I can't charge my electric car cheaply because I'm too close to an RAF base
Miles Brignall
Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian
A few months ago I decided to switch energy supplier and moved to Octopus Energy's Go tariff, principally because it offers cheap electric car charging overnight at a rate of 5p/kWh.
I applied to have the required smart meter installed. But after being given a date, I was later declined on the basis that smart meters cannot work at my address because they interfere with the missile early warning system at RAF Fylingdales.
Initially, I thought this was a joke. I have been involved with the construction of hundreds of new homes in Teesside, all of which have had smart meters installed.
Smart Energy GB, the body responsible for the rollout, has confirmed that this is very real, and smart meters installed in the area will not have had their smart capacity turned on.
I was told that a new meter is being worked upon and will eventually replace those already installed.
Meanwhile, I am having to charge my car at a premium rate of 16.76p/kWh which is costing me about £26 more a week than it would be on the Go tariff.
AM, Guisborough
Given that your house is more than 20 miles from the RAF base in question, I, too, was amazed that this could be an issue, but it is – and also in other areas close to bases.
Smart Meter GB has confirmed this is the case and says it is working on a solution – a communications hub that will enable people living near sensitive RAF sites to use smart meters.
It says these will be offered to customers "in the coming months".
It adds those in the affected area, who had already had smart meters installed should be able to have the hubs retrofitted.
Meanwhile, Octopus has come up with a solution for your problem. It has offered to add you to the trial of these new meters, which, in turn, will allow you to go on the Go tariff.
It says it hopes to install your new meter before Christmas. It has also said that if you get the log from your charging firm, showing how much electricity you have used for the car since the switch took place, it will retroactively apply the savings that you would have gained had the smart meter worked from the start – a generous offer.
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