Would you get a smart metre

[Slartybartfast]

Should I? I spose I have a choice as eon have asked me to contact them for a suitable date? Is it likely to be more pricey?

I would not get one at the moment. Currently they are rolling out the Mark1 meters, which are int inter-available between suppliers - you would be able to change suppliers, if you found a better deal, but you would lose all the Smart capabilities.

There is a Mark2 meter, that is inter-available, but it isn’t being put in yet because they want to get rid of all the older, less useful ones.

As PP said, they stop working if you change supplier, and we should all be more active at doing that!

But if you'd like a nudge to remember to turn off lights or whatever, you might find it helpful.

Some energy companies are being really pushy about them (they're incentivised by the government). But do what works for you, not for them!

Love mine!

no. waste of time as will go dumb when you switch. ignore the letter.

No, for two reasons. As others have stated, they limit your chances to switch suppliers.
The other is that once they've brow-beaten everyone to get one, they will start implementing variable charging, so at times of peak use when the wholesale price of electricity goes up, they'll be able to pass it on. Expect txt messages saying "we note you are using a lot of power, switch stuff off or we'll start charging you extra".

The current generation of meters are pointless.
Costs you nothing.
Does nothing useful.
Does nothing harmful.
Do you like playing with cheap electronic toys? Let them install one.
Do you dislike playing with cheap electronic toys? Ignore the letter.

Eventually the Government will have to make them obligatory to achieve the coverage they require. They won't reduce consumption until they are 'smart' and link to 'smart' appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers that can be switched on and off to match demand.

And remotely limit or disconnect non-payers, which is where any real benefit will come.

We had one fitted last week, advised by the fitter that ours is interchangeable between suppliers (allegedly). Also, whilst at the moment they are being subsidised by the govt, in the future the companies will charge you to have one installed. I can see them becoming mandatory to cut down on customer service complaints of over estimating and overcharging.

just called them, they are interchangeable with other companies but not as a smart metre, as an ordinary metre.
have up til 2020,
have research a bit
thanks

don't do it, waste of time.

if only the arts students in our government would realise this massive technological wrong term.

sorry. Wrong TURN.

We had one fitted 2 years ago when we were with OVO and loved it.

However, we have changed suppliers twice since then and we have to take regular readings from the SMART meter now as of course the SMART technology doesn't work with anyone other than OVO. ☹️

OVO quotes too expensive now so stuck with meter reading as before.

I had one. It was convenient as I didn't need to submit readings.

I changed supplier and the meter wasn't compatible with new tariff. So now I read meter and submit readings like pre-smart times. I'm not any worse off, so don't see how that would be a negative for getting one if offered.

Had mine for nearly two years now.

It's worked c well in our house.
The dc actually see how much they use and it gives everyone a nudge not to leave things switched unnecessarily.

It has all previous useage on it which helped me out massively when EDF put my monthly debit from £100 to £145 a month last month

I contacted them online straight away and was advised to start with that I couldn't change the amount until I told them my smart meter tells me that last year I used on average £104 a month so how they could project it up to £145 was rubbish.

They lowered it there and then to £110 per month.

It reminds me not to leave oven on pre heat for too long and I tell tween dd that ten mins max in shower as I can see the dial going up !!!

Mine is interchangeable as well although edf have price matched again now for another year so I'm happy with that

GrumpyOlderBloke
And remotely limit or disconnect non-payers, which is where any real benefit will come

Benefits to WHO the single mum trying to feed her family on a low income who comes down in the morning to no power, the disabled person who needs to keep warm, who wakes up to a freezing cold house and no way of heating it, likewise the poor pensioner on a low income.

Seriously??? are you really advocating a system that will take away, heating, lighting and cooking facilities to vulnerable people at the drop of a hat???? - I despair of people sometimes I really do

I expect GrumpyOlderBloke was describing the supplier's view-point.

It's obvious GrumpyOlderBloke was speaking from the suppliers viewpoint.

No. DH works for one of the big utility providers and refuses to have one.

No-one I know who’s had one put in has had it work first time, it’s taken repeated engineer visits to get them up and running.

Just read the thread to DH, he confirms the variable charging aspect that a PP mentioned too. It’s not for our benefit, it’s all for the utility provider.

it is actually because the uk is already on the edge with power supply - check gridwatch in winter. too many people , not enough infrastructure , stupid policies ( windfarm not nuclear, closing stations with no replacements, allowing buildings that need aircon etc)

the switch off will start with industry but variable charging is coming. learn to use less.