smart meters - should I or shouldn't I?

[toffeepumpkins]

I've had an email from my energy supplier to say that the style of gas and electric meter that I have (the normal ones) are being phased out and that they are in my area replacing them with smart meters and to make an appointment.

Do I have to agree? Both meters are outside so presumably they can just turn up and do it without my agreement? I don't want a new meter, the ones I have got are fine as in they both work and so don't need replacing.

They're independent of your wifi. They can be easily hacked. Lots of companies use one key. Hack one, hack thousands.

MuseumOfCurry, regardless of smart meters, your home wifi security is only as strong as the WEAKEST device attached to it, not the strongest.

Like if you have 3 bolts and a deadlock and alarm on your front door... and a back window that doesn't shut properly.

Good bbc radio programme about this a few weeks ago, the current ones are already obsolete, its all a massive waste of money box ticking exercise, is asummary

I'm on a metre so Ofcourse I got one. No more going to the shop to top up. That alone was enough for me to get one.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05l2nmz

I am interested in having one but not until the newer generation ones come out which can cope with changing supplier.

Yep. Supplier specific smart meters! What on earth were they thinking? I unwittingly switched to smart meters, and tbf they were great for the 12 months I was with that supplier, but then I got a better deal with a different supplier which saved me money and they've been "dumb" meters ever since. They really didn't think it through did they?

museum try your library. A few years ago I borrowed an energy monitor from mine. Only took a week of use to get a kick up the backside and make me realise what appliances were eating energy.

I got them, quite happy, now I don't need to give them readings and they give you a free thingy so you can see how much you're using.

We had one installed then changed suppliers and the one we moved to say we need another one fitted from them. FFS, what a waste.

I don't have one and never will. Also, they are not compulsory.

I have heard of so many issues with them, and they don't save anyone any money. You can see how much money you use when you make a cup of tea. Who cares?

I think they are well dodgy and no good will come from them long term.

I reckon within 10-15 years they will all have been recalled, and 'normal' ones put back in.

Worst idea ever. We could all have insulation for what this is costing. They are going in to manage demand, too many people, decades of poor energy planning and a little bit of EU.

A smart meter won't make you use less energy. You do that.

I was told there is a charge daily to have them which put me off.

There isn't

We are all paying for them via our bills - We have no choice

I wouldn't, just google all the health concerns.

I worked on this very closely, I won't be getting a smart meter until they start paying you to have one. There's really quite a tight schedule for installation so I anticipate they'll have to at some point.

I also don't trust the power companies to start rolling power supply with them at some point (i.e. Cutting you off).

I'm not sure who said they run on wifi - they don't. Each region has a communications supplier - and it has a SIM card in. It's run via mobile telephony.

How do they work in flats? We have own electric box but gas meters are on each landing in a great big cupboard. With no electric or ability to link to individual WiFi. Guess that means not do able?

With regards to flats we (BG) say that both meters have to either be a) within the flat itself or b) within five metres of it. Anything over five metres causes issues with the signal.

And they don't use WiFi, they use mobile networks.

That's interesting, StubbleTurnips.

Do you feel able to say why you won't have one unless paid for it?

We thought we wanted one. Thought the concept was a good idea. Engineer came out, told us it wasn’t possible as we live too far from something or other (not really sure of the guff he waffled at DH but DH took it onboard and agreed), and that he would just replace our old and outdated meter with a spangly digital one instead. Quite happy with that to be honest.

Truth be told I would rather be off grid as much as possible and responsible for generating our own energy and deciding how and when we use it. Still researching our options there.

I have worked in the business energy sector in the past and have seen enough on the subject of smart meters to know that I do not want one, thanks all the same. It's the remote control aspect that I do not like - and any system of that sort can be hacked by someone, somewhere.

Health concerns are babble, go read sense about science. Although if you are that worried you wouldnt be using the internet.

No way. I just ignore the letters.

Tianc it's easy - I'll have one when they pay me to have it installed. There will be, at some point, an incentive (be it cash or otherwise) to get them fitted. I'm purely holding out for that moment.

It's within EU regulations that they require fitting to all properties, Brexit may change that but the timescales are tight.

amiaweed you could have had your old meter replaced with a normal one, they still fit normal ones,

baileystruffle but you could always see how much you were using! The numbers "whizz by" on the normal meters as well....