Do I want a smart meter??

[FusionChefGeoff]

Had a flyer from current provider (British Gas) but I change very regularly to get best energy deals and remember reading that the meter is not universal - can anyone give me any more info / arguments for and against?? Thank you!

No
Why add to thee first smog in your house

I'm responsible for two properties and there are smart meters in both. Neither now work because I've changed energy suppliers. I'm being tormented by the new suppliers to have new smart meters fitted and one of the people who phoned up said the meters are now universal (ie would keep working even if I switched suppliers again). But really, what's the point, for you? They just tell you how much energy you're currently using, and if you are at all sensible you'll be switching things off if you don't need them anyway.

As far as I can see, the first thing that's wasting energy unnecessarily, is the little monitor they give you to show you what energy you're using. Presumably you already know what you're using so you may as well unplug that.

The second thing that's using energy, (presumably at your expense) is the meter itself, which is constantly sending usage data back to the supplier. That is useful for them in planning energy distribution and stuff, but it's only costing you money.

So in short, no, I don't think you want a smart meter

PS I work in the gas industry

We had them with EON changed to British Gas not got one, haven't got time to sit in for someone to come and 'fit it' would be a lot simpler if they just sent it in the post and you could plug it in!

We turn everything of when we go out anyway! The only thing its good for is to see how much they rip you of when you go on holiday and only leave the fridge on but seem to use a lot of electric

Probably not. I don’t want one & can’t have one (I let them in so they could confirm this) & they are still hassling me to have one fitted . FWIW SMET2 are meant to be universal so you can change provider still. I still don’t think you do though.

They don't interest me, my current meter works just fine!

My OH loves having smart meters because he no longer needs to move everything out of the understairs cupboard to either read the meters or allow someone else can read them! (we both have mobility issues, and the gas meter in particular is in a really stupid place.)

My energy company seem really keen that I get one, to the point that they make appointments for me to have one fitted that I haven't asked for and I have to cancel. Repeatedly. It makes me wonder why they really want me to have one. (The answer is juicy, profitable data)

The old saying that if something is free then you're not the customer applies here I feel.

Nope, no smart meter for me thanks.

There is no point to them - it tells me how much I am spending a day, and gets upset ( goes red) when I am using too much - but if I have the washing machine, dishwasher and cooker on at the weekend or evening it's pretty obvious its going to cost more. If I could maybe do things like the washing at a cheaper time - then might be useful , otherwise it just takes up space.

The Hive is much more useful as it makes setting timers etc so much easier.

The only reason you are being pestered is that the energy companies have Govt targets to hit and they are under pressure from Ofgem to achieve these.

Mine doesn't work with the plug in bit after changing supplier. To add insult to injury, it's too high up to read without a ladder. Hate it!

as a pp says they use energy , dont work if you change supplier so a waste of plastic. also out of date technology. we dont have one (even if british gas thinks we should!)

and its uneccessary clutter

We had a smart meter fitted and suddenly I went from being in credit to being £600 in debt. The energy company wriggled their way out of accepting any responsibility but in absolutely convinced it was since having the smart meter fitted that this happened.

I like to checky meter monthly and send the reading off,I helps me keep track.
If I had a smart meter the bit that is in the house would be in a drawer out of the way,I would forget to check bills regularly online soy currently low usage could creep up.

Our four year old one has never worked. It didn’t work when it was installed by Ovo, despite them fitting a booster and there was absolutely no chance of it working subsequently as we’ve changed provider several times.

Don’t bother until they become universal.

They must be on a push at the moment as I had someone call round to make an appointment. Told him I didn't want one, and wouldn't have one installed. He was on the step for about 20 mins before I got rid of him. His parting shot was "You'll have to replace that gas meter one day, and it will have to be with a smart meter" - I told him when that day arrives they can take to gas out. I hate people that try to pressure you, and can understand why people get railroaded into signing things

No. Please watch this. Mark Steele is a weapons expert and when you get to 13.40 pay attention. You do not want anything 'smart' in or near your home.

I think we're at least two generations (of machine, not human) away from smart meters being any use. As people have said, what are you going to do, turn the cooker off half way through lunch because you can see it's using a lot of electricity? Most people have a fair idea of the high use items, and surely you only turn things on when you need them anyway?

I'm constantly being bombarded with emails telling me I 'HAVE' to get a smart meter (no I don't), and they keep telling me it's free, but I strongly suspect that the cost is spread over my future bills, so no, it's not.

I'll carry on guessing and turning things off when I'm not using them, thanks.

Thank you! Flyer now safely in the recycle bin

No, don't have one unless you have to.

I did this thread a few years ago, explaining what smart meters are really for. It's not up-to-date, but the basics haven't changed.

(And no, I wouldn't have a smart meter.)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1327330-Anyone-having-a-gas-leccy-meter-replaced-with-a-Smart-Meter-Something-you-need-to-know

I have also been bombarded by smart metre leaflets and emails I didn't think I wanted one before now I know I definitely don't the only trouble is my electric metre could do with being changed because it LED screen on it isn't very clear , it's a prepaid metre so I need to see how much money is left on it and I know if I ask for a new one so try and push a smart one on me.

In fact, since that thread we've seen some mega hacks and IT failures.

Bank IT failures, several IT failures grounding BA flights, BA passenger data hacked, Nest thermostat & babycams hacked, MN user data hacked...

Being re-programmable devices which are ultimately connected to the internet (even if that's via another smart device), smart meters will almost certainly suffer the same.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-44885185
www.cbsnews.com/news/nest-camera-hacked-hacker-spoke-to-baby-hurled-obscenities-at-couple-using-nest-camera-dad-says/

The government requires energy suppliers to offer a smart meter, but it is not a legal requirement to have one.
I agreed to have one installed a few years ago but when the guy came he said he couldn’t as the signal wasn’t strong enough. Now I just say I’m not interested.

There's also been a thread from a MNer whose smart meter In-Home Display was broken by the utility company doing a remote software upgrade. She couldn't see how much credit was on it, or put any on.

Her utility company said they'd broken lots of their Displays with the upgrade.

Fortunately, on this occasion it was just the little hand-held Display which was affected, so posting a new one out was possible – as long as they had enough in stock to replace the mass breakage.

Imagine if it had been the actual smart meter itself, bolted to her wall and carrying the mains electricity into her house, that had been messed up by the upgrade?

Billed utilities I wouldn't bother but if you are on pre pay they are amazing... I can top up from the app on my phone from my sofa.

Don't have to leave the house, never lose the key.