Electricity "smart" meters
- Thread starter Pitlamp
- Start date
Had one fitted by our previous supplier but it ceased to work when I changed supplier 3 years ago so I hadn't bothered but simply sent in the readings from the gas & electricity meters easily accessible outside the house.
Now my present contract has run out and, in order to get a cheap deal on the new contract, they say I now have to have their new smart meters fitted, presumably one for the gas and one for the electric as both are on the same deal. This is due to be done tomorrow so I can let you know how it goes - but I'll still be taking my own meter readings to check.
I did have quite a useful conversation with someone at the energy company about this as I said I already had a smart meter so why was I still having to take readings? Confirmed that the previous meter fitted was not compatible with the new company but assured me the one due to be fitted would be compatible if I changed supplier again in the future. Fitting is free, so I've said go ahead.
Now my present contract has run out and, in order to get a cheap deal on the new contract, they say I now have to have their new smart meters fitted, presumably one for the gas and one for the electric as both are on the same deal. This is due to be done tomorrow so I can let you know how it goes - but I'll still be taking my own meter readings to check.
I did have quite a useful conversation with someone at the energy company about this as I said I already had a smart meter so why was I still having to take readings? Confirmed that the previous meter fitted was not compatible with the new company but assured me the one due to be fitted would be compatible if I changed supplier again in the future. Fitting is free, so I've said go ahead.
mountainpenguin
Member
For the most part they are a waste of space and some are a potential securoty nightmare ..
however when used correctly they do offer a way to drastically lower your electricity bill especially if your able to shape your demand.
We have an electric car, its ace and super cheap to run (?1.25 for 80 miles) its so cheap to run because we have an account with
octopus (shameless referral link for ?50 off share.octopus.energy/jade-cat-643)
Our electricity is cheaper over night and they also have an agile tariff with API that tells you what the cost will be for each half hour slot for the next day yesterday this was down to 0.36p!
So if you can regulate your demand (battery / car / turning the washing on at a different time) a smart meter can save you a lot of money and help make best use of the renewable generation capacity.
however when used correctly they do offer a way to drastically lower your electricity bill especially if your able to shape your demand.
We have an electric car, its ace and super cheap to run (?1.25 for 80 miles) its so cheap to run because we have an account with
octopus (shameless referral link for ?50 off share.octopus.energy/jade-cat-643)
Our electricity is cheaper over night and they also have an agile tariff with API that tells you what the cost will be for each half hour slot for the next day yesterday this was down to 0.36p!
So if you can regulate your demand (battery / car / turning the washing on at a different time) a smart meter can save you a lot of money and help make best use of the renewable generation capacity.
TheBitterEnd
Well-known member
I haven't read all the responses (it it an internet forum afterall 
) but in response to "best avoided for some reason" the reason was that the first generation would stop being "smart" if you changed suppliers, the second generation are common to all suppliers so no reason not to get one as long as it is second generation, your supplier will tell you what they are fitting if you ask.
) but in response to "best avoided for some reason" the reason was that the first generation would stop being "smart" if you changed suppliers, the second generation are common to all suppliers so no reason not to get one as long as it is second generation, your supplier will tell you what they are fitting if you ask.
Duncan Price
Active member
I'm avoiding having a smart meter until I absolutely have to. My primary concern is security due to the granularity of the data collection. Someone could use the data to work out when you are in or out and break in. Not that I live in a crime hotspot - the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance do a pretty good job of maintaining The Greater Good.
I was with British Gas a few years ago who were quite aggressive about installing them. I tried giving them all the reasonable arguments about being an early adopter, problems with switching supplier, data capture etc. to no avail. They escalated their pressure to having a senior manager call me. Eventually I told them that I had health concerns about the radiofrequency emanations from the kit, didn't have a mobile phone and wore a tinfoil hat all the time.This shut them up - and I blocked their number on my mobile.
In the long run it makes sense, but not yet. A bit like electric cars.
I was with British Gas a few years ago who were quite aggressive about installing them. I tried giving them all the reasonable arguments about being an early adopter, problems with switching supplier, data capture etc. to no avail. They escalated their pressure to having a senior manager call me. Eventually I told them that I had health concerns about the radiofrequency emanations from the kit, didn't have a mobile phone and wore a tinfoil hat all the time.This shut them up - and I blocked their number on my mobile.
In the long run it makes sense, but not yet. A bit like electric cars.
aricooperdavis
Moderator
Duncan Price said:
I suspect if you've got a criminal with the skills to break the encryption used to send data between your smart meter and the electricity company then they will be working on something rather less risky and rather more lucrative. And if you're concerned about it being a company employee then they'd be better off knocking on your door in their company uniform to see if you're in - nobody would question them.
Judi Durber
Member
Is there a list somewhere of Makes /Models that are 2nd generation?
JasonC
Well-known member
Duncan Price said:
OT, I know, but maybe the long run has arrived:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/oct/05/electric-cars-used-deals-prices
(but not for Smart meters)
RobinGriffiths
Well-known member
I wonder if they get to say 99.9% coverage, and their meter readers have been made redundant, whether it's worth coming after the remaining 0.1%?
cavingbiker
Member
From the New Oxford Dictionary of English:
"(of a device) capable of independent and seemingly intelligent action"
I fail to see ANY intelligent action from these devices.
"(of a device) capable of independent and seemingly intelligent action"
I fail to see ANY intelligent action from these devices.
Well, the chap came and fitted the Smart Meter last Friday morning as per promise - very friendly and helpful. Explained it all and said I needn't do any more meter readings as the gas and electricity readings would now all be collected automatically.
Today I received an email statement from the power company saying my monthly payment will be reduced by ?18 per month from 1st. November as I seem to be paying too much and they quote my electricity meter as reading 00000 !!! (Previously it was reading 28444 or something.) However, the display unit on the kitchen window ledge is showing electricity being used and you can watch it go bright red when I switch on the kettle. The power company's email also urges me to continue to read my meters manually, just to keep a check on things.
So, Monday morning I'll be out there to see what the electricity meter really reads - I suspect a duff unit or incorrect installation.
Today I received an email statement from the power company saying my monthly payment will be reduced by ?18 per month from 1st. November as I seem to be paying too much and they quote my electricity meter as reading 00000 !!! (Previously it was reading 28444 or something.) However, the display unit on the kitchen window ledge is showing electricity being used and you can watch it go bright red when I switch on the kettle. The power company's email also urges me to continue to read my meters manually, just to keep a check on things.
So, Monday morning I'll be out there to see what the electricity meter really reads - I suspect a duff unit or incorrect installation.
Yup, I checked this morning and it had clearly started from 00000 on Friday as it's now reading something like 00026.
I hadn't expected them to install a completely new electricity meter - the gas meter is still the old one and the display unit shows the consumption of both. However, I'll still be checking the meters manually every month just to be on the safe side.
I hadn't expected them to install a completely new electricity meter - the gas meter is still the old one and the display unit shows the consumption of both. However, I'll still be checking the meters manually every month just to be on the safe side.
Stuart France
Active member
I burn old data after 7 years like tax returns and what they're based on. So I've still got a spreadsheet showing my electricity bills, readings whether estimated by them or actual ones read by me, going back to 2012.
My average units per day between bills is remarkably constant - but it goes up a little if I have guests for a while and down a little if I take a long holiday abroad in the winter months. Well I never.
I've also got copies of all my letters of complaint about electricity bills: EON 1 letter, NPOWER 4 letters, current supplier SWALEC no letters (so far) at least personally.
Don't start me on the company's electricity bills. I had 19 pages of them recently from SWALEC ranging in value from 50p up to nearly a grand for the same quarter, all estimates and they had the historic data too going back several years. As they correct one mistake they introduce more.
At my age I do know the difference between a kettle and a light bulb. Smart meters are nothing more than an indictment on the latterday teaching of physics in schools unless they mainly are for the electricity supplier's benefit.
My average units per day between bills is remarkably constant - but it goes up a little if I have guests for a while and down a little if I take a long holiday abroad in the winter months. Well I never.
I've also got copies of all my letters of complaint about electricity bills: EON 1 letter, NPOWER 4 letters, current supplier SWALEC no letters (so far) at least personally.
Don't start me on the company's electricity bills. I had 19 pages of them recently from SWALEC ranging in value from 50p up to nearly a grand for the same quarter, all estimates and they had the historic data too going back several years. As they correct one mistake they introduce more.
At my age I do know the difference between a kettle and a light bulb. Smart meters are nothing more than an indictment on the latterday teaching of physics in schools unless they mainly are for the electricity supplier's benefit.
we have gas and electric smart meters. they transmit the readings to supplier. we changed supplier and they still seem to work fine.
the in-house display can show instantaneous usage (kW or m3) and a chart of historical usage with changeable scale from hours to years (kWh or m3).
we are a low-usage household so we used to be overcharged for utilities, now with acurate readings this is better. (i.e. they dont have our money on free loan).
i like seeing what power is being drawn and finding out how much heat the various CH settings use. but this is mostly a novelty as we aim for low usage anyway
the in-house display can show instantaneous usage (kW or m3) and a chart of historical usage with changeable scale from hours to years (kWh or m3).
we are a low-usage household so we used to be overcharged for utilities, now with acurate readings this is better. (i.e. they dont have our money on free loan).
i like seeing what power is being drawn and finding out how much heat the various CH settings use. but this is mostly a novelty as we aim for low usage anyway
yrammy
Member
I decided to have one for electric and gas. But there is not enough room in the kitchen cupboard the remove the old gas meter and replace it with the new one. They keep sending engineers to do the replacement. I keep telling them there is not enough room. In order to have one fitted I will need to rip out part of my kitchen units.
They had one look at my electric meter and said they would not able able to do it as there was too much stuff in the way and could not get to the cupboard. I assume they meant that they were unable to get past one chair........
They had one look at my electric meter and said they would not able able to do it as there was too much stuff in the way and could not get to the cupboard. I assume they meant that they were unable to get past one chair........
