Smart meters

I didn't want one but now I have I find it much easier than meter reading

Some people I know (including my mom and a friend) have been wanting to get a smart meter for years but the energy company's not been able to help, either saying the property isn't suitable for one, or another reason....

I've had one for about 3 years now. And it has now stopped sending the data through to the energy company, so I'm back to doing old-fashioned meter readings!!

Wish I never got mine. Was ok when it worked then the gas meter battery started to die would send meter readings of 0 to supplier 18mths later 2 new meters and still not able to submit readings. Prefered the old way logged online to submit readings.

Or even better, how would you like being at the mercy of some incompetent nincompoop employed by the energy company disconnecting you by mistake without any warning?

You do know that practically all so-called "smart" meter have a remote switch?

Over the years, I've been with about 10 different energy suppliers, and most of them have shown a level of incompetence that was beyond belief.

You really want to trust that bunch with a remote switch to your energy supply?

Also, if you want the breakdown of your energy usage you can buy your own gadgets (energy monitors) that will give you far "smarter" information than any meter.

How is it "a bit tinfoil hat" to be concerned about potential restrictions the energy companies themselves have suggested they may use in the future?

The business case for smart meters is mainly about load management on the grid, the fact you can do whizzy data stuff for customers is just a useful by product.

That said load management is not sinister per se, it is essential for a movement a lower carbon future, especially if we are going to rely more on windpower.

Some years ago, I was told by my supplier, (one that begins with S and is based north of England 😉), that we HAD to have a smart meter installed. I later found out this was untrue.
The supplier had bought out the company we had previously been supplied by, (Manweb), so we hadn't actively chosen to be their customers.
After a while it became apparent that our new company wasn't fit for purpose, (an appalling level of customer service), and I was exceedingly angry that we had been forced to accept a smart meter.
We changed our supplier to the one named after a creature with 8 tentacles 🙂,who have been brilliant. This was well before energy prices soared.
I'm lazy when it comes to reading meters in the normal way, and crap at maths. So, the little display monitor provided with the smart meter lets me see, more or less minute by minute, how much energy I'm using. This has been a godsend.
If it turns out that these meters and monitors end up having a more sinister purpose, I'll admit my naivety and cross that bridge when I come to it.

@RedRiverShore3 yeah that is a fair point, that is why I dodged getting one until SMETS2 was available.

What is the issue with a smart meter? Is it purely that a remote mode change can be carried out, assuming the meter is able to communicate with the supplier, to go from credit to prepay?

Guess you dont understand smart meters and believe the, rather hysterical in my opinion, hype in newspapers that they are bad

Many people that did the right thing and got an early smart meter have ended up with a dumb one that the energy companies won't change as they have fulfilled the government obligation to fit a smart meter so have been left with a useless lump of metal that doesn't work as it should

@RedRiverShore3 try using the Loop app

loop.homes/

YANBU, mine is a SMETS1 which is now connected to the DCC after about 4 years, I checked on citizens advice page and it said it was connected but British Gas are showing no readings on their app or website, I will not be getting a gas smart meter as I am not sure how my electric one is working and it has been no benefit at all to me, it is difficult to read manually, fortunately I can afford my bills if they are a bit higher but for anyone watching their money it would be very worrying.

I've had to increase my central heating from my usual sporadic use to 24/7 this winter for health reasons - being able to see exactly what I'm using is making it far easier to budget for what my gas costs are likely to be each day/week at the moment.

Mine was quite helpful working out what was using power and when via half hourly breakdowns

My regular electric use has almost halved since I replaced my malfunctioning fridge.

But you might decide to turn your thermostat down because you can see that you're spending more than you expected. Or you might decide not to order a takeaway because you've seen that after needing to wash your clothes that you can't really afford it. Smart meters give you the information more easily than needing to go and read the meter - mine are outside and it's too chilly to go out repeatedly to check.

I don’t understand stand ‘seeing how much you use’ as an argument. I use what I need, I’m not suddenly going to think ‘I’m not washing my clothes because I’ve already spent x amount!’

Happy with mine as I have an EV and the smart meter allows me to have a time of use tariff with cheaper overnight charging.

If you have a smart meter you can still take manual readings from it and pay quarterly- although why you would do that is beyond me as usually there is a discount for paying by DD and it means you can budget for a consistant amount each month.

People who refuse them just come across as a bit tinfoil hat, IMO.

Love mine takes all the guess work and worry out
know exactly how much spending and can manage it better

I don't want one either for the same reasons. I'm perfectly capable of working out my usage without a smart meter and submit readings whenever I want to.

I pay monthly dd but don’t want a smart meter. I’m only delaying the inevitable of dynamic pricing though. Glad I’ve not got young children whose needs eg bath time, trump using fuel when it’s cheaper.
It’s not here yet but smart meters are allowing utility companies to get specific data to support dynamic pricing. This will mean most people will pay more overall.

You normally end up paying more if you're not on a direct debit - if you go for a monthly/quarterly variable one and give regular readings, you shouldn't ever have a different amount taken out to the one you're billed.

If they take an amount you've not been notified of, your bank can refund you immediately under the direct debit guarantee.

You'll have to get a smart meter in the end. You don't own your meter, your energy provider does and ultimately they are not going to continue to support dumb meters.