Smart meter?

[Mummum25]

My energy provider have sent me several email regarding letting them install a smart meter. I’m not really familiar with these and whilst I can see the benefit of not having to send in meter readings every month I’m just wondering overall what people’s opinions on them are please?

Is it a good idea for me to get one? Positives and Negatives?

Thank you

Positives - I can monitor my usage on my in home display. So I know which devices cost more to run, if I've left something switched on, which times of day we use the most etc. I know what my bill will be before it arrives so no shocks. I've had no errors with my bills or readings like I did when manually read.
Negatives - it's a bit depressing seeing I've spent £3 on electricity today before I've even done anything.
But you don't have to have the inhome display if you don't want it, you can just have the smart meter.
Overall I like it because I'm someone that wants all the information, obsessed with data/bills/money! I think everyone will have to have them eventually so you might as well switch now and get used to it.

We got one a few weeks ago and right now I can only see positives. Before getting it (and before all the cost of living stuff) I would leave lights on, not really think about what was switched on etc. Now, the meter tells me exactly how much money I'm chucking away when all the lights are on and everything's plugged in - I've got slightly obsessed, going round the house switching things like the microwave off when it's not in use because even that reduces output - which is obvious, but I hadn't really thought about it until the meter was there!

It is depressing that by the time I've got downstairs in the morning we've already spent nearly £1 - just on normal stuff plugged in and a couple of showers - but it's interesting and will help me reduce things as we head into Autumn/Winter. I've always been a Heating on 21 and wear a t-shirt (I know....), but now will definitely be a lower heating, more clothes on - so it's come at the right time for me!

@Skade1810 Thank you, that’s very helpful. No errors with bills and knowing what it will be sound good.

@DottyDotAgain Thanks! Thats so funny as I’m already obsessed with turning off lights etc, it’s the way I was raised. And with 5 children who like to leave on every light in the house it’s a necessity 😂

Are they essential?

The reason I ask is I have said NO to my energy company (mostly because I really struggle with having strangers in the house to fit anything, due to my agoraphobia).
Despite me repeatedly having said I don't want one, they keep on and on and on with texts/ emails saying "We are ready to fit your smart meter".

Just made me wonder if I had no choice but to have one as they don't seem to accept no for an answer.

@Rosiethecat15 I don’t think they’re essential- as in we have no choice. But even when I ignored the emails I still kept getting more. So I feel like they’re being very pushy about it.

I just wonder from their perspective what it is they have to gain? As we’re in a cost of living crisis and it must be so so expensive to fit these for thousands of customers. So why now and what’s the benefit to them?!

The benefit to them is they get live readings every half an hour or so, so they can work out what the peak demand is and match the supply from the grid. Also, there are no more false readings, inaccurate estimate bills or broken meters that don't get discovered for months or years by which time you are in loads of debt or it's too late to get their money back.

@Skade1810 That makes sense, thanks so much!

The long term advantage to them is that they will be able to accurately charge different prices at different times of day.

Whether that is also a benefit to us would be if we are able to use it to our advantage. If electric is cheaper at night, then programming washing machines, dishwashers etc to operate at night spreads the use of energy.

At the very least, people can choose to avoid using the washing machine between 5 and 7 in the evening, which is (I think) the peak time.

They could, theoretically, have many more different price zones as there are lesser peaks at other times.

There is a Govt drive to get everyone in them I think, hence the pestering calls and emails. They can’t make it compulsory (yet) I wouldn’t think

Its just a meter. It's their equipment so they should really be able to install what they like. How can it not be helpful to be able to monitor your customers consumption so that the system can be planned and run more efficiently and bills can be more accurate?
The in home display can be left in the box if you aren't interested.

I have a one
Was here when I moved in

Some people are resistant to smart meters because the energy company can simply flip a switch to turn your credit meter into a pre pay debit meter, should you get into debt with them.
On the other hand, companies are rumoured to be offering cashback to smart meter owners who reduce their consumption at peak times, this winter.

We had one fitted 6 months ago and it has been a nightmare .it cat connect to the energy company so we have had estimated bills since then . No one know how to read it . It's an unusual one as we have three phase electricity . Finally got an engineer to show Us how to read it and according to joke we have used no daytime electricity for 6 months .
I had to raise a complaint with them as this is clearly wrong

Love it takes away the anxiety of are you going to get a massive bill u weren’t expecting

they can switch it on to pre payment and charge different tariffs
whilst people are outraged at the fact they can switch it onto pre payment the alternative with normal metre they take you to Court and go down that route

The smart meter is simply the new electronic meter which replaces your old meters.

Companies get regular readings - which you can easily log into on an app so you can see your daily usage.

The display unit is NOT the smart meter - many people have a misconception about this. It simply takes the data from the smart meter and shows your usage. It's great to show usage. One thing that's important is to understand is that it's the time a device is used for as well as the power - in other words - a low power device won't go into the 'red' level but it can use a lot of energy over time - and a 'high' power device won't necessariliy use a lot of energy if it's used for a short time.

I think mine is incredibly useful.

We have one. Never look at it usually, just means bills are accurate. Ours seem lower than many so I did read it, it's correct

we booked to have one fitted and arranged our day so someone would be in, they didn't turn up, it was a huge inconvenience. They then sent a customer satisfaction survey about getting it fitted, we complained and got £30 for the inconvenience.

We have refused Scottish Powers attempts to rebook an appointment.

I do the village hall accounts and they didn't turn up for those but a different supplier to ours.

@DottyDotAgain I think you need to factor in your standing charge which will apply over night, that could be the best part of 40/50p

Got ours this week. I really like it - I've been badgering DH for years to be more thoughtful about turning lights off and so on. Pure vindication in a little flashing box.