Should I get a smart meter?

[Elpenor]

I’ve found my economy 7 bill to be more expensive, and it doesn’t seem worth the hassle to run the washing machine overnight really. Tumble dryer I don’t like to run unless I’m awake

 

[WouldBe]

I do, such as charging things. But other than that and the washing machine and dish washer what else will I possibly use while I am asleep between 12-7

Have you got an immersion heater? We used to have a special timer to turn the immersion heater on overnight.

 

[cybershot]

Have you got an immersion heater? We used to have a special timer to turn the immersion heater on overnight.

Nope, combi!

 

[ricbake]

I got a smart meter fitted when we were with Bulb, last year we switched to Avro who claimed to be able to read the smart meter and did briefly becuse their rates came up in the home display. It reset after a week or so and they haven't been able to sort out what they got wrong... I haven't sent them a reading since and the home display won't reconnect.

Am about to switch again and want to go to Octopus Energy who say they will be able to use the SMETS2 smart meter fitted by Bulb

Anyone here using Octopus Energy who would like to give me their referal code so we both get £50 credit?

Did a similar thing with Crispy and Plusnet some time back

 

[platinumsage]

Got a smart meter recently and it fucked our HomePlug LAN so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have cables everywhere or a good WiFi signal in all your rooms.

 

[platinumsage]

Got the first gas bill following smart meter installation - and guess what it's based on a wildly inaccurate estimated reading! I guess old habits die hard.

The meter is definitely sending half-hourly readings to the supplier because I can see them in the app.

 

[two sheds]

You sure it's not just the wildly expensive prices now?

 

[platinumsage]

I phoned them up and they have issued a new bill based on my actual reading, taken in the cupboard under the stairs with a torch like in the good old days.

They will apparently now "raise a ticket with their meter team" which they probably should have done already instead of issuing an estimated bill to a smart meter customer.

 

[philosophical]

I did a uswitch to British Gas last November.
Even asked the caller, or told him actually, that I didn’t want a smart meter. I remember him saying that smartmeter wasn’t part of the switch.
Everything went through well over the computer.
Since then British Gas has contacted me saying I must get a smart meter (they say it was part of the deal) or they would put me on a higher tariff.
At the moment I am in a fobbing off holding pattern.

 

[xenon]

My smart meter still can't send gas readings... And my energy supplier has gone bust, I've been transfered to another.

 

[StoneRoad]

Trying my best to reduce energy usage - but taking no notice of the "smart" meter as such. That's on the electric only as our gas supply is from an LPG tank [recently replaced].

The bull5h1te about savings from smart meters really annoys me. Especially those damn kids.
The meter in and of itself can't help, consumer action is required !
The only real "saving" will have been the electric supplier sacking loads of meter readers.

Personally, we've almost all LED lights now, I turn off almost everything that I can but some stuff has to stay connected to power / t'internet even when on "standby".
Setting up for log fires more often to reduce LPG consumption - the current price is eye-watering !

 

[bellaozzydog]

I’m getting fucking awful key meters binned in my flat. The fuckers insist on a smart meter though rather than just credit meter

I’ve avoided so far but now feel trapped into a smart meter. It’s just data they collect and use innit, no way it will benefit the consumer

 

[gentlegreen]

It's a good job I appear to be using less electricity for heating this winter - this made me check and it appears to have gone up from 16p to 25p a unit !

 

[Sasaferrato]

We don't have a smart meter, and never will, but if we did, it would save us nothing.

We don't use energy that we don't have to. All light bulbs are LED, heating is by thermostat, and is off at 8pm because there is enough residual heat to keep us going until bed time, if the room is empty, the lights are off. Etc etc etc.

 

[teuchter]

So, what are currently the reasons not to get a smart meter?

 

[High Voltage]

Because it could enable you to be subject to "surge pricing" and you could be disconnected remotely

Against that you've got to weigh if having access to your usage in semi-(?) real time is worth it

Also, can they actually get the information from your house to "head office" - in our case, I suspect that it would be highly unlikely as there's no mobile signal

 

[Chilli.s]

If you don't have a smart meter then when the price goes up you can accidentally miss-read the numbers and pay the old price in advance for electricity you haven't yet used.

 

[teuchter]

Because it could enable you to be subject to "surge pricing"

I'd be subject to whatever pricing was agreed in my contract, just like now.
Right now, we're all subject to an increase in price, which we can seek to avoid by switching contract, but all contracts will involve an increase in price just now.
If surge pricing becomes a thing, then I don't see that energy companies are going to offer "old skool" customers contracts without surge pricing that work out on average cheaper for the customer. They'll simply increase those prices.

and you could be disconnected remotely

They can disconnect me now with a warrant can't they?

Also, can they actually get the information from your house to "head office" - in our case, I suspect that it would be highly unlikely as there's no mobile signal

Not sure why this is necessarily a problem.

 

[Boudicca]

I threw a blue fit at the December bill, railed at my lodgers, plugged the smartmeter reader in the kitchen and managed get the bill down by £100 for January.

So it can save you money.

 

[quiet guy]

I suppose in a multi person household then you can see when the usage is high and try to minimize it. In a single person household if you can't work out where and when your using electricity then ok let them con you into having a smart reader.

 

[gentlegreen]

I suppose in a multi person household then you can see when the usage is high and try to minimize it. In a single person household if you can't work out where and when your using electricity then ok let them con you into having a smart reader.

I would presumably have to change my mealtimes and bathing to the middle of the night ...

 

[weltweit]

I wouldn't mind a smart meter, could allow me to streamline things and make savings.

But my landlord has poor credit so I have a key meter which I have to keep loaded, I expect I wouldn't be able to get a smart meter alongside it.

 

[bellaozzydog]

I wouldn't mind a smart meter, could allow me to streamline things and make savings.

But my landlord has poor credit so I have a key meter which I have to keep loaded, I expect I wouldn't be able to get a smart meter alongside it.

Can you not get your meter sorted in your own name/credit profile ?

 

[weltweit]

Can you not get your meter sorted in your own name/credit profile ?

I don't want to, the meter supplies two flats and it is ok at the moment getting cash from the other flat to cover their use, I don't know how easy it would be otherwise. And also I don't know how long I am going to be here.

 

[Pickman's model]

Thought this was interesting Homes with smart meters being plunged into darkness by REMOTE CONTROL

 

[Puddy_Tat]

mum-tat has had an e-mail from EDF about going on to a smart meter.

it gives the appearance of saying she's got to have it



i thought it wasn't compulsory.

is this a load of bollocks that she should just ignore?

 

[WouldBe]

mum-tat has had an e-mail from EDF about going on to a smart meter.

it gives the appearance of saying she's got to have it

View attachment 361769

i thought it wasn't compulsory.

is this a load of bollocks that she should just ignore?

Doesn't say it's compulsory on their website but they are heavily pushing it.

 

[danny la rouge]

mum-tat has had an e-mail from EDF about going on to a smart meter.

it gives the appearance of saying she's got to have it

View attachment 361769

i thought it wasn't compulsory.

is this a load of bollocks that she should just ignore?

I get similar ones from British Gas. Saying it’s for my own safety and if I don’t book an appointment they might just come and do it anyway at a time of their choosing.

I just ignore them.

 

[WouldBe]

I get similar ones from British Gas. Saying it’s for my own safety and if I don’t book an appointment they might just come and do it anyway at a time of their choosing.

I just ignore them.

They've just had a clamp down. They have been breaking into people's houses (with a warrant even when they're out) to install prepayment metres.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Doesn't say it's compulsory on their website but they are heavily pushing it.

I just ignore them.

They've just had a clamp down. They have been breaking into people's houses (with a warrant even when they're out) to install prepayment metres.

thanks.

i'll suggest she doesn't take any notice.

after a bit of digging, i found this on EDF website, which includes -

Whilst we would encourage every customer to get a smart meter so you can see exactly how much energy you're spending in pounds and pence and get more accurate bills. This is not a mandatory requirement unless it’s stated in your EDF tariff terms and conditions.

so think she can ignore it with a clear conscience.

don't think mum-tat is in danger of getting cut off or forced on to pre-pay, she's not exactly loaded but financially comfortable.