Thinking of installing a smart meter

For the company: no need to have meter readings, and if bills are not paid the customer can be remotely switched to a prepayment meter without need for the bailiff and if the need arises electricity can be switched off altogether

I would never allow a private company to have that much potential power over me. These people think they are god all effing mighty.

Ive seen threads on MN where a power company employee had posted and said they would never have one.

We don't want one. Obviously power companies are pushing this - and the latest news, that customers can reduce their energy costs by confining their major usages to specific times, is only available to people with smart meters - no doubt an effective inducement for some.

There have been reports of faulty (and occasionally dangerous) installation by poorly qualified installers, failures in operation, problems with changing supplier, etc etc. But our main reason for rejecting such enticements is, as biglouis says, why hand over so much power to a private company.

I read the meters each month and send the readings via the internet to Octopus. It's not difficult and it keeps me in control.