Do I need a Smart Meter?

[LucilleBluth]

I've just switched to British Gas and they're telling me that to get the cheapest tariff I need a smart meter.

I don't like the idea....am I being a Luddite?

And since I'm on a roll, let's talk about embedded energy.

The average lifetime of a modern phone is less than 24 months (though some are coaxed on longer). We already complain that our appliances and devices don't last like they used to, and the weak point is often the electronics or software. They're not designed to be repaired: just thrown away (where to?) and a new one manufactured from scratch and shipped across the world from China.

I haven't proved it, but I'd bet good money that the constant unpredictable switching of appliance motors on and off as the power goes on/off, the fragility of the electronics themselves, and the corresponding Smart Home software which will rapidly become obsolete or abandonware*, will significantly shorten even further the lifespan of large household goods.

Energy "saved" in the UK will become energy used in China to replace the goods.

What price global warming now?

*This already happened to a Smart Thermostat: www.zdnet.com/article/nest-killed-its-smart-home-hub-what-do-they-owe-customers/

In my earlier thread ( here's the link again ), I described the problems that Smart Meters are trying to solve.

The problems are real, but I don't think Smart Meters are the solution. Not as currently planned, anyway.

How do energy companies benefit from it? They don't want them any more than you do. The only difference is they know they're giving people the ability choose to spend less money if they want to and you...I have no idea why you don't think you want one.

Er, I already have the ability to spend less money on my power, thanks. I use this ability every day.

My previous thread explains in detail why the energy companies want Smart Meters. Some of the Meters' functions are purely for the energy company's benefit and don't touch on load smoothing or national generating capacity at all.

Other functions meet govt aims, but also benefit the energy companies (half-hourly pricing enables the companies to shed risk the risk of buying wholesale and dump it directly on the consumer).

In case the above wasn't clear.

The way Smart Meters "give you the ability to spend less money on power", is that they allow you to chose to use less power.

Just like you can already.

That's it.

chipsydisco the energy network is not hundreds of years old

Well, it was only a matter of time before a referal link cropped up