Smart Meters

I'm purposely resisting an installation even though my supplier is bombarding me regularly with 'good news' and 'we're in your area now'. Fact is I've read a little positive about them but more, it seems, of adverse comment. I'm currently managing contentedly and will leave well enough alone. I daresay, in due course, they may become compulsory. Hope not.

I changed to isupply for gas at the beginning of March. DD will be £14pm GCH and hob in 2 bed flat.
3.74 unit and 11.56 standing charge, 1 yr fixed.

I think my smart meter makes us think more about energy consumption. I don't suppose it really saves a great deal of energy (maybe a little) but it does makes us more aware of what we are using. It does away with meter readings and estimated bills. It's just easier for everyone concerned! I'm more than happy with mine!

bring to an end estimated meter readings
Are people incapable of reading their own meters?
4 or 5 numbers given online at monthly or quarterly intervals ensures accurate billing.
If you can't submit online (and all GNers can) then a short phone call to customer services 2/3 days before the bill is due to be generated, will suffice.
I can't, for the life of me, understand why people make an easy task such as submitting readings and calculating accurate bills, so problematic.

I was with first utility up to last year, and i switched, because to get a cheaper tariff they insisted i had a smart meter
I always pay more than they say i need to pay on DD and so often get a good rebate
I object to being told i HAVE to have a smart meter,
I wouldnt touch EON with a barge pole after being over charged, and they always seem to be the first to put their bills up,i went with them when the special deal for pensioners came in at 60 years old, after that my monthly payments went up to £140, which i am sure meant they were trying to claw money back, my sister is with them, never switches and she pays as much as me for 1 person in a 2 bed bungalow
I thjought the Government had ordered these energy companies to keep their bills down
When i was in town last week there were people in the precinct touting for business for First Utility, and their cheapest was £109 a month for me, i am told my DD should be £71, but i pay £80, to cover me in case of extra usage for any reason,
I will be comparing again my my contract runs out
I am with Green Star energy, snd not really happy with them, as i was told i would get a £50 discount for joining, and perks every month,which didnt happen, as they were getting customers through a broker and GS denied that was correct, when i questioned this, i was told i could leave if i wanted but it would cost me, as it had gone over the 14 days opt out
I have heard Bulb is very good, so will check them out

We have a smart meter and are with BG,as said it saves doing meter readings as my meters are in a cellar so I,m saved that job.

Scrabbling around under the stairs with torch, pen and paper?
There are only 4 numbers to remember for gas and about 5 for electricity.
If you can't remember 4/5 numbers,
take a photo with your mobile (no torch needed as meter is illuminated when photo is taken) and email it with your account number and name to the company's email address or submit in usual way.

I've no intention at all of being railroaded into having a smart meter.
The more they try, the less likely it will happen.

I refused one and my energy company were fine with that and have not harassed me. I also don't pay every month for what 'they' estimate I may use, I pay quarterly for what I have actually used based on the meter reading. I think smart meters are a con which cost everyone but do not deliver. My energy usage is very low, as are my bills!

We have a first generation smart meter; it does make switching more of a hassle and so far as I can see, doesn't necessarily help save on energy costs. I can't see the point in Government promoting switching AND smart meters. Until these meters are read across all suppliers, the two are not wholly compatible, in my experience.

I don't know which company it was, but they were determined to put a smart meter in our church. I was surprised there was even a mobile signal in the vestry, but there was and the engineer duly turned up and I showed him where the meter and fuse box are. He took one look, sucked his teeth, said he couldn't do anything with the wiring set-up and that the company would be in touch. That must have been over a year ago. So when we were pestered to have one at home I told them that the phone signal was intermittent in the downstairs of our house and they've given up for now.....

GrannyAnnie2010

What nonsense.
Read today's (Sunday's) news re smart meters and the problems.
A DD is agreed in advance after viewing your previous years bills and an average is worked out so there is no need for energy companies to keep tabs via a smart meter.
You can very easily work out your own bills to the last 'penny'.

There are some drawbacks. Big Brother will know what electricity you are using and when which does not necessarily mean you will get it cheaper. I am told they can cut your power supply if you are behind with your bills but I can't see that happening. If you have solar panels the smart meter can get confused and you can end up paying for electricity you have not used.
I was quite pro smart meters until I read all of this and more which I have forgotten in my local paper - in a letter from a very anti smart meter person who seemed to know an awful lot about it. Could be worth a google.

If you have poor eyesight and cannot read your meter, take a screenshot with your mobile phone and enlarge it OR email the screenshot with your name address and account number to their customer services department. Their email address is online.

I've refused a smart meter (several times) as I have heard of them having ill effects on health.

When we moved into this house a year ago we agreed to have one in exchange for a lower tariff. Eventually, they turned up to install it, said there was something needed doing to the electric box which they would sort out in the next couple of weeks and disappeared. We have heard no more.

"Why should I have a mobile phone, when my landline set works well. Why should I get a computer - my typewriter works well enough with the Encyclopedia Brittanica. Why should I get central heating - the coal fire is fine."

A smart meter is a more efficient way of letting our energy suppliers know how to bill us, and they use the data to plan for our usage more effectively.

Don't be suspicious of it.

I have refused a smart meter I don’t like to be ordered to have something I don’t need I know how to monitor my electricity and will continue to refuse unless it becomes compulsory

We have refused to have one fitted, they kept ringing and pestering us and DH lost his temper. He told them he is old and very sick and he is not worried about heating bills. The jobsworth on the phone wouldn't accept that it was virging on harrassment.

We have a smart meter and as we both work it is so good not missing the meter reader and having to phone or email readings to the company? I was aware of what I was using for the first couple of weeks looking at the consumer display and then stopped using it. I use what I need and as we are pretty careful I don’t think about it anymore.

We have a smart meter - the plus is that we don't have to read the meter and submit readings. We stopped looking at the separate consumer display so unplugged it (to save electricity).

Thankyou all for your helpful advice , especially Monica , I will make sure it's a second generation meter if I have to have one ,

The purpose of smart meters is to bring an end to estimated meter readings, and no waiting in tor meter readers.

They do not help you save fuel because if you do not waste fuel anyway, there is nothing to save and if you are careless with energy, you may cut down for a bit but soons slip back to your wasteful habits.

Just make sure that it is a second generation meter not its earliest incarnation. Early meters were only smart for the fuel supplier who fitted it. Change to another supplier and thr meter reverts to being an ordinary meter.

Generation 2 smart meters will work with all suppliers.

Eon offered us one about two years ago and we agreed because reading the meters is such a faff plus, at the time, we were frequently away and, therefore, likely to receive wildly inaccurate estimated bills.

The thing sits quietly in the hall, mostly ignored but making me grind my teeth when I spot it showing a red light because someone is using the power shower or I've just turned the oven on. For heaven's sake, these are normal activities and that red light always feels like a rebuke!

Sorry for typo , I meant , I have now heard that ,,