Smart meters

[Justnot]

(Probably very obvious)to tell people to not get smart meters? I have always refused when they phone. It’s seems a very bad idea especially at the moment(switching you over to prepayment etc) I also pay quarterly in arrears rather than direct debit monthly where they seem to take more money then they need

From the telegraph in November:
Can you refuse a smart meter?

Smart meters are not mandatory and billpayers can refuse to have the devices installed, and you can do this indefinitely.

However, energy companies can force customers to replace their current meter if it is deemed a safety hazard or is no longer functioning correctly.

Consumers who already have a smart meter can ask for the device to be removed at any time. However, suppliers can charge customers a fee to cover this cost.

I find mine more convenient than reading the meter

I really like mine, it helps me see what I'm spending per day.

YABU to scare people away from something that works perfectly well for most of the population and helps people keep on top of their energy use. You don't have one yourself so you don't see the benefits.

i get that they are convenient - just wanted to let people know (if they don’t) that they aren’t mandatory - when they call me they always just say when can we come and fit it not asking if I want it.

We get regular 'when can we come round and install one for you' calls.

They can piss off.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64331449.amp

British Gas are no longer remotely switching people on to prepay meters, other suppliers are likely to follow suit.

I like mine as my direct debit changes each month based on what we have actually used.

I don't get why you wouldn't want to know what you're spending when energy costs are so high. Feels like people objecting to stuff for the sake of it.

It's almost always cheaper to pay your bill via a monthly direct debit. If you think they're charging you too much each month you can just reduce the amount.

As for the smart meter, it saves the hassle of sending meter readings and has been absolutely no trouble having them whatsoever

For now. Shouldn't have been allowed to in the first place.

I just saw a fuel poverty campaigner practically crying on the news and wanted to let people know they had a choice if they didn’t

defo don’t want an aibu row

They can still change you to prepay without you having a smart meter...

Ironically, my smart meter only got installed in order for them to switch me to prepay.

I cleared my debt and got switched back to a credit meter remotely.

Paying monthly by equal direct debit instalments, or by monthly or quarterly variable payments, isn't affected by whether your meter is smart or not, but by whether your readings are accurate.

^ to clarify, they made me have my old credit meter physically changed for a prepayment meter. The prepayment meter they installed was a smart meter.

I don't get why you wouldn't want to know what you're spending when energy costs are so high. Feels like people objecting to stuff for the sake of it

A smart meter automatically sends meter readings to the energy provider via SIM.

An 'In Home Display' is a calculator that communicates with a smart meter to let you know how much energy you have used.

Any meter will tell a consumer how many kWh they've used. OP isn't being ignorant!

Exactly. They have to physically do the ball ache to enter your house to install a meter for pre pay. If you already have a smart meter installed it's a button at their end. 'mistakes and errors' happen that can take ages to sort out with them 'if' you can get through.

No thankyou.

I also pay quarterly in arrears rather than direct debit monthly where they seem to take more money then they need

We have a smart meter and pay via monthly direct debit in arrears. We only pay for what we use and don't have to remember to send monthly meter readings.

As a PP said, forced prepay can happen no matter what type of meter someone has.

*pay via monthly VARIABLE direct debit in arrears, that should have said

I don’t have a smart meter so my direct debit (when I paid like this for a while) was an estimate and was always high but tbf that was a few years ago

I don’t have a smart meter so my direct debit (when I paid like this for a while) was an estimate and was always high but tbf that was a few years ago

Well yes, of course they'll estimate high if you don't send in your monthly meter readings.

I just send my reading every quarter and they bill me for what I’ve used - I don’t like direct debits either, prefer to be in control of my own bank account but get that they are convenient if you don’t have to worry about always having enough money to cover them and you haven’t had bad experiences where on occasion too much money has been taken from your account.

You'll have to get a smart meter in the end. You don't own your meter, your energy provider does and ultimately they are not going to continue to support dumb meters.

You normally end up paying more if you're not on a direct debit - if you go for a monthly/quarterly variable one and give regular readings, you shouldn't ever have a different amount taken out to the one you're billed.

If they take an amount you've not been notified of, your bank can refund you immediately under the direct debit guarantee.

I pay monthly dd but don’t want a smart meter. I’m only delaying the inevitable of dynamic pricing though. Glad I’ve not got young children whose needs eg bath time, trump using fuel when it’s cheaper.
It’s not here yet but smart meters are allowing utility companies to get specific data to support dynamic pricing. This will mean most people will pay more overall.

I don't want one either for the same reasons. I'm perfectly capable of working out my usage without a smart meter and submit readings whenever I want to.

Love mine takes all the guess work and worry out
know exactly how much spending and can manage it better