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Original poster

Smart meters

70 replies

Justnot · 21/01/2023 13:19

(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.

OP posts:
Frabbits · 21/01/2023 14:52

If you have a smart meter you can still take manual readings from it and pay quarterly- although why you would do that is beyond me as usually there is a discount for paying by DD and it means you can budget for a consistant amount each month.

People who refuse them just come across as a bit tinfoil hat, IMO.

StatisticallyChallenged · 21/01/2023 14:55

Happy with mine as I have an EV and the smart meter allows me to have a time of use tariff with cheaper overnight charging.

BashfulClam · 21/01/2023 15:02

I don’t understand stand ‘seeing how much you use’ as an argument. I use what I need, I’m not suddenly going to think ‘I’m not washing my clothes because I’ve already spent x amount!’

Reallybadidea · 21/01/2023 15:08

BashfulClam · 21/01/2023 15:02

I don’t understand stand ‘seeing how much you use’ as an argument. I use what I need, I’m not suddenly going to think ‘I’m not washing my clothes because I’ve already spent x amount!’

But you might decide to turn your thermostat down because you can see that you're spending more than you expected. Or you might decide not to order a takeaway because you've seen that after needing to wash your clothes that you can't really afford it. Smart meters give you the information more easily than needing to go and read the meter - mine are outside and it's too chilly to go out repeatedly to check.

NewBootsAndRanty · 21/01/2023 15:08

Mine was quite helpful working out what was using power and when via half hourly breakdowns

My regular electric use has almost halved since I replaced my malfunctioning fridge.

NewBootsAndRanty · 21/01/2023 15:14

Reallybadidea · 21/01/2023 15:08

But you might decide to turn your thermostat down because you can see that you're spending more than you expected. Or you might decide not to order a takeaway because you've seen that after needing to wash your clothes that you can't really afford it. Smart meters give you the information more easily than needing to go and read the meter - mine are outside and it's too chilly to go out repeatedly to check.

Show quote history

I've had to increase my central heating from my usual sporadic use to 24/7 this winter for health reasons - being able to see exactly what I'm using is making it far easier to budget for what my gas costs are likely to be each day/week at the moment.

RedRiverShore3 · 21/01/2023 15:26

YANBU, mine is a SMETS1 which is now connected to the DCC after about 4 years, I checked on citizens advice page and it said it was connected but British Gas are showing no readings on their app or website, I will not be getting a gas smart meter as I am not sure how my electric one is working and it has been no benefit at all to me, it is difficult to read manually, fortunately I can afford my bills if they are a bit higher but for anyone watching their money it would be very worrying.

NewBootsAndRanty · 21/01/2023 15:29

@RedRiverShore3 try using the Loop app

loop.homes/

RedRiverShore3 · 21/01/2023 15:32

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/01/2023 14:37

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.

Many people that did the right thing and got an early smart meter have ended up with a dumb one that the energy companies won't change as they have fulfilled the government obligation to fit a smart meter so have been left with a useless lump of metal that doesn't work as it should

Tinkerbyebye · 21/01/2023 15:33

Guess you dont understand smart meters and believe the, rather hysterical in my opinion, hype in newspapers that they are bad

TheSnowyOwl · 21/01/2023 15:45

What is the issue with a smart meter? Is it purely that a remote mode change can be carried out, assuming the meter is able to communicate with the supplier, to go from credit to prepay?

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/01/2023 16:28

@RedRiverShore3 yeah that is a fair point, that is why I dodged getting one until SMETS2 was available.

LindyLou2020 · 21/01/2023 18:01

Some years ago, I was told by my supplier, (one that begins with S and is based north of England 😉), that we HAD to have a smart meter installed. I later found out this was untrue.
The supplier had bought out the company we had previously been supplied by, (Manweb), so we hadn't actively chosen to be their customers.
After a while it became apparent that our new company wasn't fit for purpose, (an appalling level of customer service), and I was exceedingly angry that we had been forced to accept a smart meter.
We changed our supplier to the one named after a creature with 8 tentacles 🙂,who have been brilliant. This was well before energy prices soared.
I'm lazy when it comes to reading meters in the normal way, and crap at maths. So, the little display monitor provided with the smart meter lets me see, more or less minute by minute, how much energy I'm using. This has been a godsend.
If it turns out that these meters and monitors end up having a more sinister purpose, I'll admit my naivety and cross that bridge when I come to it.

Ginmonkeyagain · 21/01/2023 19:29

The business case for smart meters is mainly about load management on the grid, the fact you can do whizzy data stuff for customers is just a useful by product.

That said load management is not sinister per se, it is essential for a movement a lower carbon future, especially if we are going to rely more on windpower.

Casilero · 21/01/2023 23:24

Frabbits · 21/01/2023 14:52

If you have a smart meter you can still take manual readings from it and pay quarterly- although why you would do that is beyond me as usually there is a discount for paying by DD and it means you can budget for a consistant amount each month.

People who refuse them just come across as a bit tinfoil hat, IMO.

How is it "a bit tinfoil hat" to be concerned about potential restrictions the energy companies themselves have suggested they may use in the future?

DaSilvaP · 23/05/2023 09:29

TheSnowyOwl · 21/01/2023 15:45

What is the issue with a smart meter? Is it purely that a remote mode change can be carried out, assuming the meter is able to communicate with the supplier, to go from credit to prepay?

Or even better, how would you like being at the mercy of some incompetent nincompoop employed by the energy company disconnecting you by mistake without any warning?

You do know that practically all so-called "smart" meter have a remote switch?

Over the years, I've been with about 10 different energy suppliers, and most of them have shown a level of incompetence that was beyond belief.

You really want to trust that bunch with a remote switch to your energy supply?

Also, if you want the breakdown of your energy usage you can buy your own gadgets (energy monitors) that will give you far "smarter" information than any meter.

Weedoormatnomore · 23/05/2023 09:58

Wish I never got mine. Was ok when it worked then the gas meter battery started to die would send meter readings of 0 to supplier 18mths later 2 new meters and still not able to submit readings. Prefered the old way logged online to submit readings.

zingally · 23/05/2023 10:24

I've had one for about 3 years now. And it has now stopped sending the data through to the energy company, so I'm back to doing old-fashioned meter readings!!

chuichi · 23/05/2023 11:21

Some people I know (including my mom and a friend) have been wanting to get a smart meter for years but the energy company's not been able to help, either saying the property isn't suitable for one, or another reason....

CallieQ · 23/05/2023 11:34

I didn't want one but now I have I find it much easier than meter reading

Tianc · 23/05/2023 11:36

Thread explaining the issues with smart meters.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/other_subjects/1327330-Anyone-having-a-gas-leccy-meter-replaced-with-a-Smart-Meter-Something-you-need-to-know

The bit about the utility companies remotely switching you to a PAYG with a debt loaded on to it has already come to pass. I now have neighbours struggling with exactly this.

The utility company has mucked up and got a bill badly wrong or created a phantom account (two accounts for one property). She's spent hours of her life on the phone trying to sort it out, but because it's now a PAYG meter, bottom line is if she doesn't put money in she doesn't have electricity.

Sure, at some point in the future her complaint will get escalated through Ofgem, and the utility company may even abide by the Ofgem ruling. But they're not in any hurry because... why would they be? They're borrowing ££££ from her indefinitely.

Anyone having a gas/leccy meter replaced with a Smart Meter? Something you need to know | Mumsnet

As requested, a thread about Smart Meters. The power companies are intending to replace all electricity and gas meters with Smart Meters starting t...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/other_subjects/1327330-Anyone-having-a-gas-leccy-meter-replaced-with-a-Smart-Meter-Something-you-need-to-know

ILoveMyBedTooMuch · 23/05/2023 11:38

Frabbits · 21/01/2023 14:52

If you have a smart meter you can still take manual readings from it and pay quarterly- although why you would do that is beyond me as usually there is a discount for paying by DD and it means you can budget for a consistant amount each month.

People who refuse them just come across as a bit tinfoil hat, IMO.

The best one I read on here was that China can turn off your supply. I never understand the fear of smart meters - they don't charge you any more. I really don't get it.

BillyNoM8s · 23/05/2023 11:55

I don't have any problem having a smart meter and we're in rented anyway so don't think we could get rid even if we wanted to.

I tend to find British Gas reset my direct debit too low after we pay the twice yearly bill. I manually change it myself to try and prevent nasty surprises. I'd rather pay a consistent amount each month than have to try and find a huge amount in the winter. Despite the heating now being off and the dryer banished, I can't say my bills have dropped quite as much as I'd like Sad

CharlottenBurger · 23/05/2023 11:59

Sorry, I'm a bit puzzled here. We have a smart electricity meter (at least I think that's what it is). It sits in the cupboard in the hall above the circuit breakers (used to be fuses but got updated). Also a gas one outside in a white box by the door. We were given a kind of display thing with a screen, buttons, and red, amber, and green lights. It shows the current readings, and little bar charts of recent use, etc. The lights change colour according to electricity use, as far as I can tell. All that is different from before as far as I can see is that (a) we can see the readings without actually going to the actual meters, and (b) the meters seems to tell British Gas the readings, because we can see them on the web site if we log in to the gas & electric accounts (both with BG). Plus we know when the oven or washing machine, kettle is on, etc, because the lights change. We get our bills by post and email and they agree with the readings (I write them down every day). We pay the bills each time. Is there something sinister I need to know about?

gamerchick · 23/05/2023 12:06

Is there something sinister I need to know about

If there's a cock up with your energy supplier, and they do cock up... often, they can change you to pay as you go at their end. Which takes forever to sort out, if it gets sorted out. I've never actually heard of anyone being switched back yet.

It gets repeatedly said on these threads but still people come on and ask what the issue is with them. They're a 2 way street. Why anyone is happy with that level of control by an energy company is beyond me.