Why are people suspicious of smart meters?

[ilkleymoorbartat]

We're thinking of getting one, but there seems to be such a mix of opinions. People who are against them, can you explain why?

Most of the problems that are coated seemed to have been with the first generation of meters and not the new ones.

No but with surge pricing you'll end up paying hell of a lot more to carry on doing your washing if it falls into a time where demand is high.

We read our meters monthly so no estimated bills. The only way you use less electricity is to turn things off and we are of the generation that does this without a second thought. Until a smart meter is a legal obligation we won't be bothering.

Agree ... I don't get why some people need a SM to tell them where their useage goes?

Oh and as is typical they are using nudge theory to get people to adopt to this new pricing, you can already see this starting with recent new articles on the National Grid looking to launch a scheme shortly for those on smart meters....

"Reports suggest the amount of money repaid to households could be as much as £6 per kWh of energy saved. The rebate is expected to be available to those that avoid using high-energy appliances during the hours of 5pm and 8pm. High-energy appliances include items such as tumble dryers, dishwashers and games consoles."

Nudge nudge...get you used to it so your ready for when they are looking to roll it out by 2025, not too far off eh.

It’s not the case with modern smart meters tgat you need to replace them when u move suppliers. I don’t believe current smart meters allow electricity companies to turn off power either.

i

Nope. That's not me on either count. But hey ho nothing like a good generalisation

Dynamic pricing already exists and has for a while. We get super cheap power overnight on an EV tariff so have all our appliances timed to run then. Saves a fortune, especially come October as it's a fixed tariff, and makes no difference to us in terms of lifestyle,

There is so much ridiculous misinformation on this thread. Plus some proper conspiracy theory stuff.

A smart meter takes away the need to manually submit meter readings. It's also handy and interesting to monitor your usage - for instance, I know that using one of my hobs for an hour costs 19p.

Thats it. Its just not a big deal at all imo.

How far away does it have to be to affect people? Can a smart meter next door affect a sensitive person? It would be awful if you could be affected in your own home and be unable to do anything about it.

Its similar to economy 7 but strangely you didn't need a smart meter for that, the meter just switched over by the clock at set times

I was initially reluctant to have a smart meter installed, but I’m glad I went ahead and had the meters changed. I don’t have to bother sending readings, and I can keep a closer eye on usage.
I was worried that energy companies could use smart meters to increase tariffs during peak times, but it looks like those with smart meters might be offered credits for using less energy during peak periods. Not sure how doable that will be or if the credit would be worth it. I suspect very soon the best energy deals, spot tariffs, will only be offered to those with smart meters. Those with old style meters will be put on more expensive tariffs. That’s my prediction anyway.

Oh goody it works for you, but for those struggling or poorly paid or shift workers who tend to be lowest paid its not that great.

Oh and when more and more people start doing this overnight when we're forced to you might find its not quite so cheap anymore so enjoy it whilst you can

@Dreamstate is that comment aimed at me?! I didn’t say I thought spot tariffs are a good idea. I’m not benefiting from them at the moment. Some people on here have said they won’t have a smart meter because it allows the company to change tariffs remotely. If that’s what the companies want to do, I doubt they will let those with standard meters have good tariffs. The plan is to get as many of us on smart meters as possible and to reduce energy being used a peak times.

One of the govt documents I linked back in 2010. I don't know current state of play, but as you can see, they were planning to roll out remote disconnection so that smart meter gas customers could be disconnected without staff attending the premises, just like prepay customers.

Disablement / enablement functionality for smart gas meters
27 July 2010
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42721/223-smart-disable-enable.pdf
p4:
For gas meters the functional requirement to remotely disable and enable gas supply necessitates the inclusion of a valve in the meter. The valve closes to disable supply and opens to enable the gas to flow again2. Similar functionality is currently used by suppliers in prepayment meters to provide prepay services – the valve stops gas when the prepaid amount runs out and allows it to start again when a payment is made. Over 2m meters or 10% of the current gas meter stock, already have valves. Whilst it may be possible for suppliers to offer prepayment tariffs without a valve it is not clear that this would be a commercially attractive approach for many suppliers, because it would remove the capability to stop gas supply when credit has been used. Valve functionality in smart meters also supports benefits associated with remote switching between credit and prepay, as well as remote disconnection which will help to better manage debt in the future.

It's worth noting the utility companies were actually banned from installing prepay meters for certain vulnerable customers (eg disabled or with learning difficulties), because of the likelihood of harm to the customer. When the company can only disconnect by having staff actually turn up at the premises, this gives them the chance to identify the vulnerable customers and find alternatives. Remote disconnection will remove this protection. There are more documents and egs in my original thread about this.

If posting such nonsense makes you happy then carry on.

was worried that energy companies could use smart meters to increase tariffs during peak times, but it looks like those with smart meters might be offered credits for using less energy during peak periods. Not sure how doable that will be or if the credit would be worth it.

😬😧🥺😳🤦‍♀️🤦🤦‍♀️

by raising the prices by 50% in April and then predicted 80% on top of that 50% raise in October and then January they can raise again

they can offer discounts, as they’ve raised it so high, it jyst looks like you’re getting a discount - it’s a scam way of doing business and fooling you into being happy you’re getting a good deal - but you’re not

Does anyone know how much energy your smart meter uses? Is it similar to a router?

About 1 KhW a year.

The detail and specifics of why people do/should object is less important than understanding the reason they exist in the first place - most negative impact of smart meters is yet to come.
Who benefits? This is the question. If smart meters were primarily beneficial to the customer, they would not have been introduced at all. On that basis we can say they have been introduced primarily for the benefit of the supplier or at least that any benefit to the consumer is secondary.
In the first instance, energy suppliers want more data, about us, our usage, patterns in behaviour, patterns over time - this is exactly what smart meters supply. The cost of gathering this data by other means would be astronomical and those with meters are giving it for free.
In the second instance this information can and will then be used in any way possible to maximise pricing, operations and ultimately profits. So the free data customers willingly supply is then used against the customer in prices rises, surge pricing and lots of other ways that perhaps haven’t been invented yet.

However, it wasn’t the energy company’s who wanted these, it was the government

with the aim that consumer bills were more accurate, and to help consumers understand usage and lower their bills. No energy company would have done this unless they were forced.

Doubt anything that is for my benefit as a consumer would be pushed so aggressively. I'm constantly getting emails and texts from my supplier telling me they are in my area and will be coming to install my new smart metre. Its difficult to change supplier without having to agree to one being installed. Why are the government and energy suppliers so keen for me to have one ?
I don't need a device to tell me how much electricity I am using and I am perfectly capable of submitting a metre reading ?

I can't get one- I have OCD and I would literally end up monitoring it constantly and get stressed out about certain things taking too much power.

I feel the same. I heard they can be switched to prepay remotely? That will make it easier for energy companies when huge numbers of people can't pay their bills surely? Add the debt repayments and they slowly get their money while people freeze, without even having to enter their customer's home?

Love ours no surprises when the bill comes
when u can see what you are using does make you more careful

our usage has gone down since had 1 fitted

Health risks - radiation, cancer, headaches etc. Extremely dangerous for small children and vulnerable people.

It can be switched off and turned into a prepayment meter with a single push of a button without even warning the customer.

Data security risks - the company has access to all of your information via smart meter. The company knows when you are home and away.

• all the other reasons mentioned in previous posts. I used to work for one of the big 6 utility companies and no one who ever worked there would get a smart meter with a free will. Please, do not give in and do not get it.