Electricity meter on a wall
Tuesday 16th of August 2022 | Posted In: Contracts, Buying energy

New and replacement faulty electricity meters experiencing delays

With challenges in the production of certain types of electricity meters due to global supply chain disruption, there are delays being felt across the board with meter installations, smart meter fittings and the replacement of faulty meters.

Following Covid-19, manufacturers are playing catch-up and the UK faces supply challenges and component shortages impacting consumers across the world.

The technologies most affected are Half Hourly Low Voltage Current Transformer meters, AMRs (Automatic Meter Readers) and certain microchips required for Smart Metering.

This means that suppliers booking appointments with you to replace a faulty meter, install a smart meter or a new meter following a new grid connection may deliver jobs with severe delays.

What can I do if I have a faulty meter?

  • Do not ignore the fault and report it to the supplier right away to get it in the queue for repair.
  • If the fault means your smart meter or AMR is not reading correctly, take regular readings and submit them to your supplier to ensure your bills remain accurate.
  • If the fault means the meter is not reading consumption correctly, ask the supplier to temporarily get a check meter fitted to the meter (this may incur a cost) so it can prove that the meter is reporting the wrong consumption.

What can I do if I need a new meter installing?

  • When starting the project, allow for more time for the meter installation. Planning with the assumption of supply being ready by a certain date could leave you in a stressful situation further down the line.
  • If your installation is a Half Hourly new connection, you can choose which Meter Operator (MOP) you use to install the meter and maintain the meter. We recommend asking your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) who is managing the grid connection what type of meter is required and confirming with the MOP before signing with them whether they have these meters available and if not, what the waiting time would be. This could make a significant difference in the time it takes to go live.

At NFU Energy we can manage the process of your grid connection from the point of consulting with your DNO, appointing a Meter Operator, procuring the supply contract and the install appointment to save you time. If you would like our support with your project, please call us on 024 7669 8885.