Smart Meter

[nailit]

Had a letter from npower stating that they would be coming to fit a smart meter in my flat on the 1st of Feb and would I ring them to confirm that date would be ok.
Rang them (and after a few questions) was told that because I live in a high rise, that I am not yet currently eligible for a smart meter as the techno is not available.

1) Why arrange a date to fix a smart meter when the address is not 'eligible?
2) Just WHY is the techno not yet eligible for high rise flats?

Was told that it would be at least another 6 months b4 I could have one fitted.
Thanks.

[ichkeria]

I asked our plumber about smart meters as we have had constant requests from our supplier to come and fit one.
He sounded very dubious, but when I questioned him more closely it transpired that he was speaking on behalf of people who do D/D on estimated readings who don;t like the thought of having to pay for what they actually use. That didn't sound like much of a reason to me.
Arguments against I have seen include:
- they've contributed to the rising cost of electricity -- but there's not a lot you can do about that now.
- they don't always work properly
- they may lead to you having to pay more, and in more uneven amounts: but we have a smart meter coming to us and there has been no mention of this. If you use more than your D/D arrangement then eventually it will go up: that happens now
- they might be a "security risk"

In short none of the above reasons are likely to put us off

[EDDIE51]

From my first link
''What makes this possible is the fact that every smart meter being deployed in the UK includes a relay which can disconnect the household from the electricity supply. This is controlled by the utility and makes life easier for them by allowing then to manage connections and disconnections from a computer terminal rather than having to send an engineer out to gain access to the house. It’s part of the savings that they claim justifies the deployment of smart meters. It also makes it easier for them to switch customers to prepay if they are in arrears. Again, they don’t need to send out an installer to change the meter – they do it from their computer keyboard''
Note the words ''It also makes it easier for them to switch customers to prepay if they are in arrears'' So YES, they can switch you to another tariff without your permission and without notifying you.
They can also remote disconnect you completely but the rule says they must give warnings first.
All this is unlikely I agree , but the point is Smart meters make it possible when it is impossible with a standard meter. That is why the companies want us all to have a smart meter.

[Jackdaw33]

I pay by monthly D/D but I pay for what I use. If my usage increases so does my monthly payment; if it decreases the reverse applies.