Page 4 | Why don't we want a smart meter?

ChimChimeny · 2022-10-01T06:25:49+00:00

I've seen a lot of comments basically saying posters will never get a smart meter, but I don't know why! I do monthly meter readings so sending usage automatically doesn't interest me but I'd like the box thing which shows how much we're using because we don't know which appliances are the most costly. But what are the downsides??

user16480478 · 01/10/2022 12:13

When people say that the smart meter is dropping out do they mean the actual meter or the in house display, I have had to reboot the in house display but that is not the actual meter. The display needs to be fairly near the meter to work at its best, mine is probably about 8-10 metres away which is a bit far really so it does sometimes lose signal

WhenPushComesToShove · 01/10/2022 12:16

Agree completely with @HairyKnobsAndBroomsticks - It made a massive difference for me being able to see how much it was costing for each appliance. I use far less electricity now that I am aware of running costs.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 01/10/2022 12:20

onmywayamarillo · 01/10/2022 11:31

I've just had mine replaced
They are really small and look very tidy under the stairs.
Was a mess of wires and huge meters before.

@onmywayamarillo

Was it? Why? I don't know anyone with normal meters (the non-smart-meters,) who has HUGE meters and a mess of wires around it. How odd. Also, were your meters not in a meter cupboard?

Also, apart from the reasons I gave to not have smart meters. I forgot to add, the signal is a bit ropey sometimes. (Phone - and internet.) It would be untenable for that reason alone IMO.

Tulipomania · 01/10/2022 12:21

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps

I did not say they were the SAME as smart phones.

However they are an example of improved technology, functionality and efficiency on the old meters in the same way as smart phones are on mobile phones.

You can choose to ignore this if you want, it is entirely your prerogative. However you are much more likely to get an inaccurate bill if you are relying on estimated meter readings than a smart meter will give you.

And for EV drivers on special tariffs which allow you to charge more cheaply at certain times of day they are essential, but something tells me you'll be sticking to petrol/diesel until they become illegal too ...

scrufffy · 01/10/2022 12:21

I'm on a prepay meter.

When they announced the price rise, I loaded my old not smart meter at the old price. I still have £50 left which will do me this month.

If it was smart, I'd have been forced to pay the increased price.

user16480478 · 01/10/2022 12:30

Confused Why? I don't know anyone with normal meters (the non-smart-meters,) who has HUGE meters and a mess of wires around it. How odd. Also, were your meters not in a meter cupboard?

Our gas meter is one of the old grey Parkinson Cowan ones, ugly as fuck but obviously built to last forever, it's in our pantry and I see it's ugliness every time I go in there, I'm looking forward to hopefully get a nice modern smart meter on Friday, though knowing my luck, something won't be suitable and I will be stuck with the old one forever

onmywayamarillo · 01/10/2022 12:41

We because they are situated under the stairs in my house.. quite normal I'd say.

We only just moved here and the house had been owned for 25 years by the same family. So the meters are really old and very large! Also lots of bodge wiring.

Had all the electrics replaced. And now nice new small smart meters.
Photos of old and new meters quite a difference!

user16480478 · 01/10/2022 12:55

@onmywayamarillo my gas meter is under the stairs and looks even worse than your old one, thing that's concerns me is that electric smart meter is by the front door in a built in cupboard (not a meter cupboard) so not next to it, about 5 meters away so hope it's suitable as the gas ones work off the electric ones,

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 01/10/2022 13:02

Potential for surge pricing
Value of the data to the organisation that they are getting from you free of charge

Tulipomania · 01/10/2022 13:05

The value of the data they are getting form you literally helps reduce energy bills for everyone.

Yirk · 01/10/2022 14:59

Thanks for suggestions, will look at MSE site, I have tried using the photo method but depending on which angle you look at it can suggest different readings...as per last months that was read wrong and I was charged in the £300 s instead of £30.
I was offered a goodwill gesture of £15 !!! Told them to stuff it, they haven't resolved my problem.

Malbecfan · 01/10/2022 15:13

There is no mobile phone signal here so they said that would attach it to my router. We get 2.0 MBps download speed and 0.4 upload. If they think they are going to piggyback off an already crap bandwidth, they can think again. They had no intention of contributing to it. Plus the stupid display thing actually uses electricity as it shows you how much it is costing. I told them to shove it.

To those people who think you need one: on the back or base of every device is its power rating. If it uses eg 3KW, if you use it for an hour, it will cost you 3 units or KWh at whatever rate you pay. If you use your kettle for 3 minutes, you work out how much of an hour that is (5%) so multiply that by the hour rating x price and divide by 100. Who needs a smart meter? Not me thanks.

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 01/10/2022 16:10

LetterOfTheLawFella · 01/10/2022 08:20

@CleopatrasBeautifulNose great explanation. Do you work in the sector?

Sort of, I work in a closely related sector. 😊

RippleQueen · 01/10/2022 16:25

We had to get a smart meter because it is now a legal requirement if you have an electric or plug in hybrid car. At some point they will prevent you from charging your vehicle during am and pm peak demand to protect the national grid

Blix · 01/10/2022 16:33

Wordwatcher · 01/10/2022 12:09

Rural setting and mobile drops.
Cost to get it removed if you decide to revert to reading your meters again I believe are £££ but am prepared to told I’m wrong about that.

Octopus tried to fit one here years ago in spite of me saying we have no mobile signal. It couldn't connect and they had to take it out and put the old one back.
However this year they came with a 2nd generation meter. They use their own network, not mobile and it connected straight away. No complaints.

Unfortunately I made the mistake of recommending to DS that he accept one as EDF were badgering him. They fitted gas and electric meters and the gas meter has never worked properly. This was 6 months ago and they don't answer his emails or offer any solution when he rings.

cakeorwine · 01/10/2022 17:22

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 01/10/2022 13:02

Potential for surge pricing
Value of the data to the organisation that they are getting from you free of charge

Surge pricing also means that you get cheaper rates as well as more expensive rates.

And as for data.....do you have a clubcard or similar. People with clubcards tell supermarkets a lot about their habits. Far more than knowing when someone heats a house or uses more electricity

DorotheaDiamond · 01/10/2022 17:29

RippleQueen · 01/10/2022 16:25

We had to get a smart meter because it is now a legal requirement if you have an electric or plug in hybrid car. At some point they will prevent you from charging your vehicle during am and pm peak demand to protect the national grid

We have an electric car and dumb meter!

MrsMontyD · 01/10/2022 17:36

user16480478 · 01/10/2022 08:33

Also remember it is the government that want the energy companies to fit smart meters not the energy companies, that is why if they don't work that well there is no interest in fixing them and also why if you already have an old dumb one they won't replace it with a new smart one. So remember it is the government that wants this and has set targets for energy companies to meet.

Eon were absolutely insistent on replacing my smart metre, so now I have the new version and that doesn't work. They wanted to send someone out, I put them off for a few months and they've lost interest for now.

skyeisthelimit · 01/10/2022 17:52

I had one fitted and haven't noticed any difference. It doesn't change the way that you use electricity or consume it.

I had the smart monitor, but turned it off as never used it so it was literally just a waste of electricity. They want to do half hourly readings, but it doesn't change the DD or anything, so I don't see the point as I am still not actually paying the monthly usage. But it suits me to pay the same each month for budgeting purposes.

I was lucky enough to fix last October just before it all went mad.

WhiteFire · 01/10/2022 18:22

Tulipomania · 01/10/2022 12:21

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps

I did not say they were the SAME as smart phones.

However they are an example of improved technology, functionality and efficiency on the old meters in the same way as smart phones are on mobile phones.

You can choose to ignore this if you want, it is entirely your prerogative. However you are much more likely to get an inaccurate bill if you are relying on estimated meter readings than a smart meter will give you.

And for EV drivers on special tariffs which allow you to charge more cheaply at certain times of day they are essential, but something tells me you'll be sticking to petrol/diesel until they become illegal too ...

Or you could just take a meter reading and submit it. No estimation about it. Every month I simply open my meter cupboard, take a photo and input my reading on the app. Takes a few minutes.

I'll stick with my petrol car until it is no longer financially viable to repair, and I will only replace with an EV if there is an affordable used car market.

cakeorwine · 01/10/2022 18:33

skyeisthelimit · 01/10/2022 17:52

I had one fitted and haven't noticed any difference. It doesn't change the way that you use electricity or consume it.

I had the smart monitor, but turned it off as never used it so it was literally just a waste of electricity. They want to do half hourly readings, but it doesn't change the DD or anything, so I don't see the point as I am still not actually paying the monthly usage. But it suits me to pay the same each month for budgeting purposes.

I was lucky enough to fix last October just before it all went mad.

A Smart Meter doesn't.

But the linked monitor which can only work if you have a Smart Meter does.

It's a prompt, a reminder, a target maybe?

When DS has his showers, I can show him it on the monitor and then remind him to take shorter showers.

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 01/10/2022 18:42

TimBoothseyes · 01/10/2022 12:01

My sister, who lives up the road from me has a smart meter that is constantly dropping out due to lack of signal, so whilst it may work in "the rural north", here in the rural southwest it's still dodgy.

Show quote history

It often doesn't work in the rural North is what I was saying. :) Supposedly 1% of the UK population can't access a smart meter - which might be true/close to true but those 1% are clustered in certain areas, so in poorly served areas it is higher. Some parts of Cumbria being one example.

Theoldwrinkley · 01/10/2022 18:44

We had one fitted (we think) as the old meter was old according to octopus. Chap who fitted it spoke some sort of West Indian patois and wore a mask so no idea what he was saying.....not racist but I really could not understand what he was saying! Since then octopus said its not a smart meter. Plumber (who came to service the boiler) said it looks like a smart meter to him. Chap who came to do other electrical work said it looks like a smart meter. I have a scary moniter. But octopus say its not. Where do I go from here? Two things I vowed would never be part of my life....a smart meter and wooden floors. Both have been imposed in last 3 months. Both disastrous. If you have a choice and don't mind reading the meter, don't change!

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 01/10/2022 18:46

RippleQueen · 01/10/2022 16:25

We had to get a smart meter because it is now a legal requirement if you have an electric or plug in hybrid car. At some point they will prevent you from charging your vehicle during am and pm peak demand to protect the national grid

Which country are you in? It isn't a legal requirement in the UK. There are specialist EV tariffs it is impossible to access without a smart meter as those tariffs depend on frequent updates to apply the correct charge at 4am or whatever, but if you have an EV and no smart meter you can still charge your car, you will just be on normal energy charges of your basic tariff to do it.

Flugelbinder · 01/10/2022 18:57

How does anyone with a 20/30/50 year old metre still know it’s calibrated correctly and not over charging l?