To ask if anyone can help me with smart meters

[huneebunee]

I am looking to change electricity provider

I would like a smart meter in the house

if I get one can I change provider later ?

Roughly how much do they cost?

Thank you

Here we go,
Don’t get one, we all know the basics, turn things off to save elec.
Generation 1 meters are total crap, gen 2 are supposed to be smart but often fail. Fitter may promise you a Gen 2 but still fit a Gen 1

More trouble than they are worth, and u are being charged for it in elec bills anyway

Also would it be a good idea for me to get myself fixed tariff? I have not got one currently and I am just a bit worried about prices rising with the way things are going at the moment

@Thesuzle

Here we go, Don’t get one, we all know the basics, turn things off to save elec. Generation 1 meters are total crap, gen 2 are supposed to be smart but often fail. Fitter may promise you a Gen 2 but still fit a Gen 1

More trouble than they are worth, and u are being charged for it in elec bills anyway

I remember not hearing such great things about them before but I thought they might have ironed out those problems by now - it seems not!

Smart meters don't directly cost anything, there's no cost for having one fitted

Unless you can predict the future you won't know if a fixed or variable rate will be cheaper over say the next year. Do you need certainty for monthly budgeting?

I don't have a smart meter but I know lots of people who do who are totally happy with them, don't assume that because 1 poster doesn't like them that it would be a bad idea for you

@lifesalongsong

Smart meters don't directly cost anything, there's no cost for having one fitted

Unless you can predict the future you won't know if a fixed or variable rate will be cheaper over say the next year. Do you need certainty for monthly budgeting?

I prefer to know what is coming up as I am on a fairly tight budget But it is not essential as I am taking charge of my budget these days with the help of financial management apps and so on

I was not sure how much prices could rocket with the instability in the world or are they capped? I really do not know much about these things

Lots of Energy companies now have Generation 2 smart meters they allow you to transfer between companies and not loose the smart functionality. They don't cost you any more, people dont like them as it shows what your using and you can claim it wasnt used and give incorrect readings. I have smart meters, no issues with them at all. You will always have the tin hat brigade against them but standard meters are no longer made and have nearly ran out so any faulty meter, old meters due an upgrade will all be changed to smart eventually

Also I am currently on a prepaid meter would it be cheaper to go onto a normal plan where the company guesstimates what you have used?

Afaik a smart meter isn’t going to help with tariffs.
It will show you your usage by the minute/hour/day and current spend because they come with a box with a screen on that you can carry about the house if you wish.
It will also transmit your usage to the energy company removing the need for a meter check.

It can also remotely cut off your gas if told to do so', which triggered a lot of concern about uncaring energy companies leaving you to die of cold because of an unpaid £1 bill.

We had to get one because we chose a company & tariff that mandated ( they said ) fitting a smart meter ( generation 2 model ).

We looked at the usage screen for a few weeks then put it away in a drawer somewhere but I can see how the usage would be useful to show teens and other consumers ( but not payers ) of electricity what they’re costing leaving the lights, computers on all day.

Yes get a regular credit meter not a smart meter.

Unless you can predict the future you won't know if a fixed or variable rate will be cheaper over say the next year. Do you need certainty for monthly budgeting?

I have recently changed my mortgage to a fixed rate for some stability but I suppose that is different because it is connected to the interest-rate? I am fairly clueless financially

We've just got one and I really like it. I think it is fitted by one energising company but supplier but can be transferred. It is a wireless signal from the meter box to the unit itself so the supplier is switched on the meter if you do switch, then so is the smart meter. It helped us identify a high drain device with which we then switched off.

Not even sure if that is any help but hope you get one!!

Energy not ernergising and yes it's free!

Choose a company where you can submit monthly readings and they will give you an up to date balance so you know exactly where you are.

I'm with Octopus and each month they ask for a reading. I submit it and then within a day they send me an up to date bill showing how much gas and electric I have used and what my current balance is.

They also offer smart meters but I don't have one and am not really inclined to get one either

P.s. I'm on a 12 month fixed deal so my prices will be fixed so only my usage affects what I pay

Thank you for all replies this has been very helpful!

@AldiAisleofCrap

Yes get a regular credit meter not a smart meter.

Not where I am. Edf claims no normal meters are available...

I didn't like edf. They don't give up to date bills/balance often enough

I font really need one so I don’t want it. We use what we need and are careful with it so why do I need to know my washing machine cost £x as I’ll still need to use it. A good friend has no electricity for 4 days due to a botched installation and they are still trying to get rid of older technology. I just log on to the app for my supplier monthly to give a reading so no guesstimate on bills.

I had a smart meter fitted at no cost when changing energy supplier. Said to be Gen2. Has been very useful in pinpointing where energy is being wasted though you can buy standalone ones which clip to the electricity supply input. Just changing provider again and assuming that everything will go smoothly. Will try and remember to update here if it doesn't!

I run a complex of supported flats. Almost every fuel company that have installed a new meter have put in smart meters. If you want pay as you go it will almost certainly be a smart meter they install.

With smart meters they literally can cut supply. They can also reset it and reconfigure it if required.

I am with ovo. Had smart meter for a couple of years.
No over or under estimates. Never have to read meters
I genuinely don't get the hysteria.