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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Energy company broke into my home' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Alan Knight said E.On's unannounced visit was like being burgled | Alan Knight said E.On's unannounced visit was like being burgled |
| A man has said he felt "violated" after an energy firm broke into his home to check whether his electricity meter had been tampered with. | A man has said he felt "violated" after an energy firm broke into his home to check whether his electricity meter had been tampered with. |
| Alan Knight, 67, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, was at work when E.On engineers executed a warrant on 31 October 2024. | Alan Knight, 67, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, was at work when E.On engineers executed a warrant on 31 October 2024. |
| In a private message to Mr Knight, the firm said its artificial intelligence (AI) software had detected that the smart meter cover might have been removed, although no issues were later found. | In a private message to Mr Knight, the firm said its artificial intelligence (AI) software had detected that the smart meter cover might have been removed, although no issues were later found. |
| The firm admitted: "The AI technology needs further work to better its detection for future cases." | The firm admitted: "The AI technology needs further work to better its detection for future cases." |
| Mr Knight said: "I was livid that it happened to me... The implication was that I was stealing their gas and electric. | Mr Knight said: "I was livid that it happened to me... The implication was that I was stealing their gas and electric. |
| "It's almost like being burgled. I can understand people wanting to leave their house after being burgled. | "It's almost like being burgled. I can understand people wanting to leave their house after being burgled. |
| "I'd like them to just apologise and say they messed it up." | "I'd like them to just apologise and say they messed it up." |
| 'No cause for concerns' | 'No cause for concerns' |
| The private text message from E.On, seen by the BBC, said: "The AI Technology notified us that the meter cover had been removed. | The private text message from E.On, seen by the BBC, said: "The AI Technology notified us that the meter cover had been removed. |
| "This raised the concerns for us to check the meter for faults or tamper. | "This raised the concerns for us to check the meter for faults or tamper. |
| "Your meter readings are in line with your usage, these cause no concerns." | "Your meter readings are in line with your usage, these cause no concerns." |
| E.On said it had also capped the gas meter outside the house after detecting a leak. | E.On said it had also capped the gas meter outside the house after detecting a leak. |
| However, Mr Knight said a gas engineer he brought in privately found no problems and restored the supply. | However, Mr Knight said a gas engineer he brought in privately found no problems and restored the supply. |
| In a statement, the energy firm said it had tried to gain entry to the property by consent three times before obtaining a warrant. | In a statement, the energy firm said it had tried to gain entry to the property by consent three times before obtaining a warrant. |
| It did not comment on the state of the internal electricity meter but said it was pleased that the gas meter outside had been declared safe. | It did not comment on the state of the internal electricity meter but said it was pleased that the gas meter outside had been declared safe. |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Do you have a story BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight should cover? | Do you have a story BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight should cover? |
| You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external. | You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external. |