Your smart meter may be malfunctioning (Image: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images) Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Households with smart meters are being advised to check if their device is working or risk paying more than they have to. Government data has found that millions of the devices designed to lower bills and simplify payments did not work properly last year. This means that affected units had to rely on estimates, which can often charge more and customers can often struggle to get this money back. A report issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) last week found that four million smart meters out of the 35 million installed across
Britain in 2023 were found to be "operating in traditional mode" - meaning they were failing to send readings to providers. Read More Related Articles Octopus Energy issues important bill payment advice to save £80 a year Read More Related Articles Ofgem to consider 'time-of-use' price cap to help reduce households bills However, there are signs to spot which indicate a malfunctioning meter, including one notification that means homes should contact their energy provider right away. Smart meters measure how much gas and electricity is used by a home, with separate readings for both and come with a nifty in-home display to track usage. They do not run on WiFi , instead working with a secure national communication network (called the DCC) to to automatically and wirelessly send actual energy usage to your supplier every half an hour. But many homes may be using a faulty smart meter without realising and you can read below to find out if yous is not working. Top Trending Stories Today Temu money warning Spot hidden number in OOO's Storm Nelson to batter
Scotland How much VED will cost you How can I tell if my smart meter is broken? Households may have to pay estimated bills if their smart meter is faulty (Image: Getty Images) One thing suspecting customers should look out for is an e symbol that shows up on it to warn of an error, according to Citizens Advice, which advises those who spot it to call their supplier straight away. This that the meter is no longer sending accurate readings regularly, which will put households bills back on relying on estimated amounts - which can often be more than owed. It could also be a sign of a wider issue that could leave homes with no energy if ignored. Another thing to look out for is if you notice that your bill is higher than usual, but Citizen Advice adds that this is often caused by something else. In addition, if you receive an unexpected bill, this may mean that your meter is faulty. Remember, it is the supplier 's responsibility for making sure your meter works properly. If you're renting and your landlord pays the energy bills, tell them you think the meter might be faulty. They will be responsible for contacting the energy supplier and sorting out the issue. Top Health Stories Today Nutrients to prevent eyesight loss
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