Smart Meter View

[Maydup]

We had a smart meter fitted yesterday, and I'm just figuring out the little display unit. It has provided 5 minutes of interest and I'm over it already.

I have no desire to reminded how much our electricty is costing us hour by hour, its not good for my soul! Its useful to have the readings send electronically and no more estimated bills, otherwise it can sit in the corner and keep quiet!

Do you have one? What display do you leave yours on? Do you look at it anymore?

[woofgang]

Eddie is the heat geting to you?

[Baldric]

I can tell them what they can or cannot do with my property though.

[New Judge]

“Well, for a start it means your supplier has remote control over your supply, and could cut it off at any time.”

That is technically correct but legally the process to end supply is the same with a Smart Meter as it is with a conventional one. The processes and safeguards are identical.

As a point of interest (and to prevent hysteria) domestic disconnections are incredibly rare. In 2017 (the last year I can find figures for) around 150 customers had their electricity disconnected and less than 100 their gas.

[Baldric]

NJ, don't go confusing Eddy with facts, that's not fair ;o)

[gingejbee]

...and don't trust info from anyone who doesn't know what an exclamation mark is used for (and that is NOT at the end of every sentence).

[Ryzen]

...and keep a fire extinguisher nearby...these 'qualified' in a day installers tend to be a bit limp wristed when it comes to tightening 25mm mains tails.

[Ryzen]

..and did you realise that,unless you have an isolator fitted before the meter you have no way of switching it off, if it does catch fire :-)

[bobbie22]

I had to have a new gas meter about a month ago. It's just an ordinary one. I have refused to have a smart meter so far. I can't see any point in watching how much you are using.

[ABerrant]

// 'Old' Meters are now replaced ONLY ! by 'Smart' Meters when and if they get a fault! //

// If your present meter fails or needs repair it WILL be replaced by a Smart Meter ,like it or not ! //

Absolute rubbish.

// You can't tell them what they can or cannot do with their own property ! //

It is the Government and Ofgem which tells 'them' what they can or cannot do.

From inception the smart meter roll-out programme has given domestic consumers the right to refuse smart metering and this is mirrored in the recently delayed activation of the next step, the New and Replacement Obligation (NRO).

The NRO will place a duty on energy suppliers to take all reasonable steps to install a SMETS2 meter when a replacement meter is required, or where a meter is installed for the first time. The “all reasonable steps” element allows consumers to refuse to have a smart meter and permits the installation of non-SMETS2 meters in emergency circumstances, such as where health and safety is compromised. Other exceptions to the NRO also exist.

https://ukmf.org/2019/04/09/beis-delays-start-of-new-and-replacement-obligation-nro/

That being said, energy supplier Fulcrum has taken the arbitrary decision to jump all over Government and Regulatory Authority consumer protections...

https://www.fulcrum.co.uk/news/2019/fulcrum-to-end-installation-of-classic-domestic-meters-in-support-of-new-government-obligations/

[Maydup]

Surely the supplier can and does change the price of electricity whenever they wish, smart meter or no smart meter. And if they want to cut you off for any reason they can do that too. Why they would want to or why some of you are worried about them doing so, I don't know.

We're on Economy 10 so quite used to the supply being controlled remotely anyway; its always been very reliable switching from tariff to tariff at the stated times, its just easier to read the meter now and to avoid estimated bills with a smart meter.

[Peter Pedant]

// // If your present meter fails or needs repair it WILL be replaced by a Smart Meter ,like it or not ! //
Absolute rubbish.

can you tell the utilities that please?
I was told I had to have a smart leccy meter
as in "have to"

then she said you have a choice about the gas because it aint bust .... I suppose the answer to that is gonna be 'No'

[Peter Pedant]

smart meters ( are said not to) work very well
if you change supplier

I fully credit ( pun intended ) that !

[New Judge]

“Surely the supplier can and does change the price of electricity whenever they wish, smart meter or no smart meter.”

Not hour by hour they can’t. And not in between the start and end date of fixed price contracts. The idea of “differential pricing” is that you will be charged more for gas when it is cold and more to turn your lights on when the nights are longer.

Although your Economy Ten is switched remotely, it is switched at pre-determined, fixed times. Differential pricing will see suppliers changing tariffs as and when they think fit. It will be virtually impossible for consumers to estimate their energy costs even if they know their likely consumption (mine varies by no more than about +/- 5% annually).

[Maydup]

... and that is not possible without a smart meter New Judge? If prices could vary at predetermind times on my old meter why would it not be possible for them to be varied more often? Clearly I have a contract that doesnt allow that regarless of meter, but if differential pricing is to be introduced by hook orby crook it will be.