Smart meters ( second generation)

They do not save electricity, at least not in the long term. People treat them like a new toy and watch the figures and turn things on and off for a month or two, but then revert back to their usual careless ways.

For those of us who have always kept an eye on energy consumption. It makes no difference at all.

I do not understand the claim that they save electricity. I use the amount of electricity that I need, seeing how much things use makes no difference to me, I need to use those items.

Not having to read a meter is handy but it was not a problem anyway.

I realise that reading your meter might be difficult for some, but I find it no problem to read mine once a month and e Mail the reading.

No desire for a smart meter. Perhaps when I can no longer manage without, but until then....

Bulb fitted our 2nd generation meter a couple of weeks ago. No more climbing steps/ standing on a chair to read the meter, which I used to forget to do anyway. We’re interested in switching to the off peak rate they do but our meter hasn’t been installed long enough to set it up. Mr S crunched the numbers and thinks it could save us a bit.

Oh, and I was told that only 2nd generation smart meters can now be installed. This means that if you change supplier, the meters should remain smart....

If you're not sure which generation smart meter you have, you can tell by its serial number. If it starts with 19P it's a 1st generation, if it starts with 19M it's a 2nd generation one.

The actual exchange of meter took less than an hour, and our supply was off for around 15 minutes. The in home monitor took a couple of hours to synchronise.

Not sure what ours are but its a new house. Octopus made an appointment to come and change us to their new one but had to cancel as they hadn't any in stock. the water meter is a smart one but takes up all the room under the sink in the utility.

We've had both gas and electricity meters recently changed over to smart ones.
It won't help us save on electricity or gas as we're pretty energy conscious, but it will stop estimated bills. It is interesting to see the readouts shoot up when boiling the kettle, or when the washing machine or oven are on!
Our meters are in a locked cupboard outside our property, which made meter reading a nuisance.
The in house display is great though. From it you can see your tariff, current and historical usage in £'s or kWh, the actual meter readings and messages from your supplier.

First generation smart meters were supplier specific. Second generation meters can be accessed by any supplier.

DD has smart meters and has had no problem.

I would love to have one,. The second generation one have sorted out the problems with the first about not being able to continue when changing suppliers.
Nothing to do with saving money. Like others I know what to turn off and when. However, a smart meter would mean I would not have this regular meter reading to do and then send in.
Unfortunately, because the distance between my gas and electricity meter is too far to be able to have a smart meter installed, so I will just have to continue without one.

We also have smart water meters.

We had them in our old house. No frantic meter reading on moving day was the best bit.
Getting them installed in our new house asap. They don't actually save you money but they mean no more meter reading except through your phone app.
I was interested to find out that my electric shower used far more power than the tumble dryer!

I recently got my 2nd generation smart meter installed which I was very pleased to have as my meters are very inaccessible, my eyesight's not what it was and my old knees won't bend the way they used to. However, my provider (avro energy) now tells me they can't automatically read my meter, but can read remotely on request. I requested (twice), they didn't. I have reached late winter with considerable credit and requested the return of this credit. They were unable to do this as all they had were estimated readings for the past few months. Eventually a meter reader was sent without warning when I was out and a card was left asking me to write the readings on the card and return it to them - I give up!
I really hoped the smart meter would end these problems.

Thanks for replies. Think we can manage without a smart meter.

B9exchange, the unit which tells you how much energy you are using is separate from the smart meter and plugs into any electric socket in the house. Using it is entirely optional. Ours is in a crate somewhere, never used.

Nanof3 the point of them is the convenience to the supplier. the idea that they are of any utility to the customer is just marketing hype to persuade us to let them install them.

In future they will read the meters electronically, this will do away with the need for meter readers - an economy to the company. It does have the advantage to us that it means no more estimated bills.

The cutting energy bills etc is just fluff. Either you are the king of person who monitors consumption and tries to be economical with fuel use, or you re the kind of disorganised type of person who always means to do it, but never does and leaves lights on everywhere.

I use my mobile to take a photo of my meters and then email the readings to Octopus, can't see any point in smart meters.

I don’t need a device to tell me that anything plugged in is using electricity. Plus anything with a heating element will cost you even more.

I am mightily relieved we don't have one. DH is obsessive enough about switching off lights etc, and if he could see how much each was using, would make life a misery constantly checking and issuing accusations of 'Do you know how much a power a phone charger left on for an extra hour costs?'

So if we want to keep our marriage intact, we will hold off getting one as long as possible, but more an more suppliers are insisting that you have one if you switch to them.

I don’t understand the advert that says they are helping to save the planet.

I inherited one when I moved house and took it off when I changed supplier. I now just read my meters, never waste fuel anyway and have saved a ton of money.
They are not at all smart and people were conned into having them.

I love mine- I am partially sighted and could no longer read a meter so I have been saved that hassle. No problems with installation and mine will work if I move from Octopus. It is small and one can plug it in anywhere.

We have one,it didn’t take long to install and ‘go live’ it saves all of those estimated bills that we used to get and we haven’t had a problem yet. Apparently ours will work with a new supplier (we are with OVO at the moment ) but we will see if and when we change.
It has helped to show how many things are on standby and if you unplug them how much power you save, it also taught me not leave things on charge overnight, now I just plug everything on during the day and unplug them as soon as they are 100%.
It also shows you a breakdown of where and what appliances are using the most energy. So I’ve found it useful.

I can't see the point of them, if you want to save money on your bills just switch things off if not using. Our neighbour has one and has had constant problems, the service van is there every few weeks, also they do not work apparently if you want to change supplier.

I have one mostly because my daughter organised me into it! All was fine until ScottishPower sent me an email to say they could connect with it so please would I read the meters. So don’t rely on the meter!

I have one and have been pleased with it.It was a quick install,so quick I can't remember it being done! I guess that say a lot about me but if it had been a problem I would definitely remember it.