Is it really illegal to refuse to have a smart meter?

[ALongHardWinter]

This is what a friend of a friend told me yesterday. Is it true? My electric company have been sending me letters every few months for the last couple of years urging me to have one installed. So far I've dug my heels in,mainly due to all the horror stories I've heard about them - not working initially,or working initially then suddenly not working. I know at least 6 people who've had them installed that have had problems. Now I get told this!

*Or to incentivise people to use power at different times when demand is lower?

Depending on your perspective*

I use power when it suits me. Not when it suits someone else.

do people really live in there here and now and can't possibly see where stuff can go wrong in the future for them?

Yes.

Next question.

@Ginmonkeyagain thanks for the info. What happens if there is no O2 signal? Previously there was a router around 5m from the meters which I was told could be used for sending in smart readings. Now it's half an old stone house away and signals don't pass easily through the walls.

I’m missing it because u seem unable to tell me what it is
all I can gather is if there’s a SM they can cut u off remotely
old meter they get a court order and come in and do it

Currently you need proof for a court order, and at least someone who isn't the energy company gets a say in the matter.

If it can be done remotely without a court order, then no one gets to see it.

Also if it can be done remotely, then you are trusting to someone elses cybersecurity. I don't trust my own cybersecurity, let alone that of an organisation that lists it as a "cost" and skimps on that too.

Fair enough just hope they past the cost of court ,admin ,locksmith ,bailiffs and electrician on to the person who insist it goes to court
tayher than the rest of us subsidie that

I find it very strange that you don’t trust there cybersecurity yet trust MN cybersecurity enough to have an account with MN

I've been told I need a smart meter as my meters are old and not working properly. I've told them I'm not paying my bill anymore if it's not accurate. I actually wouldn't mind having a smart meter but the only appointment they can offer me is an all day one and I have to take my DD to school so can't be in all day. I've asked for a weekend appointment but these are rare, apparently. I've told them to stop bothering me about it until I either get an appointment within school hours or at the weekend. They don't listen.

That was a few years ago - when we had cheap tariffs.

I do think that there will be incentives if people have Smart Meters to offer cheaper deals, as well as incentives for using power at certain times so the rates vary during the day.

Did you know that disconnection is very rare?

They are more likely to convert you to a prepayment meter

Between January 2022 and December 2022 (Q1-Q4 2022), only British Gas (13 disconnections) disconnected domestic electricity customers due to debt.
Relevance and further information
Suppliers must only use disconnection as a last resort. They must not disconnect customers in debt unless they have offered a range of repayment options and have exhausted all available means to recover a debt.

Customer service data | Ofgem

So I really wouldn't be worried about being remotely disconnected.

You could be converted to a prepayment meter - but that could happen if you were on a Smart Meter or a traditional meter.

Fair enough.

If you could get cheaper power at certain times, would you use that?

I'd be unlikely to as I go out to work full time so I do cook in peak times, would either run a washing machine at 6am or after work. I can't use power in the middle of the day or night.

Just wait till the house battery arrives.
Charges up at cheaper times.
Gives you power when you need it at peak times.

I think that will become much more standard over the next 10 to 20 years.

The low income workers like me will be the last to get any new technology. So we'll be the ones paying premium peak time rates while the middle classes will get cheap energy.