Boring but am I the only person left that doesn't have a smart meter?

[Sparklingbrook]

SSE are bombarding me with letters and phone calls about getting someone around to fit one.
What's in it for me? And what does it entail to have one fitted? We currently have the two cupboards with doors with a little key for Gas and Electricity and the meters are inside.

I have little interest in seeing exactly what we're using, it's always the same and we do everything we can to not waste energy.

Hi, work in the industry.
Don’t understand at all why people are so AGAINST smart meters.
They only difference is that you don’t have to send your meter reading off every month, because the SM does it automatically.
The first version of the SM became dumb meters when you switched supplier, but they are no longer being offered. The generation SMETS2 have been rolled out, so they are universal and still work when you switch- again can make switching easier because you don’t need to worry about a closing or opening reading.
For prepayment customers smartmeters come with more convenience, instead of having to go to the shop with a key and card, you can top up using a mobile app or online.
This isn’t an advert for smartmeters, just genuinely puzzled why so many people seem really reluctant about having them fitted.

@Sparklingbrook

I didn't realise that if you changed supplier they didn't just transfer.

I didn't realise this either. We got one in our old house. Changed supplier alll of two months later and it was obsolete. Ridiculous.

Don't have one, don't want one. Would not make any difference to electricity use because none of us would look at it, therefore pointless.

I don't want one as my OCD dh will run around the house unplugging things and turning off lights when I'm still in the room to see the effect. It's just not happening here - too much stress

The ones being installed now are universally compatible. I've switched since I've had mine

Nah don’t want one. My friend was left without electricity for 4 days due to a botched installation. That was fun with two babies. I also don’t see any advantage as I put my readings through an app and change supplier regularly, I use what I need and won’t stop washing my pants because the box in the cupboard says it costs £0.30

@fairynick, because we don't like the heavy sell. The more it is pushed at us we more we don't want it. We all know electricity companies are incentivised to make us have them.

They only difference is that you don’t have to send your meter reading off every month, because the SM does it automatically. Seems pointless then, it takes seconds. I am not a prepayment customer.

I'm not against it but want a genuine advantage to make it worth the bother.

I don't want one because I will watch it like a hawk and huff and puff about my DP wasting energy, eg putting the kettle on then walking away and reboiling it later, not turning the washing machine off when it's finished, leaving lights on etc etc.

I had one in the house where I lived a couple of years ago - it never worked properly - moved into new house and was persuaded that the technology had improved blah blah blah. Had a meter fitted - doesn't work. The only way that it had been useful when it worked for a short while was seeing which appliances cause use to Spike - kettle, microwave, washing machine

I’m not having one. They get frequent meter readings off me.

No we don’t have one, no benefit to us at all. We pay a set amount throughout the year so all the hard sell of only paying for what you use is irrelevant. I send a photo through the app of my reading, hardly and inconvenience to me. I’m not going to start sitting in the dark or not put the washing machine on based on a smart reader.

There are some previous threads on this with all the very good reasons why you should not get a smart meter. Including posts from people who work in the industry!

@fairynick.....my friend has had endless trouble with her bills since her SM was installed. She phoned this week re trying to sort it out. She asked how accurate SM are......there was a short pause and the answer was ‘not very’ I’d like mine taken out too, I had reason to phone about a bill only to be told they hadn’t had readings for severel months!! Can I have it removed and where/how do I send meter readings?

@fairynick

Hi, work in the industry. Don’t understand at all why people are so AGAINST smart meters. They only difference is that you don’t have to send your meter reading off every month, because the SM does it automatically. The first version of the SM became dumb meters when you switched supplier, but they are no longer being offered. The generation SMETS2 have been rolled out, so they are universal and still work when you switch- again can make switching easier because you don’t need to worry about a closing or opening reading. For prepayment customers smartmeters come with more convenience, instead of having to go to the shop with a key and card, you can top up using a mobile app or online. This isn’t an advert for smartmeters, just genuinely puzzled why so many people seem really reluctant about having them fitted.

Because I read that they’re not compatible with all companies so you struggle to swap. Because I read that the fitters would turn up at your house and use under hand tactics to get in and fit the meter. This was after you had been inundated with calls trying to get you to agree to one, even though you said no.

The only way that it had been useful when it worked for a short while was seeing which appliances cause use to Spike - kettle, microwave, washing machine

It's interesting to know how much power devices use - obviously a high power machine used for very short periods can use as much as low power machine used for longer periods.

A smart meter doesn't necessarily help with low power devices

This link gives some idea of what it costs to run a device per month.

www.ukpower.co.uk/tools/running_costs_electricity

No we don't have one and don't plan to get one. It's just another piece of technology that's liable to going wrong - either the software or hardware will need updating. No hassle to just submit a meter reading IMO.

I don't have one. Mainly because I'm busy enough without having to wait in for half a day for someone to turn up and fit it. If they came out at my convenience and gave me a specific time that was suitable I might accept one. It takes two seconds to give a meter reading when they text me so I don't feel it's necessary.

Don't have one, don't want one, won't be getting one either.

Google "time of use tariffs"

I don't want one either. I can't be any more mindful of energy use and don't see any benefit in having one.

This isn’t an advert for smartmeters, just genuinely puzzled why so many people seem really reluctant about having them fitted

I wonder how much energy is saved because a smart meter isn't being built because it's not needed?

What's the carbon footprint of a smart meter vs the potential carbon saved?

Think of all the waste with all the perfectly working meters that are ripped out and replaced.

Then there is the fitting of them, personnel, associated transport costs. It all seems mad to me.

The only benefit of having one is if you are on a low budget but don’t already have a pre pay meter. Then in theory you can run around turning everything off on your last 20 pence of day.

Unless you are someone who can’t turn lights off in rooms that are empty or who would use tumble dryer because you don’t want go on the garden but seeing it spelt out in front of you on pounds and pence is the nudge you need. Not sure who else benefits?