote: »

Cheers for info. I just moved to SSE Airtricity today and was asking if my new smart meter could be used for the night saver option. The guy on the phone didn't seem to have any idea about it.

You can, but depending on usage the cheapest 24 hour tarriff at the moment can work out cheaper. Why did you go with SSE they are not near the cheapest.

beachhead · 17-12-2020 2:47pm

Anyone got more info on these smart meters:- country of manufacture,date of manufacture,model number etc One poster said model Kamstrup DK 8660 which is Danish.The KN/CNET appointment staff say they are made in Ireland.A KN engineer says Denmark.I do not want a UK cast off where they were/are a disaster for households.The meters will become fully active once a sufficient installation level has been reached in the Republic-probably late '21,1st half of '22

coylemj · 18-12-2020 5:26pm

beachhead wrote: »

Anyone got more info on these smart meters:- country of manufacture,date of manufacture,model number etc One poster said model Kamstrup DK 8660 which is Danish.The KN/CNET appointment staff say they are made in Ireland.A KN engineer says Denmark.I do not want a UK cast off where they were/are a disaster for households.

When you're notified of the proposed installation, ring the number on the letter and discuss it with them.

kierank01 · 18-12-2020 11:02pm

coylemj wrote: »

When you're notified of the proposed installation, ring the number on the letter and discuss it with them.

How are people notified?
I got a letter in the postbox today, addressed to someone who doesn't live here, with ESBN smart metering programme on the return address.

I have been in the house 2 years, and the meter is in my name.
I have an electric car, and am on a day/night meter.

I sent esbn an email, but haven't opened the letter.

beachhead · 19-12-2020 12:45am

coylemj wrote: »

When you're notified of the proposed installation, ring the number on the letter and discuss it with them.

The appointment don't have a clue about the meters.They take your details and that's it.All call centre staff answering the phones.When I get round to it I will cal ESB Networks directly in Fitzwilliam St,Dublin 2.The ESB number on the top right hand side of the notification is call centre line.

beachhead · 19-12-2020 12:49am

kierank01 wrote: »

How are people notified?
I got a letter in the postbox today, addressed to someone who doesn't live here, with ESBN smart metering programme on the return address.

I have been in the house 2 years, and the meter is in my name.
I have an electric car, and am on a day/night meter.

I sent esbn an email, but haven't opened the letter.

Changing to a smart meter is not compulsory.But as the minister said it's not compulsory until it's mandatory or whatever she said.KN/CNET will call in person to your address regardless of whether you open the letter/make an installation appointment.You can refuse to accept it.

kevdoc · 27-02-2021 2:04pm

I got a new smart meter in October. My problem is my meter reading has gone up by 100 units last 2 months. Anyone same experience?

John.G · 27-02-2021 5:47pm

These meters arn't as smart as the old ones but you can do a quick check with the very limited "tool" on this meter.

You will see a blinking red LED, 1000 blinks = 1kwh or 1000wh so if you have a electric kettle (or any known fairly big demand of around 1kw) you will see the power in W (watts) underneath, normally 2500W.
unplug/ensure off all the heavy users ie dishwasher,wasmachine, fridges etc and fill the kettle with cold water and switch on.
Get your stopwatch and start it on any red blink, 10 blinks later stop your "watch" and note the time. the power is 10*3600/time in secs. ie if time recorded was 14.4 secs, then power = 10*3600/14.4, 2500 watts.

Tony H · 06-03-2021 12:58pm

when ESB networks installed a smart meter they put this fuse
see attached file , does this mean that the system is now rated for 80A ?

Gooser14 · 06-03-2021 1:09pm

Tony H wrote:

when ESB networks installed a smart meter they put this fuse see attached file , does this mean that the system is now rated for 80A ?

Any chance of posting an image of the smart meter?

Tony H · 06-03-2021 1:16pm

Gooser14 wrote: »

Any chance of posting an image of the smart meter?

here's one

KCross · 06-03-2021 1:22pm

Tony H wrote: »

when ESB networks installed a smart meter they put this fuse
see attached file , does this mean that the system is now rated for 80A ?

That can have a 60A or 80A fuse. You won’t know which unless you ask ESB.

If you have a heat pump it’s probably an 80A.

Tony H · 06-03-2021 1:26pm

KCross wrote: »

That can have a 60A or 80A fuse. You won’t know which unless you ask ESB.

If you have a heat pump it’s probably an 80A.

no heat pump but we have an electric shower , but he wouldn't know that ,( just got curious when I saw this on my electric ireland account

Description

Smart GPRS 1PH WC 5(100) AMPS

Smart meter comms level

Level 4

coylemj · 06-03-2021 5:34pm

Bord Gais now offering 'smart plans' for electricity if you have a smart meter......

https://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/home/residential-smart-meters

Chawosfski · 06-03-2021 5:58pm

Tony H wrote: »

when ESB networks installed a smart meter they put this fuse
see attached file , does this mean that the system is now rated for 80A ?

Simply changing the esbn fuse doesn't upgrade your supply

Supply capacity is determined by the original application, Esbn service and fuse and the consumer tails and consumers main protective device

The old system with 10sq tails and 50 amp consumers main fuse , I would call 10kva

The standard is 12kva and the newer 16kva

It might be possible to upgrade supply without upgrading tails and consumers main protective device when car charging comes in, but that hasn't been the norm yet.

Dempo1 · 06-03-2021 6:03pm

Mine has been installed almost a year now and I've seen an increase in costs. The strangest thing being these meters are still not being used for billing purposes, basically I still have a guy calling to read meter and when missed I have to submit a reading. I understood it would be a while before meters read remotely but a year later and still not happening is odd plus an increase of about €30 per bi monthly bill with no increase of usage on my end

irishgeo · 06-03-2021 6:49pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

Mine has been installed almost a year now and I've seen an increase in costs. The strangest thing being these meters are still not being used for billing purposes, basically I still have a guy calling to read meter and when missed I have to submit a reading. I understood it would be a while before meters read remotely but a year later and still not happening is odd plus an increase of about €30 per bi monthly bill with no increase of usage on my end

The PSO levy went for everyone so thats 10 euro on your bi monthly bill.

murpho999 · 08-03-2021 11:40am

A friend of mine is trying to switch her provider.

Where she lives there are 2 of the new smart meters, one for her and one for neighbours.

How can it be identified as neither have an MPRN number on them.
They both have an RM number on them which does not correspond to MPRN.

Any ideas?
Thanks.

CoBo55 · 08-03-2021 1:06pm

murpho999 wrote: »

A friend of mine is trying to switch her provider.

Where she lives there are 2 of the new smart meters, one for her and one for neighbours.

How can it be identified as neither have an MPRN number on them.
They both have an RM number on them which does not correspond to MPRN.

Any ideas?
Thanks.

There should be a separate meter number on the bill. They could always try turning on the immersion or electric shower and see which meter starts flashing more quickly.

murpho999 · 08-03-2021 2:35pm

CoBo55 wrote: »

There should be a separate meter number on the bill. They could always try turning on the immersion or electric shower and see which meter starts flashing more quickly.

Ha ha, good idea.

She got it sorted. Bill only has the MPRN on it but new meters have RM number on them that only the provider can tell which MPRN it is.

Very strange.

CoBo55 · 08-03-2021 3:02pm

murpho999 wrote: »

Ha ha, good idea.

She got it sorted. Bill only has the MPRN on it but new meters have RM number on them that only the provider can tell which MPRN it is.

Very strange.

I'm with energia, I'm almost certain there's a meter number on the bill above the mprn, I'll check later.

murpho999 · 08-03-2021 7:16pm

CoBo55 wrote: »

I'm with energia, I'm almost certain there's a meter number on the bill above the mprn, I'll check later.

OK, it's no problem,

I just checked my own bill with Bord Gais and it does have a meter number and MPRN.

However, the problem was that my friend is currently with Pinergy on Pre Pay and doesn't receive any bills but needed the meter reading to switch to Energia,

All is resolved now, thanks for your help.

crossmolinalad · 10-03-2021 12:51pm

coylemj wrote: »

Bord Gais now offering 'smart plans' for electricity if you have a smart meter......

https://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/home/residential-smart-meters

Like it but site says only if you have a smartmeter
How to get a smartmeter ???

KCross · 10-03-2021 2:08pm

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Like it but site says only if you have a smartmeter
How to get a smartmeter ???

You will get one automatically over the coming years.

If you want to be bumped up the list you ask your electricity provider to request it.

causewayer · 31-05-2021 3:34pm

I had a Smart Meter fitted in April and the ESB have made it active. However, my provider has advised that the ESB have notified them that after testing for a month, the CTF value is 01. Therefore, they can only offer me one 'smart' tariff (Day/Peak/Night) but it's not one of the best rates they offer.

CTF (Communications Technically Feasible) is a check that ESB Networks perform regularly on each meter installation to establish the reliability of communications from the smart meter to the head end system across the 2G telecommunications network.

01 (Comms proving failed)
02 (Non Interval Service Standard)
03 (Interval Service Standard)
04 (Remote Re-Energisation Pre Payment standard of quality)

I can't understand this, as according to the ComReg 2G coverage map my location and general area are all 'Very good' (the best) coverage. I'm close to masts and the terrain is flat.

I wonder if there is an issue with the 2G device on the meter.

No response from ESB. I guess they are not interested in individual comms issues like this.

Anyone any ideas?

chewed · 31-05-2021 4:13pm

I still don't understand the point of these smart meters. I'm with Airtricity and I keep having to submit my own reading to them. And I want to move to Energia as they have an EV Car deal, but found out that I'd need to have a day/night meter.

Am I wrong in thinking that a smart meter should have the same technology as a day/night meter?

KCross · 31-05-2021 4:28pm

chewed wrote: »

Am I wrong in thinking that a smart meter should have the same technology as a day/night meter?

No, very different.

Day/Night meter has two counters built-in.... day and night (and total). You then decide if you want to pay a day/night tariff or a 24hr tariff. No other choices and it requires manual reading.

The smart meters record usage on a 15-30min interval and send that data back to Eirgrid automatically (no meter reader anymore) for processing. Its then up to your provider to decide how they want to aggregate that data and bill you.

KCross · 31-05-2021 4:33pm

causewayer wrote: »

I had a Smart Meter fitted in April and the ESB have made it active. However, my provider has advised that the ESB have notified them that after testing for a month, the CTF value is 01. Therefore, they can only offer me one 'smart' tariff (Day/Peak/Night) but it's not one of the best rates they offer.

Sounds like a bit of a fob off. Its surely up to Eirgrid to fix the issue.

If your provider is not sorting it out on your behalf I'd try discussing with the CRU and see if they can move things along.

Having said that, the current smart-meter tariffs do not appear to be competitive relative to standard day/night tariffs so you might be stuck with a plan that is not the cheapest simply because you have a smart-meter.

Who is your provider and what rate/plan are they "forcing" you into?

causewayer · 31-05-2021 11:14pm

BGE:
Day: 17.36c
Night: 12.81c
Peak 21.14c
VAT inclusive

crossmolinalad · 01-06-2021 10:05am

causewayer wrote: »

I can't understand this, as according to the ComReg 2G coverage map my location and general area are all 'Very good' (the best) coverage. I'm close to masts and the terrain is flat.

Anyone any ideas?

It depends how close
where i live i can see the water tower out of my window and its full of antennas for 2/3/4/5G and still no signal for the mobile phone
Answer of my question to the providers was you could be to close to the mast so the signals are going to high over your property so you live in an empty space

Gooser14 · 01-06-2021 11:11am

Are you receiving a signal outside your house? If you are it might be the insulation in your house that is preventing a good quality signal inside your house.

Calahonda52 · 01-06-2021 12:44pm

KCross wrote: »

No, very different.

Day/Night meter has two counters built-in.... day and night (and total). You then decide if you want to pay a day/night tariff or a 24hr tariff. No other choices and it requires manual reading.

The smart meters record usage on a 15-30min interval and send that data back to Eirgrid automatically (no meter reader anymore) for processing. Its then up to your provider to decide how they want to aggregate that data and bill you.

So where is ESB-N in this equation re smart meter installations.

However it's a serious issue if day night is no longer available and that we get fcuked over with exorbitant tariffs over which we have no control.

Bad day

causewayer · 02-06-2021 12:34am

I have good coverage for my normal 4G phone use inside and outside. When I switch my phone to 2G to test for the smart meter, I have a full signal outside and also inside the house including on the other side of the exterior wall as my smart meter. That's why it doesnt seem right that the ESB reports:
CTF Value as 01 = Communications proving for the MPRN has failed = Only manual reading is possible for this meter = Indicative success rate 0 – 4 days per month.

coylemj · 02-06-2021 11:34am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

So where is ESB-N in this equation re smart meter installations.

However it's a serious issue if day night is no longer available and that we get fcuked over with exorbitant tariffs over which we have no control.

Bad day

The regulator has stipulated that there will be three charging periods, it's not down to ESB-N or your supplier......

Day = 08:00 to 23:00 (excluding ‘Peak’)
Night = 23:00 to 08:00 (single night rate)
Peak = 17:00-19:00

Calahonda52 · 02-06-2021 1:22pm

coylemj wrote: »

The regulator has stipulated that there will be three charging periods, it's not down to ESB-N or your supplier......
Day = 08:00 to 23:00 (excluding ‘Peak’)

Night = 23:00 to 08:00 (single night rate)

Peak = 17:00-19:00

Thanks, my issue is with the comms failure as described above
then who sets the rates if a comms failure?

ps is there a winter/summer shift as before?

04-06-2021 2:34pm

chewed wrote: »

I still don't understand the point of these smart meters. I'm with Airtricity and I keep having to submit my own reading to them.

You have to call Airtricity to activate the meter. Once you do that you don't have to submit readings.

daheff · 12-08-2021 11:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117327615#Comment_117327615

Basically they are adding a new PEAK time zone so they can charge more for that.

It's BS.

fritzelly · 27-08-2021 6:50pm

Friend got a letter saying they'll be getting a smart meter in the next few months and asked me to look over the new plans

Currently they pay 0.1753 (assume plus VAT so 20c) for the electric and looking at the new plans they are gonna be paying a lot more bar a few hours at the end of the day

Am I missing something here?

27-08-2021 7:08pm

Just wondering what will happen when, inevitably, the mobile phone companies decide to switch off 2G services. They're not going to be around forever and I would doubt there are very many other users of 2G anymore.