Are there any dowsides to having a smart meter?

[areyoureadytobestrong]

I've got a letter offering a free upgrade to a smart meter and I wonder if there's a catch at all.
The old meter is in a high cupboard which is inconvenient for taking meter readings so it might be good to swap.
But someone said to me that if you get a smart meter then you can't switch suppliers afterwards as easily. Does anyone know if that's true?

As far as I am aware (from friends who've had them, I refuse to get one), if you switch, your Smart Meter is useless.

Also - they might be 'free'. but they are being paid for somehow. Check the small print, they are probably adding a bit to each of your bills to cover the cost.

I think we are a couple of generations away from them being fit for purpose...(electronic generations, not human ones).

are you refusing because of the switching issue or because of the personal data issue Zaphod?

I know what you mean about things not yet being "mature"/fit for purpose.

Well ours went on fire and nearly burned down the house so there is that....

I have smart meters for all utilities and I love them. So easy to check. Plus no issue changing suppliers so far.

Mine were fitted by British Gas.

I had one in the old house and loved it. We got one in this house - second generation so we can switch suppliers. But because of the size of the house....not a stealth boast just that the meter is on the garage wall....the internal monitor only works upstairs in the bedroom which isn't ideal. I still love the concept and being able to remind me/the family to switch off unwanted lights etc.

Works well in my house.

There are no extra charges on any paperwork or the meter. I read and make a note of useage every month and funnily enough in the 8 months I've had it my bills have gone down.

I'd say a mixture of it being a reminder to keep an eye on useage and not being blagged by the company adding extra on the bill

There’s some confusion over whether other companies can read meters owned by other companies or whether they have to be replaced if you switch. I’ve heard that it’s true and untrue in equal measure 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had one put in about a year ago simply because it was the only way I could get rid of the very old, large, gas meter in the kitchen and I wanted to replace it before I redid the kitchen.

I signed up with British Gas as another company I’d been with for years really messed me about - lying about what was going on with installations

I’m in no hurry to swap suppliers so can’t help with how much hassle it is - but you can use a ‘smart neter’ As a ‘dumb meter’ anyway, so I can’t see what the issue is really. Surely, at worst, you’ll be using them as a ‘dumb meter’ ?!

Oh and I have no fucks to give about ‘personal data’ so what if they know exactly when I’m using more/less gas/electric?!

But maybe I’ve missed something aboutntgst, happy to be told otherwise, but 🤷🏻‍♀️

We have massive old school meters in boxes on the front of the house.

I asked the energy Co if a smart meter would mean these went and they said no, there'd just be an extra box inside. Reading this thread though for some it seems they did get rid of the old box?

I had a smart meter installed by Southern Electric. For electric and gas.
I've just changed supplier. I just have to email them the readings once a month now as obviously they are not hooked up to the smart meter. Saving £23 a month!

"Well ours went on fire and nearly burned down the house so there is that...."

holy heck MacHeckface.

Bloody Hell

I have a BT bundle utilities + internet connection ,meters are in the covered porch, neat little gizmo on my docking station table. Suits me

I love my smart meter. It’s reduces our bills by about £30 a month.

Surely you don't need to be told that you'll reduce your energy usage if you don't leave the lights on unnecessarily, if you turn the temp down on your washer, if you only boil the amount of water you need each time you make a brew and you don't leave items on standby when they could be switched off?

We don't have one simply because I don't see the point. Our energy bills are low anyway because we don't waste it.

Can they remotely control your supply, ie. can they switch it off without consulting you? Do they monitor the times and days when your usage goes out down and what might they be able to work out from that? I know I sound like I need a tinfoil hat but I don't like the idea of them!

In theory, second gen meters can still be smart if you switch but first gen ones can't.

In theory, British Gas will always fit a 2nd gen as do some others but some still fit first gen.

In theory, saving will be made, in the long term, by suppliers being able to predict spikes etc and again, in the long term, charge different prices for energy at different times of day. So if you choose to put your washer on at a time when large numbers of people are cooking their Sunday dinner you will pay more for your power than if you do it in the night or other quiet times. In theory again, this should mean that more people do use washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers etc at quiet times thus evening out power usage during the day. I guess in time that machines will become 'smarter' too and we will be able to programme the washing machine to automatically come on when costs are lowest.

The fear is that this technology will be used to benefit the power companies and shareholders rather than the consumer.

Hecateh

Absolutely spot on. BUT you can't program when a major event is on TV. Double price for power for a world cup final? Cynical? Me?

I have one, no issues with it, and am paying for what I use, not an estimated bill with higher direct debits. I dont use the gadget that comes with it, but do switch of stuff more and can online and see what I have used the previous day.

I am not charged more for having one

Oh and I have no fucks to give about ‘personal data’ so what if they know exactly when I’m using more/less gas/electric?!

Then you have misunderstood the significance of personal data and are gravely underestimating the issues surrounding this point.

We were given a plug in one by edf ages ago but I use the plug for another appliance.
It kept telling me I was in the red, but that's the electricity I need to use, I am already mindful of wastage.

Am I getting confused with "proper" smart meters?

Energy company employee here. A smart meter will not stop you from switching suppliers. Not all 1st generation smart meters (smet1) are compatible with all suppliers. So if they fitted a smet 1 and switched you might have to go back to giving manual reads. Most companies are now fitting 2nd generation (smet2) and these work on a shared database so all major suppliers can get the reads.

You will not be charged as an individual for having one. The cost of the smart meter roll out is worked into everybodys unit prices, in fact most companies are offering cheaper tariffs to those with a smart meter to encourage more people to have one (big installation target to hit).

So long as your gas meter is reasonable close to the electricity they should fit both, if not they could just do the electricity (save you clambering!)

Personally I see a lot of benefits to them. The people who don't want them are usually the ones who know to the penny what they spend anyway and wouldn't see the benefit.

When we switched energy suppliers about 18 months ago, part of the deal was to get a smart meter installed.

We are in an old house and it replaced meters we'd had fitted 25 years ago. By virtue of the crazy plumbing and wiring it took 2 men three visits to replumb/wire the replacements in. They made a very neat job of it and, as part of the changeover, did a gas safety check on the house.

The new meters are a lot smaller. We have a display in the kitchen that plugs in, but that is now fairly useless because we have switched supplier and just send them monthly readings.

There are a few things to bear in mind.

As mentioned, older style SMETS 1 meters often can't be used if you switch. I don't have any confidence this will be fixed with SMETS 2.

If your wiring or gas is in bad condition, the team swapping meters can condemn them and disconnect you, and you will need to get it fixed.

Finally, all smart meters have a remote disconnect. You can have your supply disconnected if you do not pay your bills. It is far easier than entering the property and removing the fuse. This is worth considering.

Had one fitted as part of fixed rate deal. Botched installation by amateur engineer and the company kept sending the same chap back to refit his own work. It was finally safe and checked by his supervisor after 3 visits. It looks a fright, thank goodness it's in the bin store not on show! Never again

I don’t see the point of them - I know if I want to save money I shouldn’t use so much electricity. We never have estimated bills - we get a reminder, take the reading and send it. Then we pay the quarterly bill. I like to be able see the reading and to send the reading - then I know it’s correct!
We do however have a tado for our heating and we have saved money with that, but that’s because it will automatically turn off heating if a window is open, or if we are out.

Phase 2 allows for changing suppliers, not in the industry anymore so not sure how many are available.
yes, not my dept but always got lots of abuse about fitters, inconvenience, missed appointments and it not saving money as claimed at the time.

I don't see the point and wish my supplier would stop the daily phone calls asking me to get one tbh.