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Smart meter

Smart meter

Postby Jillandsteve » Mon Jul 03, 2017 8:58 pm

HI,
We have recently had our electricity meter replaced with a new smart meter and now it seems to trip if I switch on the oven, microwave or even the electric kettle, when one or more are already on, i.e. It doesn't seem to take the extra shall load
Our electricity company is the usual iberdrola so does anyone have any ideas how to contact them or who else to contact to be this sorted
Do iberdrola have an English language service because even though I'm taking lessons I'm not yet at the fluent stage ?
Gracias
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Re: Smart meter

Postby Wales123 » Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:14 pm

Hi Jillandsteve,
All you have to do is look on your bill & there is a phone number on there to ring & ask to speak to someone in English.Hope this helps.
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Re: Smart meter

Postby PeteKnight » Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:52 am

It's tripping because you are using more power than you're contracted for. It didn't happen previously because the main trip in your fuse box is less sensitive than the new smart meters.
To fix the problem you need to move-up to a higher 'potentia'. Your current potential will be listed on your bill, probably something like 3.2kwh.
The problem is that Iberdrola will need a report from a qualified electrician stating that your wiring is capable of handling the increased power. Also, your bills will increase because each unit you use is multiplied by the potentia figure.

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Re: Smart meter

Postby QUESADALAD » Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:42 pm

Hi i have a english speaking phone number for Iberdrola friend of mine rang from my house it is 900 225 235 ,he was scottish and they understiood him ok.
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Re: Smart meter

Postby Juanita » Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:10 pm

No point contacting Iberdrola until you have the necessary certificate from an Electrician. We have the same problem, had an electrician round who advised me that due to the age of the property (about 20yrs) that the wiring would need replacing and due to the distance from the meter to the fuse box would entail major works possibly involving the digging up of our garden! He advised me to change my electric hob to a gas hob and get rid of the electric kettle!! Decided not to as my hob is new!! Strangely enough the electric went off today just after reading this topic and I was using the microwave with the electric oven on low! I am learning to live with it!
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Re: Smart meter

Postby jcee » Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:45 am

One of the reasons the power companies are so keen to roll out smart meter's is the facility to cut the supply if you exceed your contracted power. Simple test, if the meter is cutting the supply then all you need do is uprate your contracted amount from say 3.75 to 5.5kw. If the trip in your fuse box is cutting out you will need an electrician as has been stated previously. I uprated mine by visiting Iberdrola in Gardamar, the office is close to the large carpark just alongside the N332. They uprated the contract from single rate to duel rate. Problem with meter was corrected before I arrived home.
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Re: Smart meter

Postby marcliff » Wed Jul 05, 2017 11:33 pm

If you're on "5 something" then that will be 5.75Kw or 25 Amps. That is ample to avoid tripping. The older ones of 3.3Kw are the ones prone to this. Plus, there is no need to go on to different tariffs with smart meters as they charge you for the time of day or night when demand is lower or higher. Our bills have been reduced by at least a third since we had the smart meter installed and have never had anything trip (5.75kw contract). Average bills before the smart meter were approaching 200 euro every two months but have now come down to between 140 and 150.
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Re: Smart meter

Postby Jillandsteve » Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:11 pm

It seems, looking at my bill, that the 'potencia' is a measly 1.5 kW so I'm not surprised I get low bills and why it trips so often
How can I get the potencia raised without hassles ?
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