Smart meters

winterwhite

Ours are in the garage at eye level. We couldn’t be doing with gadgets that reproached us every time we put the kettle on. One size doesn’t fit all.
What might have tempted us was an announced scheme that smart meter owners could get some sort of discount if they ran their washing machines late at night but I don’t think that came to anything.

Yes, it did come to something. I've had discounts for low usage during peak periods for the last few months.

I wouldn’t run a washing machine or a dishwasher at night anyway. The Fire Brigade doesn’t like it.

I have had smart meters for gas and electricity for a few years now and I’m very happy with them. Both my meters are in inaccessible places and I couldn’t manage to read them.

If only my water meter were smart, then South West Water wouldn’t have sent me a bill recently for £7, 200! Don’t worry - I’m not expected to pay it! Unfortunately, a leak has gone undetected for several months and I’m in the process of sorting out repairs as the management company for the flats where I live can’t be bothered. As it’s within the boundaries of the premises it’s not the responsibility of SW Water.

Why is everyone so anti smart meter?

We have one and I am trying to get the other. the one we have hasn't hurt us in any way, it doesn't give off a nasty smell, wander round the house looking in drawers, interupt our conversations or do anything offensive or dangerous.

All that happens is that each month I get a bill based on my exact consumption without having to do anything about getting it, no meter reader to let into the house, no grovelling on the floor with a torch.

M0nica

Why is everyone so anti smart meter?

We have one and I am trying to get the other. the one we have hasn't hurt us in any way, it doesn't give off a nasty smell, wander round the house looking in drawers, interupt our conversations or do anything offensive or dangerous.

All that happens is that each month I get a bill based on my exact consumption without having to do anything about getting it, no meter reader to let into the house, no grovelling on the floor with a torch.

M0nica because often they are incorrectly set up or fitted and people are getting crazy bills for amounts that you could not possibly have used. It is then very tiring and causes unnecessary stress trying to get it rectified. If yours is fine, you are one of the fortunate ones 😉

M0nica
Meter reader let into the house?
Haven’t had one of those for years.

Grovelling on the floor with a torch?
Not since my childhood, and even that was replaced before I left home.
Ours currently are at eye level.

For any other reasons, see Primrose53 above.

While people have the right to choose, they should not be harassed by people making the choice for them, whether their choice is, like you, to have a smart meter, or like me, to read the meter myself.

I get asked this all the time. I do not want a smart meter after seeing the problems a few of my neighbours have had with theirs. We have just had the street dug up by the Gas Network laying all new pipes and they moved my gas meter which was in the kitchen into the garage. I presume there is nothing wrong with the gas meter so don't need a smart meter. I can easily read my own gas and electric meters so I do not have a problem.

We have smart meters and love them. Our bills have reduced several times since having them. I don't know why every one is so against them.

dragonfly46

We have smart meters and love them. Our bills have reduced several times since having them. I don't know why every one is so against them.

dragonfly46
Is that because you’re more aware of where you were wasting gas or electricity.
If you need reminding, that’s a good reason for getting one.

Others, like one DD have had issues with them and the opposite experience in terms of fuel bills, even where they had them installed by choice. Consequently it took time and effort to get it sorted out.

Whether or not you had a choice, if it turned out to be a good one for you . . .

Obviously every one is so against them is a blanket exaggeration, a bit like everyone hates self-service checkouts.

I had smart meters so I didn’t have to keep moving furniture to read them.
I’ve never used the display which tells you what you are using, it’s in its box somewhere under the stairs. I know what it costs to use any appliance so don’t need it.

crazyH

I have a smart meter - what’s wrong with having one ? Please tell me

Let’s suppose you go away on holiday. That is information that some scallywag ( polite word) could sell on.
People who are out at work every day?

I don’t understand what you mean * petra*?

I don't have one, but the Government has told companies that everyone must have one by a certain time otherwise they will penalise them. I think it is bad that better rates are given if you have one. So they will probably start getting aggressive with their sales pitch.

I don't think people with smart meters get better rates. However, there are incentives to use less fuel during peak periods. The only way hour by hour usage can be monitored is with smart meters.

Jaxjacky

I don’t understand what you mean * petra*?

Your smart meter is gathering data. If your washing machine, cooker, fridge, freezer, iron, microwave, tv, etc is using more electricity than what would be expected of a new appliance don’t be surprised if you receive adverts.
If there’s no ( or very little) data coming from your house that shows your not there. That data will be watched.
Given a few days it could be your on holiday, in hospital, just not at your home = home broken into.
Not everyone working in data processing is honest.

How on earth does a smart meter know which appliance is actually using electricity?

I've read nothing but bad, I mean horrendous, stories about smart meters. They'll have to be escorted by the police before they instal one in my house. So there!

Well, here's a more positive story. I've had a smart meter for about two years and I can't say it's bothered me in the slightest. It means I don't have to send readings and I haven't noticed that my bills have ever been anything unexpected. If people don't want one, that's fine, but they're nothing to get agitated about.

petra

Jaxjacky

I don’t understand what you mean * petra*?

Your smart meter is gathering data. If your washing machine, cooker, fridge, freezer, iron, microwave, tv, etc is using more electricity than what would be expected of a new appliance don’t be surprised if you receive adverts.
If there’s no ( or very little) data coming from your house that shows your not there. That data will be watched.
Given a few days it could be your on holiday, in hospital, just not at your home = home broken into.
Not everyone working in data processing is honest.

But Petra that alsoapplies to your medical notes, and absolutely every other file, paper online that anyone has on you, it can be sought out and used aganst you.

I have yet to hear of any cyber release of data from an energy company. When a company has several million customers all feeding datat into data collectors, it would be well nigh impossible for anyone to filter out data on people whose energy demand has dropped over a few days, still less to know it is because you are away - or when you will come back.

Energy use can be immensely variable from day to day. When you go away lots of back up systems will still be working - your fridge, a freezer, background systems for the CH system, even if it isn't coming on. Lots of us only use washing machines and dishwashers a few times a week. We have outdoor lighting that is works on coming on when it gets dark and turning off when it gets light, other people have movement sensr alarms, security systemes etc etc. I really do think you are being paranoid if you think some clerk will be able to put an interrogation system into a big computer system to analyse all the demand patterns of one person, one street, let alonw ork out who is home and who away. in their own without any checks or approvals. Those who write systems are rarely those who interrogate them.

growstuff

How on earth does a smart meter know which appliance is actually using electricity?

it doesn't, but if you read you your electricity consumption rate before you put your washig machine on and then check it again, as soon as it is switched on you will be able to see how much the consumption goes up. Take the first consumption rate from the second consumption rate and you know roughly how much power your washing machine is using. You can do that for any appliance using a significant amount of power.

Once a week over the winter we got money back from the energy company because we used less fuel between the hours of 5.30 and 6.30 in the evening. It was only a matter of a few pounds but every little helps.
We don’t use the counter top display by the way.

M0nica

growstuff

How on earth does a smart meter know which appliance is actually using electricity?

it doesn't, but if you read you your electricity consumption rate before you put your washig machine on and then check it again, as soon as it is switched on you will be able to see how much the consumption goes up. Take the first consumption rate from the second consumption rate and you know roughly how much power your washing machine is using. You can do that for any appliance using a significant amount of power.

I realise that, but there's no way in the world that an electricity provider knows that which appliances are being used. Petra seems to be suggesting that they do and people will, as a result, be bombarded with ads for more energy efficient versions.

dragonfly46

Once a week over the winter we got money back from the energy company because we used less fuel between the hours of 5.30 and 6.30 in the evening. It was only a matter of a few pounds but every little helps.
We don’t use the counter top display by the way.

Same here. I guess for people with electric cars, it's a real disincentive to charge up during peak hours.

So . . .
If you want a smart meter, you should get one.
If you don’t want a smart meter, you should not be forced into having one.

If you’ve got one, like my DD and you’re having problems with crazy bills, which is taking time and effort to sort out, it will cost her over £100 to get it removed.
It’s another of those great if it works things, but it’s always the customer who suffers when things go wrong.

MOnica
Not me being paranoid just being aware.

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-11129625/Smart-meter-readings-leave-vulnerable-burglars.html#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20when%20electricity%20and,and%20misuse%20the%20personal%20data.