Dear All, I would tread carefully before signing on the line. Here's my history of involvement.

1. Placed order for two new meters and transfer of supply mid Jan 09.
2. Gas & Electricity meter installation finally completed 6th May - took lots and lots of hassle with way too many people involving far too many unfulfilled promises.
3. Now early August and I still can't see my usage on line despite contacting the poor customer support team who 'will speak to the technical team'. I ask to speak to the technical team and they cannot / will not put me though. They even asked me for my log-in details on one occasion over the phone as they wanted to check, but did not have the ability to perform the check at their end!
4. HERE'S THE KICKER..... So far, EVERY bill has been ESTIMATED, which flies in the face of their own marketing message.
5. Worthy of comment: the Customer Service people never email or rarely call you back. You'll have to chase them.

I've just contacted Stacey Roberts with a last hope of getting it to work.

I appreciate that without any mandate from the government, FU are attempting to seed an early adopters market. But frankly with kit which never works, coupled with ineffectual customer interface, I don't hold much hope for their future.

Finally. Please Stacey have your outbound automated message removed. "Here at First Utility, we're dedicated to giving you the best possible value and service". This statement is clearly untrue unless your judgement of 'best' is way different to the rest of your potential customer base.

Roger H 1948:

Roger H 1948:

Similar position,

Transfer dates :- Electric on 28th May & Gas on 5th June.

No contact yet regarding the installation of my nice new smart meters

( The main reason for transfer of suppliers)

No mention of possible further 30 day wait for the meters,when I placed the order for changing suppliers.

Would have thought the 28 day period before transfer, was enough time to arrange for installation of both meters,

on the said transfer dates.

Update to posting of 6th June

Another month has gone bye - Still no meters installed

Far from Happy !!!

I would say about 30 July to 5th Aug this seems to be the standard time Kev

Roger H 1948:

Similar position,

Transfer dates :- Electric on 28th May & Gas on 5th June.

No contact yet regarding the installation of my nice new smart meters

( The main reason for transfer of suppliers)

No mention of possible further 30 day wait for the meters,when I placed the order for changing suppliers.

Would have thought the 28 day period before transfer, was enough time to arrange for installation of both meters,

on the said transfer dates.

Update to posting of 6th June

Another month has gone bye - Still no meters installed

Far from Happy !!!

SandyI:

James2708:Applied via uswitch on 2.3.2009. After calling them they gave gas and electric dates for changeover of 4th and 6th May. Understood this to be the smart meter installation. No new meters installed ( they are external ) so called again. This is the changeover dates I am told. They can now arrange a contact date for smart meters they say.

Good luck with getting a date for the meters! Are they still quoting a "guideline" of installing them within 30 days of the changeover? I am on 135 days and counting..... Actually they did do the gas meter, but it doesn't help because it needs the electric one to send in the data.

I signed up 9 3 2009 Both meters installed 1 7 2009 now connected and working fine,if you are still not connected email stacey.roberts she is at first utility .com very,very helpful Kevin

As Promised UPDATE Yes the Smart Meter etc are now in, and fully working as from today both meters well installed and use their own electic man to install, good job well done, soon forget the wait but i am sure they will improve soon,taken just 2 months from transfer to them .

I'm sticking with fixed monthly direct debits because I don't fancy "accurate" billing during the winter period which I think will be a financial disaster for many people. Realised that a day after switching to First-Utility and reading the small print. Was very easy to cancel the switch, possibly they don't have many meters.

Well Roger i dont want to upset you but i transfered on 5th may for electric and 7th may for gas,rang them the other day as on their website you can now sign up and it gives you a date for meters,i was told we would get ours installed first, i still have had no call and as you can see i transferred a month ago but signed up 9 march,2 years wont be long away at this rate and no sign of what we both want SMART METERS Kevin

I have rang them with my meter readings for May so i dont get a stupid bill estimated as thats not what i want, and they said their team of engineers would contact me about installation of meters(when ,who knows?),will keep you posted

As promised up to date 1st July gas meter and electric smart meters now installed and fully working as from today it has taken 2 months from transfer but at last,so looks like it could be Aug for you Roger Good Luck

Similar position,

Transfer dates :- Electric on 28th May & Gas on 5th June.

No contact yet regarding the installation of my nice new smart meters

( The main reason for transfer of suppliers)

No mention of possible further 30 day wait for the meters,when I placed the order for changing suppliers.

Would have thought the 28 day period before transfer, was enough time to arrange for installation of both meters,

on the said transfer dates.

Hi, my name is Stacey Roberts and I am Head of Customer Service for first:utility. Your post has been brought to my attention. Please contact me direct via email (stacey.roberts @ first-utility.com - remove the spaces) or alternatively please contact customer service on 0845 215 5000 and ask to speak with me and I will be happy to investigate the matter personally.

James2708:Applied via uswitch on 2.3.2009. After calling them they gave gas and electric dates for changeover of 4th and 6th May. Understood this to be the smart meter installation. No new meters installed ( they are external ) so called again. This is the changeover dates I am told. They can now arrange a contact date for smart meters they say.

Good luck with getting a date for the meters! Are they still quoting a "guideline" of installing them within 30 days of the changeover? I am on 135 days and counting..... Actually they did do the gas meter, but it doesn't help because it needs the electric one to send in the data.

Applied via uswitch on 2.3.2009. After calling them they gave gas and electric dates for changeover of 4th and 6th May.
Understood this to be the smart meter installation. No new meters installed ( they are external ) so called again. This is the changeover dates I am told. They can now arrange a contact date for smart meters they say.

I hope they survive the the upfront costs and set up costs. I believe that smart metering is essential for energy use awareness and smart grid real time pricing for plug in electric and demand side management of electricity use by products such as fridges and freezers.

I hope that when the others are forced to install smart meters , that the technology is the same as first utility. Read today that ecotricity are planning smart metering in 2010 if I remember correctly.

Is anyone else having problems getting service from first utility? I signed up for electricity in December and gas later in January, but they have still not provided the smart meter. I have phoned repeatedly over the last 4 months but so far they have done nothing!