Electricity smart meter readings

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Electricity smart meter readings

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#240419 7-Sep-2018 08:59

I have, from what I can read externally, a Vector EDMI ATLAS Mk7C smart meter on the wall of our new house, it is certified in 2015. When I was talking with the previous home owner during inspections he mentioned he was with Electric Kiwi and how he timed dishwasher use etc to benefit. 2 months after we have moved in and having moved Electric Kiwi connections from our old address to the new address Electric Kiwi has informed us that they are not able to get meter readings from the meter company.

The meter company sent out a tech who changed the modem, his words, and put an aerial on the box, on the day it worked and the meter company while on the phone with him said it is working well. But he left and the meter is still no good according to EK. Does anyone know how these things work, what phone network, 2g, 3g, they use or something else. We have terrible phone coverage in the house and brought a sure signal which works really well but is it interfering or can we do something else to get this thing running properly. Meter company doesn't want to know anymore and EK have asked us to find another retailer.

1 | 2 | 3

3885 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1749

#2085611 7-Sep-2018 13:31

Something has caused the meter to loose cellphone reception. AFAIK the modems are only 2G on Vodafone. The Shure Signal broadcasts on 3G 2100MHZ So the smart meter can't connect to it.

Try setting a phone with a Vodafone SIM to 2G only, and see if it works near the meter. Try and work out where the local cellphone tower is. Maybe the van that was driven by the meter company tech, was acting as a signal reflector. Which would explain why it worked while he was there.

EK need the half hour data from the meter for their pricing model. Which is why they are telling you to switch power companies. You would have to switch to a company that still sends a meter reader round every month or so.

gregmcc

2173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 836

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2085697 7-Sep-2018 14:55

Don't let either EK or the meter company make it your problem, you pay a fixed charge on your power bill for metering etc they should fix it not you.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2085770 7-Sep-2018 16:48

gregmcc:

Don't let either EK or the meter company make it your problem, you pay a fixed charge on your power bill for metering etc they should fix it not you.

Nope not going to move yet.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2085785 7-Sep-2018 16:49

Aredwood: Something has caused the meter to loose cellphone reception. AFAIK the modems are only 2G on Vodafone. The Shure Signal broadcasts on 3G 2100MHZ So the smart meter can't connect to it.

Try setting a phone with a Vodafone SIM to 2G only, and see if it works near the meter. Try and work out where the local cellphone tower is. Maybe the van that was driven by the meter company tech, was acting as a signal reflector. Which would explain why it worked while he was there.

EK need the half hour data from the meter for their pricing model. Which is why they are telling you to switch power companies. You would have to switch to a company that still sends a meter reader round every month or so.

I will test on 2G when I get home. Might need to buy a wreck and park it where the tech van was and see if that helps.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2085835 7-Sep-2018 18:13

2G coverage at the meter box ranges from 2 to 4 bars. Calls connect with no issues.

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2085886 7-Sep-2018 19:09

Do the meters support both 2G bands? Could this be happening because of refarming of 900MHz for current technology and leaving the 1800 for obsolete devices? How are the metering companies planning on handling areas with no 2G that will need smart metering? Seems absurd they would just walk away from this as being too hard.

Richard rich.ms

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

SomeoneSomewhere

1882 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1086

Lifetime subscriber

#2090825 14-Sep-2018 17:45

I have it on good authority that the newer meters use 3G, I believe also on Voda. Replacing the meter with a new one might work.

I don't know which bands.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2091986 17-Sep-2018 14:50

So it would work with a sure signal?

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1461
Inactive user

#2091991 17-Sep-2018 15:07

For you, has EK ever had data from this Meter?

If they are getting some data, does the reading they have actually line up with your meter?
Does your bill show the correct meter serial number?

This sounds more like them asking for data for the wrong meter and getting told no data is available.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2091994 17-Sep-2018 15:12

richms:

Do the meters support both 2G bands? Could this be happening because of refarming of 900MHz for current technology and leaving the 1800 for obsolete devices? How are the metering companies planning on handling areas with no 2G that will need smart metering? Seems absurd they would just walk away from this as being too hard.

Last i looked at the re-framing VF have done, they still did 900mhz but just less carriers than originally.

They will have an agreement to when re-framing not reduce service levels.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2092055 17-Sep-2018 16:53

andrewNZ: For you, has EK ever had data from this Meter?

If they are getting some data, does the reading they have actually line up with your meter?
Does your bill show the correct meter serial number?

This sounds more like them asking for data for the wrong meter and getting told no data is available.

I wish I could tell you that information, but EK have been rather short on suppliing any useful information. The previous home owner had no issues with EK, the day he moved out and we moved in the readings stopped. The meter repair man talked with the meter company, assuming vector crowd, and they were getting readings. The readings for that day seems to match on my EK account but after that they kinda default to a random charge of 50+kWh a day.

I have an excel spreadsheet of the Hour of Power readings as I am always up between 6-7am. It should work itself out, not that we like this situation. I will go back to them tonight and ask for the meter details they are looking at and see if they can provide that information and double check with the smart meter people. Don't fancy my chances of getting anything decent back, they continually ask me for a final reading and want me to move ASAP. I am not moving yet.

I might also suggest a 3G meter as I have a sure signal so don't mind putting it closer to the meter. I also suggested to EK they look at some of the gadgets from openenergymonitor, there wifi kit with an optical reader should be super accurate and then EK could service people with no cell coverage, but a smart meter. Supply the wifi based readers for a refundable bond or a extra daily fee.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1461
Inactive user

#2092173 17-Sep-2018 20:28

Do you have a bill? Open it and look for information on the meter.

There should be the meter number and the start and end reading values. It may have other information that is valuable too.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2092275 18-Sep-2018 08:25

Several bills, no meter details, no start reading or fininsh reading. Tthey give me an ICP number, customer number, thats about it.

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2092964 19-Sep-2018 09:12

EK came back saying no 3G meters, they are not getting intermittent readings from our meter. Still no real effort to resolve the issues on their part.

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
1935 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 640

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#2092972 19-Sep-2018 09:25

My reply would be "not my problem, up to you and the metering company to resolve but feel free to come and take a manual reading in the mean time"

1 | 2 | 3