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Original poster

Those with a smart meter - love it or hate it?!

37 replies

JJBlinks · 19/09/2018 14:19

Exciting thread alert.....

Have an appointment for a smart meter to be installed but not really sure if I want / need one.

Will I become obsessed with how much the family are spending and drive everyone daft?!

Thoughts please....

OP posts:
Figgygal · 19/09/2018 14:21

Getting one tomorrow so will let you know

EscapeToTheMoon · 19/09/2018 15:39

Im being constantly hassled to get one and i always decline. They rely on mobile signal and I don’t have the best. I sometimes get3-4 texts after each other when i drive down the hill.

Whether it will be of use to me I have no idea!

KarrisWhiteOak · 19/09/2018 15:41

We had one for a bit, changed suppliers and haven’t got another.
It was like any other gadget interesting for a while but after about 6 months we lost interest.

StopCloudSeeding · 19/09/2018 15:42

I have read some horrifying reports about the damage they do to your health. Put me right off.

Theres no way i would risk it.

FiveNightsAtMummys · 19/09/2018 15:43

I've never had an interest on mine at all. It messed up my bill and took months to sort out. Fingers crossed it's finally sorted but I wouldn't bother with another. My mum on the other hand loves hers but she's on a pay as you go meter where as mine was dd.

mommybear1 · 19/09/2018 15:45

Got one three months ago it's still slightly obsessive with us at the moment who can have the lowest count when at home etc

EscapeToTheMoon · 19/09/2018 15:50

Oh i have a PAYG electric meter so quite savvy when home. No leaving lights on, things charging etc snyway.

crosser62 · 19/09/2018 15:55

I'm a bit meh about mine, don't even bother to look at it but will be when my bills arrive to cross check.

Original poster
JJBlinks · 19/09/2018 15:56

Thanks for these comments. I’m kind of thinking what’s the point of it really - it’ll just add to the stress levels when it is sky high!!! Plus would have to clear out the cupboard under the stairs to allow access which is putting me off Grin

OP posts:
ThomasRichard · 19/09/2018 16:07

I got one in the summer and it’s very handy to not have to give meter readings. I do have a display that tells me how much energy the house is using and how much we spend on it, but that fell behind the shoe rack and I didn’t notice until this week so obviously didn’t use it much!

specialsubject · 19/09/2018 16:07

they do not damage health. they do not save energy. they do not cope when you switch supplier.

they are a technological dead end caused by short term politicians with arts degrees.

nowshesaturtle · 19/09/2018 16:14

We had one installed in our holiday flat because it's easier for them to get meter readings so that's useful (until we change supplier Hmm). But they insisted on giving us the little display job that shows you how much energy you're using but that's totally pointless. Most of the time the flat uses no energy at all, so it just goes mental as soon as we switch on a couple of lights and the tv. I slung it in a cupboard and now can't even remember which cupboard it was.

So no, they're crap.

theliverpoolone · 19/09/2018 16:14

Going against the grain, I really like having mine - I'm on a very low income, and being able to set it to show my daily 'allowance' (i.e. My monthly direct debit amount per day) really helps me to make sure I'm keeping control of my usage.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 19/09/2018 16:17

I did love it, but then I switched supplier and it went into "dumb mode" so it really just ended up being a big waste of money (not to me personally, but to the tax payer in general). I wouldn't get one unless it was a SMETS2 meter which means that you can retain the smart functionality when you switch supplier.

MorningCuppa · 19/09/2018 16:18

We haven't got one yet but am interested, although I had read not great things about them, so interesting to see what people say on here.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 19/09/2018 16:18

We’ve had one for three years. It’s never worked. It doesn’t do any r cording of usage, just flashes now and then. Complete waste of time.

Meet0nTheIedge · 19/09/2018 16:19

We switch supplier regularly so we're not getting them until you can. In fact BG hassling me to get them was one of the factors that prompted me to change again recently. I agree that not having to do readings would be nice though, our meters are not very accessible.

CGID · 19/09/2018 16:19

We changed supplier from the previous owner (from BG). The damned thing has complicated the process beyond belief.

InDubiousBattle · 19/09/2018 16:22

We have one and I don't really see any benefits or disadvantages for us as yet. We don't have to read the meter but it's very access able anyway so it wasn't ever a big deal. We don't use the monitor. We've changed supplier and it's been fine.

Original poster
JJBlinks · 19/09/2018 16:40

It looks like I won’t have to clear out my cupboard to let them have access which is all good news to me Wink

OP posts:
CluedoAddict · 19/09/2018 16:59

We've tried to have them fitted. They have pestered me continuously. They came out from Eon and said we needed to get our power company to replace something attached to our meter. Then they came again and said our gas pipes are too narrow they are 15mm instead of 22mm. Think we are going to give up now.

SpikyCactus · 19/09/2018 17:06

We were told we had to have one. Spent a day switching stuff on and off to see how much it cost. Then shoved it behind the telly and never looked at it again.

OrangeOrBlackcurrant · 19/09/2018 17:09

I like mine. I'm on pre payment and it is a visual reminder not to leave random things switched on.

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 19/09/2018 17:23

Totally indifferent.

We are on prepayment so I guess it makes it easier to budget, but I top up £50 per month on both so we’re almost always well over what we need.

paranoiamumma · 19/09/2018 17:24

I love mine , but it's broken atm so I have to arrange a whole new appointment to get a new one . 😬