In pursuit of making it easy to switch energy supplier the UK Government introduced regulations to make the whole process straightforward. In a similar time frame they targeted all households to have a smart meter. Unfortunately these two initiatives were not working hand in hand so we now have a system whereby every time you change supplier you need a new smart meter.
In the past 5 years I’ve switched 3 times – British Gas to Ovo to First Utility which morphed into Shell and I’m in the process of moving to Pure Planet.
I’ve been asked for a meter reading by Pure Planet. Shock horror I haven’t read my meters for over 2 years because that’s what the smart meter does. If Pure Planet wants to know my readings ask Shell!!! I try to comply however the gas meter is so close to the edge of the box I can barely fit my phone in to photograph the display.
And no I cannot decipher the reading… What a waste of time and effort because Pure Planet are going to have to install another smart meter and I hope this time it will be a universal meter so that whoever is my supplier in the future they can read my meter without my intervention. I’m starting to wish I had never bothered switching because the financial gain is going to be minimal. So why switch? Firstly there is a small financial saving, secondly Pure Planet only supply electricity generated by green sources and thirdly I didn’t want to become one of those people who are too frightened to change as one gets older. I may live to regret my well reasoned thinking.
