Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Time to get a smart meter?

37 replies

Fordian · 06/04/2022 13:51

I've resisted to date because to date, I frankly don't trust the government from allowing energy companies to analyse your chief usage time and bump up your unit costs on a household by household basis, to maximise profits. Especially since I gather that once you have one, you're stuck with it.

But- should I now?

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 06/04/2022 13:55

You've told us why you don't want one. Why are you considering getting one?

Original poster
Fordian · 06/04/2022 16:54

To monitor my actual usage/costs per day, and as a 'visual' for the rest of the family!

OP posts:
TellMeItIsntTrue · 06/04/2022 18:38

You tell the energy company how often they can take reads so you can set to monthly if you’re concerned about that.
Often the best tariffs now have caveats about having to have a smart meter and eventually everyone will have a smart meter anyway as the old style are no longer made

Kezzie200 · 06/04/2022 19:53

In life before smart meters we git our kids to take daily meter readings. Then we turned stuff off and they realised how much they were saving by turning off lights etc.
It worked and they are careful with their use now they are adults.

I think it's a good idea to do as a whole house but I can't see you need a SM if you don't want one (if you do, that's fine too)

XenoBitch · 06/04/2022 19:55

I have had mine few weeks now. It was fascinating at the start, but now they just cause me anxiety so I turned off the monitor thing and put it away.

nancyonthebike · 06/04/2022 20:01

I would strongly recommend having one. Just before 7pm tonight after being out of the house for 8 hrs it's telling me I'm about to go over my budget so everything is now turned off and I'm in my bed with an extra blanket trying to get warm. I'm sick of it. I live alone in a flat, work full time to now just literally pay the bills, petrol and buy basic food (supermarkets own soup, reduced bread, eggs, milk)
My washing that I did the weekend still feels damp because I can't put the heating on to help it dry. I'm beginning to see what I presume is damp around window frames because I can't have the heating on.
I'm trying to ride this out and not fall in to debt, preying for warmer weather.

Watching the smart meter go up and up can make you obsessed if you're worried about how to afford everything, if I didn't have it I'd definitely would of had my heating on and had a few cup of teas tonight. Would of dealt with the worry when the bill arrived instead of daily worrying.
My advice is don't have one there is no joy in being in bed at 7.30 and not even boiling the kettle to have a cuppa.

Moonmelodies · 06/04/2022 20:23

Another device using electricity.

LynetteScavo · 06/04/2022 20:30

You don't have to have the monitor plugged in (yes, just another advice using electricity, but I just plug mine in at the end of the today to see how much a particular day has cost, or to find out how much it costs to boil the kettle or have a shower) I also send in my own readings through the app from from time to time. It's much easier than having the meter man visit. I didn't quite get the resistance to smart meters.

sophienelisse · 06/04/2022 20:32

If your energy supplier has an app to view usage it is useful.

I work on this industry and I have one. Still hasn't stopped my supplier fucking up my bills.

LynetteScavo · 06/04/2022 20:33

As mentioned it would be a good idea if you need to budgeting and don't want to go over, say £5 per day. At that point you can turn everything off and go to bed, or choose not to used the tumble dryer and wait until morning to hang the washing out.

sophienelisse · 06/04/2022 20:36

If you can see when and what you are using it does help it does create sone awareness.

Ie if you have To tumble dry do it at night etc.

With things the way they are at the min every little helps

dementedpixie · 06/04/2022 20:37

They tried to fit one a couple of weeks ago but it kept tripping my fuse box so they had to put my dumb one back in again

sophienelisse · 06/04/2022 21:04

Did they say why @dementedpixie did they offer you any solutions?

OhMyDays22 · 06/04/2022 21:10

@Fordian

I've resisted to date because to date, I frankly don't trust the government from allowing energy companies to analyse your chief usage time and bump up your unit costs on a household by household basis, to maximise profits. Especially since I gather that once you have one, you're stuck with it.

But- should I now?

No - and this is the reason why!
Kezzie200 · 06/04/2022 21:10

People are using electric throws which are fine but what about a beanie hat? When I'm cold, I pull a pillow over the top of my hear, like a hat, and I soon warm up.

I've not seen anyone mention hats yet.

@nancyonthebike can you take a flask to work and fill with hot water when kettle boils. Any left over and you can have a cuppa at night?

OhMyDays22 · 06/04/2022 21:11

The first step to 'on demand pricing' has already been made - have you seen today's news articles about people with smart meters will have to submit daily readings?

Then it'll be morning / afternoon / evening, then it'll be hourly...

Mum2jenny · 06/04/2022 21:16

Definitely not interested in having one, as they can then cut off supply remotely, rather than sending someone round.Not a chance!! I’m

MorganSeventh · 06/04/2022 21:21

I mean, if you're that worried about smart meters, you can just buy yourself home energy monitor and get your real time electricity use from that... They aren't a new invention, they've been around since the mid 2000s. You will have to pay for it though.

MyDcAreMarvel · 06/04/2022 21:24

Absolutely not, read up on dynamic pricing.

XenoBitch · 06/04/2022 21:24

@OhMyDays22

The first step to 'on demand pricing' has already been made - have you seen today's news articles about people with smart meters will have to submit daily readings?

Then it'll be morning / afternoon / evening, then it'll be hourly...

Smart meters send the readings themselves. That is the point of them. No one is expected to peek at the meter in the cupboard under the stairs 3 times a day, and report to their energy supplier.
TheSmallAssassin · 06/04/2022 21:32

@nancyonthebike don't forget that you will use much less energy as the evenings get lighter and the days warmer, so either adjust your budget up now, or save what you're under in the summer so you can supplement next winter.

dementedpixie · 06/04/2022 21:59

@sophienelisse

Did they say why *@dementedpixie* did they offer you any solutions?
Something to do with the type of fuse box and the proximity to the smart meter. He did move it as far down the backboard thing as he could but it still tripped the electrics. No solution offered
NannyGythaOgg · 06/04/2022 22:22

I think, initially, people with smart meters will get preferential rates. IE standard rates at busy times and reduced rates at quiet times (a bit like economy 7). People will be persuaded to have them fitted on this basis. So people with them will win initially.

When sufficient people have them, there will be a further switch meaning people without them will pay top wack 24 hours a day and their charges will be way above those with smart meters.

This will continue except, even with Smart meters, charges will increase substantially for prime time use and be (kind of) normal for quieter times.

Whatever happens, they want us to have Smart Meters so, sooner or later, we will pay more for not having them.

LynetteScavo · 06/04/2022 22:24

@OhMyDays22

The first step to 'on demand pricing' has already been made - have you seen today's news articles about people with smart meters will have to submit daily readings?

Then it'll be morning / afternoon / evening, then it'll be hourly...

No I have seen this news- where was it reported/ do you have a link?