![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/warning-to-smart-meters-users-over-switching-providers/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/close-up-smart-meter-uk-757223564.jpg&description=Exclusive NOT SO SMART Published : 8:28, 3 Oct 2023 Updated : 8:28, 3 Oct 2023 When Lisa James checked her smart meter as usual one morning, she was surprised to see a blank screen staring back at her. She was no smart meter obsessive, but had got used to checking in on her energy usage and how much she was spending throughout the day. 1 It's become common for early smart meters to break after changing providers Credit: Getty Mrs James, from Teignmouth in Devon, found it reassuring and it meant she was in control of her spending as a pay-as-you-go energy customer . But when the pensioner was switched to Ovo in April this year after Ovo took over the SSE Energy Services brand, she found herself stuck with a broken display screen for almost six months. This meant she was unable to monitor her gas and electricity consumption for the whole period - defeating the point of having a smart meter installed. It hadn't been her choice to switch providers, but at the time she had been reassured it would be a seamless transfer, so she hadn't really minded. But after the switch, her smart meter display screen only read: "Lost network." Over the next few months, Mrs James pleaded with numerous Ovo customer service reps over the phone and sent several letters to the company, but no one could seem to help. "I just really want Ovo to send me a new display that works with its systems but they're ignoring me," she said. "I'm so worried that I have no idea how much I've been spending or when I need to top up." After The Sun got in touch, Ovo confirmed Mrs James' smart meter display had stopped working and sent her a replacement. The company also sent her flowers as an apology for the inconvenience. Mrs James is just one of potentially millions of energy customers who could be lumbered with a broken smart meter display after switching providers. This is because the problem typically lies with first generation smart meters, which were installed in around 15.7 million homes during the firs){kind=link}
When Lisa James checked her smart meter as usual one morning, she was surprised to see a blank screen staring back at her.
She was no smart meter obsessive, but had got used to checking in on her energy usage and how much she was spending throughout the day.
Mrs James, from Teignmouth in Devon, found it reassuring and it meant she was in control of her spending as a pay-as-you-go energy customer.
But when the pensioner was switched to Ovo in April this year after Ovo took over the SSE Energy Services brand, she found herself stuck with a broken display screen for almost six months.
This meant she was unable to monitor her gas and electricity consumption for the whole period – defeating the point of having a smart meter installed.