Smart Meters

Two comments so far indicate that the particular posters mothers 'can't see well enough to read it' (the meters) so how do they watch tv, read the paper, read letters (mail), labels on food etc?
Besides which, there are gas and water meters to read. Who reads those? Don't they wear glasses?

I have had two fitted so far. One by British Gas. Other by octopus. Both were fine. Saved me climbing into tiny space to read meters. Octopus guy said most firms fit their type. But British Gas have been obstinate and do one hardly any other company uses, if you want to switch power firms. But it’s easy to change the meter, if that is the case. Someone comes in, takes about 20 mins.

Against my advice, my mum had a smart meter fitted last September. She thought it would make life easier for herself and for me, as she would no longer have to take monthly readings then phone me with them so that I could enter them on her online account. She also thought it would be useful to be able to see how much energy she was using at any time, via the in-house display monitor.

It didn't take long before she unplugged the monitor and put in a drawer - from the information it gave, Mum was convinced she must be using far more energy than she really was, and she became quite worried about it, even though I keep an eye on her account and tried to reassure her that her usage hadn't increased and no, she was not about to get a demand from her supplier for a lot more money.

The next problem could come when her present energy contract ends in June and I (probably) need to find her a new supplier.
If the smart meter no longer works, she will not be able to take manual readings, because with the new meter, even if she manages to press the right button to make the reading show, she can't see well enough to read it. As I live 120 miles away, I am not going to be able to do it for her!

I asked for smart meters to be installed, and got them, a couple of years ago. We have prepayment meters (by choice, we're not in debt) and the smart meters can be topped up online instead of having to visit a shop. We've had no problems at all with ours and its interesting to see how much electricity and gas different devices and appliances use. By the way, your electricity does NOT get cut off if your broadband goes down - we get the odd broadband outage occasionally and the electricity has been just fine every time. As for health risks, I'm skeptical about this but, in any event, our actual meters are in a cupboard just outside our front door (purpose built apartment block) - we just have the small monitoring meter in the kitchen.

CardiffJaguar
A very perspicacious comment. ???

Legs55
Who reads your mother's water and gas meters ? (if she has gas)

I have had my smart meter for about 2 years now and to be honest I never look at it. When it was first installed I used to look to see what used what but I am careful with my gas and electricity so I never bother to look at it. There is no catch with them they are useful because no one has to come to read the meter it also lets the company now if there is a power cut so you do not have to get in touch with them.

As others have said, make sure your smart meter is one of the new ones that will stay smart if you switch supplier.
The Government has pledged that every household and small business will be offered a smart meter by the end of 2020 (a deadline that is likely to be missed but they are pushing to meet it). However, there is no obligation to take a smart meter, so you can say no.
However, these meters are the gateway to a cleaner, greener, more flexible energy system in the future. It might be about saving a few pounds now, but the real benefits are further down the line.
There's an interesting article here if you want to read a bit more: theecologist.org/2017/apr/03/smart-meters-way-new-age-clean-energy.

I can’t have one as old connections need replacing before anything new can be fitted. This is down to the freeholder! Having read about them, I’m not inclined to think they will make any difference to my consumption

been with first utility for years both disabled they are amazing .if electric goes off problem up road we as disabled get a small generator just for us as hubby needs medical equipment in night, they help on phone if needed special fast getting through line,no more reading the meters and submitting it, 100% great company.customer service second to none

I've had a Smart Meter for my Electricity for around 3 years, no problems, accurate bills is a bonus. I don't often look at mine as I'm well aware of what I'm using.

I persuaded my elderly Mum to have one fitted last year, she could no longer see to read her meter, monthly bills were a problem for her as they always wanted a reading, I live too far away to read her meter. The only thing she worried about was having the Smart Meter where she could see it, easily solved, it sits in the spare room, plugged in but not where it doesn't intimidates her about how much electricity she's using

Energy companies are wasting a huge amount of money installing smart meters. The rollout is failing to meet its targets. The whole scheme was designed to get rid of meter reading jobs. It will only save you money if you change your behaviour as a result of staring at your smart meter.

The first question to ask is who benefits if all of us have a smart meter. With apologies to those who have written above that they are happy/satisfied with theirs, it is the suppliers who benefit. They can have in most circumstances up to the minute information on any meter's usage. Then if there is an increase in usage their computer will tell you they are increasing your monthly direct debit when they send/inform you of your next bill/account. That fails completely to recognise that any increase in usage is temporary or special and normal usage will continue.

All of us are paying for these smart meters because the costs are being included in ALL our bills. Yet most of us know how we use fuels and can monitor our usage without these meters. I have records going back over 30 years on a simple spread sheet which can also calculate costs when I input the current unit costs.

You do not need one unless you can see a personal advantage. What is much more relevant is what we are being charged by our supplier(s). The need to switch is paramount I believe and even with stage 2 meters I expect there to be problems for some users.

I will not have one unless forced to and then under strong protest. For most of us they are unnecessary.

I fit elec and gas meters for one of the big 6 ,they are not compulsory,if you get one fitted and then change supplier they wont work as each company has different technology,the only advantage is that you don't get estimated Bill's,but you can give your own readings for you present meters,you also get an in home display but all this does is show how much you are using.
They wont reduce your Bill's,!only applying energy efficiency advice will do that.

My DH is very energy conscious and was keen to trial a smart-meter when they first came out so he could monitor our consumption. All went well until he came down one warm, sunny morning to see that the meter was reading over 2kW; he went round madly turning off everything he could think of! It turned out it was reading the electricity our solar panels were generating!
The so-called 'smart' meter couldn't tell the difference between generation and usage. We had it taken out and he won't have it replaced until every energy company recognises the same meter, as my OH changes supplier frequently.

Inundated with offers of smart meters: “We are in your area.” “We are sure you’ll enjoy the benefits.” etc. I’m already careful with electricity, I read my meter and submit readings without problem, but I don’t feel I need to advertise when I am away from the house. We have a neat brown box with our unused free electricity monitor, a gift from British Gas. It uses Electricity! What I do know is that I can save electricity by charging my phone when I’m driving to and from work.

Smart Meters are useful for the electricity companies as they no longer have to employ meter readers. If you don't make sure that the one being installed is from the second wave of what is available then it will have to be replaced every time you want to change supplier. It is claimed that second wave meters are more reliable and flexible but they haven't been around as long so there is less information, and the First Wave meters were reported to be trouble free until it was shown that they weren't

You could go into the Which? site and see what they say about them. I did read in one of their mags last year that they are not worth what the energy companies say they are. I changed my supplier last year and they did not require a smart meter. I think British Gas is more demanding. They have an electronic device which enables people to turn their heating on and off and regulate the house temperature while they are at work. Maybe the smart meter helps this process. I would not have one.

I agree with Bluebelle entirely.

As Witzend says, changing suppliers after getting a so-called Smart meter fitted causes difficulty,
Also, the money saving is a myth - apparently you change your ways for around six weeks or so and then fall back into old habits.
My Smart meter means that I no longer have to prat about reading the meters every month and phoning to tell them. That's really the only advantage.
Apparently, if you live in a house with lots of old lead/copper pipes they don't work and if the mobile phone signal is weak they're also useless as they rely on a mobile signal to send the data to the supplier.
I'm glad all I wasted was my time in waiting in for the a fitter to install this. They're not what they're cracked up to be.

We got the "hard sell" from our energy supplier. They pushed us relentlessly to have a smart meter. So, installation was arranged, the day came and......................no room for the smart meter! ?. We did try to tell them!

I was having a smart meter fitted , when the man came to fit it , there were a view problems . First there wasn't enough room in our electric box to fit it . Then he explained the meters run on mobile phones signal . where we live in the country the phone signal is awful ,sometimes we have to walk round the garden to get one. When he looked at his own phone and saw the signal was bad he said it was waste of time having one fitted . So until the phone signal improves in this area its a waste of time and money for electric company's fitting them .

Not read all replies so sorry if this has been said already.
I think if you get a smart meter it helps to see how to make changes to aid money saving. If you are not bother or willing then you may be stuck with a smart meter that isn’t compatible with other suppliers so may make it harder and more time consuming to swap in the future.

It also helps you to know what you’re bill will be because you may have a similar daily usage as I do, so I know that I very rarely spend over £2 a day (plus standing charge) so I know a direct debit of £60 will cover usage or if doing quarterly payments I know what to save up so I’ve got the cash ready for the bill.

It can also be quite interesting to see how much you can save by simply switching things off at the wall. When I only leave my fridge freezer and I can’t reach my washer switch so that’s on but not in use, it costs 0.5p an hour!

My smart meter doesn't work. Not all that smart after all :D

I don't have a smart meter but haven't seen a meter reader for at least two years. They ask for readings and if I remember I submit one. I pay a set figure each month and when the tariff ends the final payment is either larger or smaller but never by much. I use what I need and knowing how much the tumble dryer or kettle costs is irrelevant to me, what matters is that my washing is dry or I can make a cup of tea or whatever. I shall continue to refuse a smart meter just as I refuse a water meter. Water meters are a great idea for low users but not for others. I'm not a low user but my bill is high and I pay it without complaint. I don't waste water but would hate to feel I should use less based on a bill.