Smart Meters

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Thu May 18, 2023 1:00 pm

My elderly parents keep being contacted by British Gas to fit a smart meter. I haven't paid must attention to posts about them but my understanding is not to have one fitted. Is this correct?

APDIY · Post by **APDIY** » Thu May 18, 2023 1:31 pm

Every other week I get a letter from my Elec supplier demanding that I let them replace my “worn out meter” with a “Smart meter” at zero cost to me. Bought out of the donations of their shareholders, no doubt. NBL

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Thu May 18, 2023 2:54 pm

Smart meters are not compulsory - yet

Politely decline it

stevei · Post by **stevei** » Thu May 18, 2023 3:27 pm

I have had smart meters for two years now and haven't seen an increase in my usage. The main benefit is not having to read the meters once a month and then uploading the info to the supplier. We were with Avro but after they went bust we got Octopus. If your parents don't want the hassle of providing meter readings, I would recomment smart meters.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu May 18, 2023 3:49 pm

The reason for smart meters is to cut out the need for a physical meter reading. Bills would often be estimated between actual reads which could cause a debt. On one hand it can help you keep on track and not build up a huge debt, which is more important in these times. The consumer tracker can be useful in determining high use appliances.

I think they are useful I only have my elehctric on smart and o submit gas readings on line. It works for me.

DWD

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Thu May 18, 2023 4:19 pm

The main reason for smart meters is so that the suppliers can charge more per kWh when you need it the most

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Thu May 18, 2023 8:49 pm

Smart meters have the ability to read apparent power, but as yet you only get charged for active power. Also smart meters have an internal relay in the supply. They can also send readings every minute.

In plain English what that means is, your supplier if they wanted to can can change how you are metered, from (as you are now) the amount you use, and change it to the amount you are sent, which is slightly more. Yes it is a bit complicated, but it is ONE thing they can do.

Smart meters also have an internal relay. A relay is basically a switch controlled by electricity. If they want to, they can remotely switch off your electricity, and there is nothing you can do about it. But what worries me, is if your supplier has a "technical hitch" and they turn off your electricity in error........

They can tell how much electricity you are using every minute, as Neelix points out, when demand is high, up will go the price you have to pay.

Your supplier will tell you almost anything to get you to change to a smart meter, even lie. (Current meter worn out/ due to be replaced)

The other thing is, the infra structure can not cope with demand, so the easiest way for them is to up the price.

When you charge an electric car it is the same as someone using a big electric shower not for 10-20 minutes but 7-8 hours, not so bad for one house, but if you and a few neighbours do it at the same time, its a lot of stress on the infra structure.

It is also a fact that not all, but a lot of smart meters lie, they say it can't be done, but they do, a wrong digit in setting up and you end up paying for someone elses (not me) electricity

Some people have asked for a smart meter, it has been fitted, but won't send in useage data, so people still have to send their readings in.

Smart meters can remotely be changed to PAYG meters

Please, don't take my word for it, do your own research.

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Fri May 19, 2023 3:41 am

I've had a gas and elec smart meters for about 4 years, originally from eon, last 2 years octopus, same units; when they were installed I asked the Techy about the gas one as it does not have an electrical supply, he told me if I keep pressing the button to see the reading the internal battery will deplete in much less time and so I did not. The internal gadget is a novelty, as you set your own daily limit, it does show the fixed daily charge before anything and has taught me to fill my washing machine with warm water from the tap and not allow the internal machine heater to do the job, bit of a choir saucepaning water, but I am determined to get the wash at least cost. Consequently I stopped charging the gadget. My Dec to Feb billing showed 'Estimated readings' from December, I charged the gadget and it would not show a reading either and so I e-mailed Octopus "why is my bill estimated when I have smart meters?" the reply came about 10days later, informing me that they had noted the smart meters were not sending and would look into it, a few days later the internal gadget started to show again and my bill this week shows actual! The Techy did inform me that my supply cable was not heavy enough to support a car charger, so don't buy an electric vehicle, who would have known, he said the utility would have to run a new supply into the Close if I demanded it!

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Fri May 19, 2023 9:38 am

its the mistaken isolation bit i dont like as i have never been behind on power

APDIY · Post by **APDIY** » Tue May 23, 2023 12:37 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 3:49 pm The reason for smart meters is to cut out the need for a physical meter reading. . . . .
DWD

§ First, the privatized gas and electric suppliers sacked their meter readers and employed people in the Gig sector.
Thereby removing the "social" aspect carried out by the F/t workers
§ Next, the privatised gas and electric suppliers sacked the Gig workers and got us to read our own meters
§ Now, those suppliers want to install meters which can be read and controlled (price per unit) remotely.
Can anyone explain why this is happening, please?