Very dim meters

SIR – Consumers who have smart meters (report, March 6) and change suppliers will find that the meters no longer send data to the new suppliers. Those who want to continue with automatic data transfer will have to have the meters changed to those provided by the new supplier.

Consumers who choose not to go to this trouble will either have to put up with estimated bills, or provide their own readings, until a meter reader calls.

In my case this led to considerable confusion because, it turned out, the meter reader who called did not know how to read smart meters and submitted grossly inaccurate data. I continue to submit my own monthly readings, but this means that my supplier still has not had industry-confirmed readings so far.

For people who are likely to change suppliers (as I do quite regularly) I would recommend waiting until they have no other choice but to have these meters installed. Peter Robinson Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SIR – In November 2016, British Gas kindly installed a smart meter at no cost to me, so that I no longer had to climb a ladder to read the electricity and go outside to read the gas.

In February this year, British Gas announced a massive price increase, so in line with government advice I switched suppliers to PFP Energy.

My new supplier, a small company, doesn’t “do” smart meters. I’m back to having to go outside for gas readings and up the ladder for electric readings.

I wonder who thought this system up. Clearly it doesn’t work, and it is costing us all billions. Richard J C English King’s Lynn, Norfolk