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Smart Meters Free Energy Cut Off Date?

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EDDIE51 | 15:30 Wed 21st Sep 2016 | Business & Finance
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How many of you realise that the 'Free Energy' offer of free power on a Sunday from 9 am to 5pm is only until 30th March 2018?
I certainly didn't and the adverts do not mention it unless you look for the 'small print'!
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/free-electricity-tariff.html
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The electricity industry IS in crisis ! Even last week in the hot weather there was so much demand from air conditioning that we went to 97.5 % of the maximum generating capacity. It only needed one small breakdown to start a 'cascade' effect where much of the UK would have had a power cut.
Conventional generating is coming to the end of its planned life and we have put off building replacement Nuclear plant for decades.
We have just given permission for the new UKs new Chinese / French built Nuclear plants that will not come on stream for another 20 years !
Don't panic, Eddie. All will be well
It was so little that they were offering for the imposition of a smart meter in the dwelling that at the very least I assumed it would be for the length of time the person taking up the offer remained on the tariff. Speaks volumes for modern day marketing and selling.

Not that it applies to me as I have no intention of having one, and should I move, any place without one automatically trumps one with one when I look to buy a home.
Yes I don’t really see what the worry is, Eddie.

There is no doubt that there will be an energy shortfall in the not too distant future. This is because successive governments have faffed about building windmills instead of constructing nuclear plants and keeping reliable coal-fired power stations going. But we are where we are and anything that enables that ridiculous situation to be properly managed can only be applauded.

As far as disconnecting for other reasons go, very few domestic customers are disconnected for arrears these days. The usual strategy is to install a pre-pay meter with the rate set to collect the arrears. As has been mentioned, energy companies do not need to seek authority to do this – they already have the powers. They need a warrant of entry from a Magistrate only if they need to force entry to make the change. The introduction of smart meters will not radically alter that.
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^^ It will radically alter it! No need for a court order to disconnect you from a computer at the power company head office! This is the entire reason Smart Meters are being forced on us! So that we can be disconnected with the minimum of effort.
the court order is only for entry; not to disconnect. Perhaps the thought of remote disconnection will make people pay
Remember when houses had coin meters? I think it was a penny for the gas and a shilling for the electric.
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As I said ' power shortfall emergency ' has been added to the reasons consumers can be disconnected, and they can do it without leaving the office once we are all on smart meters.
and you still havent told me why you think that is a bad thing eddie!
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I don't think it is a bad thing !. In view of the failure to ensure a supply of energy it is necessary. We should have built a new generation of nuclear power plants 30 years ago. If we had there would be no need for Smart Meters.
We were world leaders in nuclear engineering but the government totally abandoned our nuclear power program back in the 1970s. This was due to the public outcry following the 'Nuclear Power, No thanks' campaign of the 1970s, which in turn was was due to the CND 'ban the bomb' campaine of the 1960s. The thinking was that nuclear power stations were 'backdoor' way to produce nuclear bombs. The idea was rubbish but it struck a chord with the public and generated huge momentum for the anti nuclear brigade.
The power shortfall emergency was partly the reason for the substation shut downs in the 70s, no?

This way those who are on various life support systems that depend on electricity at home can keep their supply - and there are a lot of them.
"No need for a court order to disconnect you from a computer at the power company head office! "

As bednobs has said, Eddie, no court order is needed to disconnect supply. Only a warrant of entry is needed and these are reasonably easily obtained. But as I said, very few domestic customers are disconnected for non-payment these days. I also have it in mind that from October energy companies will not be allowed to disconnect domestic customers at all under any circumstances (bar safety or if the supply has been tampered with). I'm not 100% sure of this. Next time I see a power company rep I'll enquire.
You will still have to be given 28 days notice of disconnection for non-payment.
Usually that happens when you are in significant debt and have refused a pre-payment meter, it's not a willy nilly thing.

One advantage of the smart meter is that the company will immediately be alerted if the meter is tampered with in any way. Not only will this reduce the huge amount of electricity theft that is going on right now but will make everyone safer. It is estimated that £200m is stolen every year - but more importantly it is a very risky thing to do and a real threat to neighbours and neighbouring properties.
It will also help with the detection of cannabis farms. I don't care if people use cannabis but I do care if they are threatening my home and family by setting up a farm in the house next door. These are extremely dangerous due to the high risk of fire, and potentially damaging to neighbouring properties due to damp and condensation.

Be aware that most domestic appliances that are now sold have a chip embedded ( EU regulations) that is read and monitored by the smart meters (for not so smart consumers) with a future plan to prevent the use of them should the electrickery supplier decide to do so. This subject has many previous threads and all I can say is .....if you want one get one. Remember how water meters were going to transform your lives, and make your water bill next to nothing. They are giving them away for your benefit, just like it always was done.
Togo, I had my water meter fitted 12 months ago. My bill has dropped from £450 a year to £130. I'm not complaining.

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