In praise of Dave

 

Smart meters have been a bit of a saga for me.  I'm quite motivated by "numbers" so I wanted them.  

My first one was fitted about six years ago when I was with Eon.  It wouldn't "talk" to EDF when I changed so it was changed to new ones which would talk to neither my supplier nor my in-home display.  And EDF couldn't fix it and refused to replace it so I had a dumb meter.  Eventually EDF was so bad I complained to the ombudsman and got some compensation but no new meter.

A few months ago I changed to British Gas.  They have been very keen to sort the situation.  The electricity meter was swapped before Christmas but there was a problem with the gas meter.  Today Dave arrived.

What a perfect gent Dave is!  He arrived with overshoes and immediately showed his identification.  He chatted but left me to eat my breakfast in peace.  He noticed that there was a bag of rubbish waiting to go to the bin and took it there for me, realising that I might be worried for my safety in this ice weather. There was a considerable problem in changing the meter but he persevered and it is now up and running.  He not only explained the in home display but he also told me about the app and gave me useful energy saving advice.  A wonderful ambassador for his company.  

I know we all have problems with different suppliers but wouldn't it be wonderful if they all employed Daves?  

E is for Energy Gap

 

I googled "energy gap" looking for the old advert about snacks  to get you through (can't remember which snack!) but was surprised to find that energy gap a "thing" in physics!  I never was much of a scientist.

What I am is a woman who is in her personal energy gap today!  I feel as though I have been busy this week.  I've visited a couple of friends who are ill or have been in hospital.    I've led on-line worship.  I've been to a new sewing group.  I've sorted a new bank account.  I've done a day of doggy day care.  Come to that, this is my fourth blog post of the week!

And I've hit my personal energy gap.  No oomph.  No mojo.  My get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone.

I feel OK with that.  There's nothing spoiling.  Everything can wait until tomorrow.  I need to give myself a little TLC.  Soup from the freezer.  A nap.  Maybe paint my nails.  Or maybe not.

How do you deal with energy gaps?

E is for Enegy and EDF

 I am not one of nature's ranters but EDF has got right up my nose!

I think I am one of the luckiest people on the planet because I bought a thirty month energy fix last August before prices went haywire.  My monthly direct debit is very low now compared to many especially as I have built up a large credit over the last year.  I've had a more efficient  boiler installed and I have been replacing quite a few appliances with energy efficient jobbies as the old ones have come to the end of their life.

Where I am not lucky is in my smart meter!  I am very pro smart meter and I used to have one which worked well and definitely helped me reduce my usage.  However, it was replaced about eighteen months ago and the new one, although it is supposed to be smart is DUMB!  It won't communicate with EDF and the in-home display won't work either.  

I complained to EDF and an engineer came and said the chances of it ever communicating with EDF are negligible and it needs replacing but EDF won't do that.  My meters have to be read manually and as I am disabled that is difficult for me - which is why I want a smart meter.  Initially they said they would read quarterly (because of my disability), then they said annually, and now it will be only once every two years!!!  

It is read only biennially so I will receive an accurate bill only once every two years.  The corrections will be made at the end of those two years at the rate chargeable at that time.    I shall have to ask other people to read it for me.

This makes me really angry.  The change of frequency has received no publicity and it will hit vulnerable people very hard.   I am OK but please help anyone who might need help in meter reading and submission of readings.