Is there any reason not to get a smart meter?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Just been offered one by our power company, it would be a lot easier than taking meter readings as the current meter is at the back of the garage and I can't get to it at all so I have to get dh to take a reading.

My dad is very anti them, not sure why...

So much misunderstanding and misinformation on this thread

The smart meter and the gadget that tells you how much your power is costing are two separate things. You don't need to use the gadget if you have a smart meter and you can buy a gadget for a regular meter

at the poster who keeps their smart meter in a drawer!

Transferable meters have been the norm for years, there's nothing to stop you changing suppliers and afaik even if you have an old one you can change but lose the smart features

A new meter can't possibly make you use more electricity, I'm sure there are some that don't work as a measuring device but increase in costs is most likely because people don't understand that their direct debit doesn't equal how must energy they use

Have one or don't, and I don't, but make a choice for the right reasons.

Not sure why some folk are so sure the law won't be changed to allow power companies to remotely disconnect customers once they have smart meters in place. Was that a manifesto promise somewhere ? And even if it was, what's that worth ?

@SerendipityJane

Not sure why some folk are so sure the law won't be changed to allow power companies to remotely disconnect customers once they have smart meters in place. Was that a manifesto promise somewhere ? And even if it was, what's that worth ?

The law doesn’t need to be changed to allow customers to be disconnected remotely. That can happen at the moment, but the process for doing that is exactly the same as for disconnecting any other type of customer, so you’re no more likely to be disconnected if you have a smart meter vs a standard meter.

you’re no more likely to be disconnected if you have a smart meter vs a standard meter
At the moment.

A few years ago we got them as a condition of getting a cheaper tariff. We live in an old build, last rewired etc a good 30 years ago.

Getting new meters meant we had gas and electricity safety checks. We also had a couple of guys installing/redirecting gas pipes in our entrance hall for 3 days to make it more compliant with current standards. Annoying, but didn't cost us a penny.

We changed tariff and supplier the following year so we are back to submitting monthly manual readings.

I'm not a fan.

It will only be a matter of time before the only tariff you'll be able to access is one that capitalises on the times of your heavier usage- which they'll know, having looked at your meter.

I suppose the reverse should be asked too,

'Is there any reason to get a smart meter?'

Other than perhaps avoiding having to scrabble about in a cupboard for a meter reading.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I suppose the reverse should be asked too,

'Is there any reason to get a smart meter?'

Other than perhaps avoiding having to scrabble about in a cupboard for a meter reading.

Which is what would be really helpful for me.

@PattyPan
Thank you for taking the time to
Answer.
I suppose I’m thinking about a future scenario where stuff goes totally awry. Call it apocalyptical or what you will. But I don’t think it’s too hard to imagine a future where central
Govt might want to control our energy usage. I would rather not allow that to be done remotely.

I might not have understood how it works correctly but think staying away from smart meters leaves me witj more control. Perhaps
@Bitofachinwag

It’s a big fat no from me.

Am getting fed up of the calls from my supplier. My answer is no - they go into a spiel about stuff, I still say no. They get huffy!

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-5403473/Experts-say-GCHQ-concerned-smart-meters.html They can be hacked. Lots of European countries have also rejected them for economic reasons