Is it worth it?

[chocolateloverr]

Hey guys
I just wondered if smart meters are actually worth it?
I've heard mixed reviews and was just wondering if anyone has a positive experience?

Thank you!

I waited in all day to get one fitted and they didn’t turn up. They can jog on now. I ignore their emails and phone calls.

They are only good if you burn energy like no tomorrow. Leave all lights on and waste waste waste. Then yes they will encourage you to turn things off.

If however you use it sensible and only what you need like a normal person all they really do is give you a heart attack when you see the pounds clocking up; and save you having to send readings. Not really worth the hassle and the stresss but to late now. I despise the way they are advertised to save you money when they don’t. Unless you waste to start with or want sit in the dark once you reach a daily limit.

I resisted getting a smart meter for a long time. We had solar installed so had to get a one to get paid for the energy we export. We have made a lot of money from this. But we’ve also been able to access the best rates for gas. We’re on a tracker rate and today we’re paying 3.65p per KWH which is a lot cheaper than the normal tariff we were paying before and is only available if you have a smart meter. The rate changes everyday but so far has been well below what we were paying before. I know people on here are against them but I don’t see a reason not to have one.

We have been able to access rates and smart tariffs we couldn’t previously with a standard meter. For instance we pay 7p overnight and charge our car and battery and then export our solar during the day. We use 1000+kwh a month so worth it for us.

I saved £53 last month on my electric from being on a smart tarriff

We're on Octopus Tracker, which needs a SM and have saved a fortune in the last year. I wince when I read what people are paying on a standard variable tariff because it's so much higher than we pay.

We have one. Yes it makes you aware of how much you are using but we don't change our behaviour because of it, as not wasteful
Saves having to send the supplier regular readings.
However we have recently unplugged ours and put it away as it frequently would only show the gas usage, not the electric so seemed pointless. The readings for both fuels were reaching the supplier for the bills. Tried various things suggested by supplier but nothing worked so we gave up. Don't miss it

I don't see much point if you are already sensible with energy and know roughly what things cost. We don't have one and not really interested in getting one.

I wouldn’t be without mine. Yes it is a shock at first to actually see the usage, but in today’s climate it makes you appreciate what and where you use it.

It enables me to pay for what I use monthly. I will never ever pay a monthly standing order and accrue credit. I used to do this until loads of utility companies folded, mine being one of them. I had nearly £600 in credit, it took 6 months before i received my refund, plus in the meantime I was having to pay monthly amounts to the new company that I was allocated to.

I’m now with Utility Warehouse, I signed up with an agent and if I have any questions I contact her, they have been amazing. Their call centre is in the UK if you need them, very positive experience.

@forgotmyusername1 Wow. What % did that represent?

My whole electricity bill was February was £60, I've been parsimonious in the extreme. It would be lovely to relax about it.

60% saving.

I live in a 3 bed and do use a tumble drier a couple of times a week, dishwasher, washing machine, tv, coffee machine, Airfryer

my bill for feb was 156 units £57

£49 for 133 units in January

im interested in your usage of units as to make the saving

Same. I'm on a pay monthly plan and submit readings every 3 months and the bill is deducted from the balance. And the last few of times I've submitted my readings I've not used over what I'm paying, haven't done for the last year. Once unit costs went up I just became a bit more conscious of my usage.

Love mine saved a fortune makes it incredibly easy to budget and no nasty surprises when the bill drops at the end of the month

I’ve been on a SM tarriff for a few years with no smart meter - I had to agree to get one but I’ve just never made an appointment to do so.

As PPs said - if you’re not wasting power it won’t save you anything, so I don’t won’t to replace a working device (partly for green reasons, partly because SMs so often go wrong).

Look at the 5th and 6th of Feb on the graph I posted.

The point of agile is to be agile with the way you use energy. Those days the grid was cheap so I used a lot more energy than I normally would (pyro cleaned the oven, batch cooked, got on top of the washing etc etc) on more expensive days we use very little.

I work from home so can take full advantage of cheap slots

@MikeRafone

Gas heating. And I have a washing line & airing cupboard rather than a tumble drier. Otherwise the same.

I turn off everything at the wall.