A Bonus For Smart Meter Users

[Canary42]

One in the eye for anti-SMART folk like me :-(

https://uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/national-grid-pay-households-cut-050000218.html

[Old_Geezer]

Having to try to cut usage isn't much of a bonus. I'd view it more as pressure to comply. But in any case, if they are admitting that supply is so near the edge this sort of this is needed, that doesn't show the dash to electrify cars in a good light. Once again it's implied we are already at risk of brownouts and/or blackouts this winter.

[Togo]

Until the (not so) smarties are turned off remotely to save electrickery, whilst the clever(not smart) meter owners are still watching the telly.

[barry1010]

The companies can't switch your power off without a court order. It makes no difference whether you have a smart meter or not.

If the planned power cuts of the 70s return, those with smart meters that are on the vulnerable register will not be disconnected. Unlike the 70s when swathes of homes were switched off regardless

[Togo]

When the demand was more than a supply can meet the Electrickery companies had to close whole swathes of the grid because it was the only option not to burn out the generators. This caused immense problems with dumping and isolating what was in the system in a safe manner that did not cause life threatening surges in localised areas. Now they can chose to turn off supply to individual premises in a balanced way without the expensive time consuming process of halting and restarting power plants. In an emergency no court order is required. They didn't need one to implement blanket power cuts and won't need one to effect "selective" disconnections if it is justifiable in the name of health and safety or a saving the planet exercise. Even if only to prove a false point.

[Hopkirk]

I get half price electricity for give hours on Sundays with British Gas. (I charge my car)
You have to have a smart meter to get this.

[Hopkirk]

...five hours....

[New Judge]

//The companies can't switch your power off without a court order.//

Only if they need to gain entry to effect the disconnection, barry (which, if you don't have a smart meter, they probably will). But no court order is required to disconnect supply, per se. In this respect smart meter customers are worse off than those with conventional meters because no entry warrant is required to secure disconnection.

However, disconnection (whether done either remotely via a smart meter or directly by entering the customer's premises) cannot be done unless the supplier complies with the conditions of its Energy Supply Licence. These set out clearly what the supplier has to do by way of engaging with the customer and providing the required warnings and notice if disconnection (or the provision of a pre-payment meter) is necessary.

A court order is only needed if entry is required and the customer refuses access and, as above, it certainly isn't required to impose blanket cuts when supplies are in jeopardy. This is more or less a given because successive governments have presided over the abandonment of the country's energy security, depending too much on unreliable imported energy and on sources which supply nothing when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine.

[New Judge]

//You have to have a smart meter to get this.//

And an electric car. :-)

[Hopkirk]

No Judge. Any BG smart meter user can get half price electricity on Sundays. You don't need an EV.

[New Judge]

//No Judge. Any BG smart meter user can get half price electricity on Sundays. You don't need an EV.//

Yes, I appreciate that Hoppy. I was (light-heartedly) referring to this:

//(I charge my car)//

[Hopkirk]

I am planning to switch to a fixed tariff after the price drop in October.

That one does require you to own an EV, and gives you five hours of leccy every night at about a quarter of normal price. The daytime rate is only marginally above normal prices.

Again, you have to have a smart meter to get this.

[Hymie]

As NJ says, disconnection cannot be done unless the supplier complies with the conditions of its Energy Supply Licence.

No energy supplier has ever broken the conditions of their energy supply licence – if you believe that, you’ll believe anything.

[Blubster]

Just goes to show the folly of relying too much on renewable sources before other methods of generation, i.e., atomic power stations are in place.

[Maydup]

It’s a modern day version of Economy 7 which I have and suits me well being a night owl!

[youngmafbog]

//disconnection cannot be done unless the supplier complies with the conditions of its Energy Supply Licence.//

And the licence can be amended if necessary.

This is going to be a big problem (EV's or not). The grid has always been on the edge because why generate more than is sold but now we dont have the capability to bring on relatively quick and easy supply options like coal. Thanks to the right on Libs.

[douglas9401]

As a Scottish Gas customer I seriously doubt that the umbrella organisation British Gas can be relied upon, trusted even, to ensure discounted electricity is supplied as advertised.

Keep a good eye on any bills. I'm currently in an ongoing, fruitless conversation with their foreign call centre about a three day period where they tell me I used £40, £50 and £60 pounds in gas compared with a couple of quid per day either side of the 'event'.

"I will see that this is sorted out and I will call you back in 48 hours" said my new sub-continental friend.

Still waiting.