Posted by: @morgan

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@transparent Thank you.  Very much appreciated.

The manual you speak of 🤣 I will look for the model number and see if there's better information online.  The IHD was actually displaying correctly for the first few days with no reference to gas supply.

Although we don't have the same type of IHD, our's has the ability to be set for single fuel or dual fuel display, so it may be just a matter of changing a few settings.

@derek-m 

I've been through the settings and don't see that option available.  I'll take another look.

Having spent some time on Google it appears to be a common error still being looked at since a firmware update (geo trio 29-1 error code) 🤬 

Posted by: @morgan

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Having spent some time on Google it appears to be a common error still being looked at since a firmware update (geo trio 29-1 error code) 🤬 

This is one of the things that appears to be happening more frequently. Software or firmware updates are performed, which may cure one problem but then create two new ones. Does no one fully test their updates before releasing them on the unsuspecting public? 🙄 

Updates to Smart Meter equipment would usually be assessed by Energy Suppliers before they get propagated out to their customers.

So in @morgan's case I would suggest this error is reported through the Complaints Procedure to his Supplier, Octopus.
That starts the clock counting down the 9 weeks period before you can take the matter to the Ombudsman.

Here's a photo of OVO's Maxwell Lab, which is their in-house meter test facility:

Suppliers don't have to accept the default firmware issued by a manufacturer.
They can write some of their own code and add it to the system, for use solely by their customers.

@transparent Thank you for that. Clearly Octopus didn't check our area signal before ordering the smart meter.

Will an In-home display work without the WAN signal? The installing engineer didn't leave us one, but I assumed it wouldn't work.

I don't understand how Octopus could not have checked your area first. It's that check which allows DCC to specify the Communications Hub which is supplied to the installer.
Use the Octopus Complaints Service to register that you haven't got the WAN active. That gives them 9 weeks to resolve the issue, otherwise you can proceed to the Energy Ombudsman.

Did the installer not leave an IHD because it is no longer a standard part of the process, or because the system isn't yet commissioned?

An IHD can't work unless the WAN is live because it needs to be 'paired'/joined to your Comms Hub.
That is effected by the Energy Supplier sending a command via DCC across the WAN!

For the sake of others reading this...
No 'smart' device in the home can use the data and functionality of the Smart Meter unless it is first paired with the Comms Hub. That includes:

• Smart EV chargers
• Storage heaters
• other home appliances you wish to be triggered by low-cost periods in your tariff (tumble-driers etc)

In case you're wondering, the requirement of the EV Charging Regulations that all chargers must be 'smart' is mis-using the term.

The present generation of Smart EV chargers are not intrinsically smart.
Their 'smartness' is acquired by on/off commands being sent to them from a remote computer, usually owned by your Energy Supplier.
Those commands are being sent via the internet, rather than the National Smart Meter Network.

@transparent That all makes sense. I've no idea why octopus didn't check it out first, and it's bugger that the IHD doesnt work either. it would at least give us an ability to match use to PV generation. Thanks for your reply.

I'll try and give a brief account of my experience of smart meter installation for the amusement of all.  I accepted NPower's offer of a smart meter several years ago.  An engineer arrived, I took time of work to admit him.  He took one look at my gas line and said he was unable to proceed since it had a medium pressure connection and he wasn't certified to work on a medium pressure line. Npower would have to said another engineer. A second engineer arrived some time later and I took more time of work.  Same result, "can't proceed, I'm not certified to work on a medium pressure line.  Finally I got lucky and Npower sent an appropritaely qualified engineer to do the job (more time off work). Smart meters were installed and I loved it! For the first time I had a good idea of what I was using and where it was going.  In the meantime I was handed as a customer to EON and some time after that the electricity meter stopped working.  After considerable effort on my part I managed to convince EON that their meter was no longer recording my usage and an engineer came out and replaced it (more time off work). But when he came to do the smart meter guess what? "Can't do, not qualified to work on a medium pressure gas line." And as an added twist he said that there was no one at EON with such qualification and if I wanted a smart meter I would have to change supplier.  And yet every bill I got subsequently from EON reported that they were unable to communicate with my smart meter.  You really wonder if they have any idea what they are doing.

So now I have switched to Octopus.  I no long have gas because I have changed my combi boiler to an ASHP and I have requested a smart meter from Octopus. My fingers are crossed.

Anyone have an idea how long it might take for Octopus to get around to installing a smart meter for me? They seem unable or unwilling to give me any idea.

Posted by: @minos

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Anyone have an idea how long it might take for Octopus to get around to installing a smart meter for me? They seem unable or unwilling to give me any idea.

2 weeks for my case this year, others say 4 weeks

@fazel Thanks fazel

@minos the time taken to get a Smart Meter installed/commissioned/exchanged will depend on your locality.

1: Each Energy Supplier has their own in-house installation engineers, and options to use 3rd-party contractors.
Those installers wouldn't expect to be notified of a site until about 3-5 days before it is to occur.

2: Someone at your Energy Supplier will check your site against the National Smart Meter coverage database/map.
This is a protected resource which is continually updated to take account of:

• transmitters which are off-line or on reduced power
• other sites Smart Meters in the area which may have required SKU2 or SKU3 Communication Hubs with additional aerials
• the presence of any Mesh network in the area

3: The Data Communications Company (DCC) will assign the requisite Comms Hub for your site.
That remains their property.

4: The installation team manager for your area will allocate an ESME (electricity meter) and GSME (gas meter) from the stock that they hold.
Those will be assigned to one of his engineers who has had the relevant training on that model.

5: Each engineer can reasonably expect to undertake four installations each day.
If another site has failed on the previous day, the team manager may need to change your time-slot at the last minute.

For these reasons there are a number of variables which interact when trying to assess the time you will need to wait.
However, the Supplier will be working to targets which are set and monitored by Ofgem. So they get penalised if their administration lets you down.

In practice a brand new installation site gets higher priority than one which needs an exchange.
Swapping one ESME/Comms Hub for another won't help much in meeting Ofgem's targets.