Incahoot Energy Guide

A smart meter is smarter than current digital and mechanical meters because it does not need to be read by a person. The smart meter takes automatic readings of your energy usage, and sends the readings via a mobile communications link to your energy company, who use this data to produce an accurate gas and electricity bill.

Smart meters provide online visibility of your energy usage, giving you the opportunity to see where you use the most energy, where you waste energy and how you can change your behaviour to save energy and save money.   "Smart meters can reduce household energy bills by 5-10%" Energy Saving Trust.

No, smart meter installation is free of charge for all new customers who sign up to the Smart tariff.

Your electricity meter readings are recorded every 30 minutes and your gas once every 24 hours. Under normal circumstances we retrieve this data once a day so that it can be viewed by you on your First Utility online account. In cases where daily communications may be unreliable, the interval readings are stored in the meter for 40 days, giving us ample opportunity to retry the collection process.

Yes, you can still take a manual reading from your smart meter. Refer to the How to read your meter guide for more information. However, one of the benefits of having a smart meter installed is that you do not have to take any manual reads. The meter regularly communicates with First Utility and the data is collected so that we can provide you with accurate bills.

In most cases smart meters are installed with no problems at all. Occasionally we have found that we are unable to do so due to a number of reasons beyond our control. These include:

• A weak mobile signal (smart meters communicate using mobile technology, therefore a weak signal will prevent the meter sending the reads to our head office)
• Where the meter is not accessible. For example, some meters are concealed in units that are located in the ground. Our engineers require clear access to the meter and enough room to move around safely.
• Where there is not enough room to mount the meter. Our smart meter might be slightly larger than your existing meter so our engineers may discover that there is not enough space. Additionally we do not move the meter positions whilst exchanging so our engineer will not be able to complete the installation.
• Where there is damage to the meter mounting board, meter box (including broken or missing doors) or evidence of overheated wires and/or electrical equipment around the meter, or absence of a gas Emergency Control Valve. We may be able to do some remedial work for which you may be charged.
• Where the engineer is unable to obtain sufficient communications signal strength. If you have trouble using your mobile phone at home, this may indicate that we will be unable to complete your meter installation, although we will try an alternative network sim card to see if a signal can be obtained.
• Where the gas meter is mounted in an outside ground meter box. Our smart metering system requires a dry installation above ground. We can normally modify the current meter box but you may incur an additional charge.

Please remember, our engineers do not know the location or state of your existing meter until they have visited your property and conducted a quick survey which includes a safety assessment of the meter installation.

An electricity monitor, or energy monitoring unit, is a visual device that you can have in your home, which will give you a quick estimated view of how much electricity you use at certain times of the day, how much it costs and the level of CO2 your household is emitting. It is not a smart meter - only smart meters give accurate energy bills based on actual usage - but it can be useful for highlighting where you can cut down on your electricity.

A Fixed Dual fuel discount of £90 (Inc VAT) for electricity and £90 for gas (Inc VAT) per annum, is paid annually after consecutive direct debit payments and is subject to a minimum total spend of £600 (inc VAT) per annum.

Payment will be made as a credit to the customers account on the 11th month of the first year.

First:Utility will not exchange meters on independent gas or electricity networks identified by 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 MPANs and 74 and 75 MPRNs because of the potentially high termination fees that may be charged by independent network operators when we exchange meters.

The following post codes cannot be supported and are considered out of area:-

ZE1, ZE2, ZE3, KW1, KW15, KW16, KW17, HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, HS6, HS7, HS8, HS9, KA11, KA12, KA13, KA14, KA14, KA15, KA20, KA21, KA22, KA23, KA24, KA25, KA27, KA28, KA29, KA3, KA30, PA17, TR21, TR22, TR23, TR24, TR25

No. Only smart meters can provide 100% accurate bills each month.

No. This tariff is dual fuel only.

The MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) relates to your gas supply. It is also known as the "supply number" or "M number".

The MPRN number consists of 6 and 10 numerical digits and is usually found in small print at the bottom of your gas bill. Your MPRN is not your gas supplier account number or the meter serial number printed on the meter itself.

If your MPRN is not printed on a recent gas bill or if you have just moved into your home and do not yet have a gas bill or an old gas bill, please call National Grid on 0870 608 1524 and they will be able to tell you your MPRN.

The MPAN (Metering Point Administration Number) relates to your electricity supply.

It is also known as the "supply number" or "M number" and can be found on any of your recent electricity bills.

The format of an MPAN is always a standard grid.

• An 'S' always appears on the Left ( it won't ever be another letter)

• The top row of numbers is always made up of 8 digits separated in three boxes.
• The bottom row is always made up of 13 digits, separated in four boxes. It is this number that you will need to input when you are switching to First Utility.
  

The MPAN/MPRN is unique to each home.

Your MPAN/MPRN is needed when you switch to First Utility so they know they are supplying the right place! 

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