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House and home

Smart meters

(64 Posts)
Mollysuki Thu 19-Sept-24 19:22:42

I’m newish to the site so hope I’m posting in the right place. We’re looking at deals for electric and gas. Ideally the ones that give you a better deal if you use electric during the night. The one thing that concerns me is that we would have to have smart meter. I’m not keen as there’s been some bad press about smart meters. DH is all for it as the price for using electric overnight is considerably cheaper. Does anyone have experience of smart meters? Thanks

Dowsabella Sun 22-Sept-24 17:38:37

I've had smart meters for years! I won't say I've had no problems, but for a few months, the company (one that ceased to exist!) I was with had issues with computers not communicating with each other. It took about 3 months to get it sorted out. Apparently, many other customers had this problem, and it wasn't until I phoned up and queried "no gas bill?" that they realised something was wrong!! Now I'm with Octopus, all is fine, and there's no way I'd go back to poking around the back of a big cupboard on my hands and knees clutching a torch just to get meter readings - having first emptied it, of course!! I often joke I'd need a JCB to get me back up from kneeling! For me, smart meters are a godsend. We have one that measures our water, too.

ordinarygirl Sun 22-Sept-24 18:00:58

we had a smart meter as it was a new house but I still do monthly readings as I don't trust the meters

Visgir1 Sun 22-Sept-24 18:37:44

I have them, dumped them in a cupboard somewhere. I don't want them in the kitchen.
Just send if needed via my app.

cc Sun 22-Sept-24 19:05:33

LOUISA1523

Had ours for both g and e since we moved here 8 years ago.....absolutely fine, never had an issue....pay exactly what we use every month....no hassle of sending in readings

Same goes for us, though our meter failed at one stage and we realised that it wasn't sending readings so they were estimating bills. They replaced it very quickly. I don't use the plug in consumer display as I don't see the use of it.
We have a holiday home and a smart meter is really useful there as they tended to over-estimate bills if we didn't send readings.

cc Sun 22-Sept-24 19:16:03

Mt61

BlueBelle

Refused one for years then they talked me into it They came took the other meter out and started to put the smart meter in,they got a phone call half way through to abort it. Took the smart meter out put the old meter back in and that was at least two years ago and not heard another word
Suits me fine I ll stay as I am reading my own meter, thanks

Wonder what made them change their minds?

When they installed mine they had to contact their office to make sure that they were getting a signal from the meter. Some areas apparently do not have a strong enough signal (as with mobile phones on some networks) so perhaps that is what was the problem? An attempt to put in a smart meter for my son failed for this reason, and they had to use an additional piece of kit in my meter box for the same reason when I had my latest meter.

Mojack26 Sun 22-Sept-24 20:36:59

Awful, never worked since it was put in! Gas will not pair as it's outside and I have an old house with thick walls. Trust my own readings more!

Mojack26 Sun 22-Sept-24 20:38:13

Ditto...I take my own too

Sarahr Sun 22-Sept-24 21:45:39

Why are you concerned about a smart meter? It saves having to keep reading the meter and you can see how much energy you are using. We have had one for 8 years now.

Marydoll Sun 22-Sept-24 21:52:08

Sarahr

Why are you concerned about a smart meter? It saves having to keep reading the meter and you can see how much energy you are using. We have had one for 8 years now.

That's ok if it works. Unfortunately, our two didn't! That's why I don't want a smart meter. End of.

MayBee70 Sun 22-Sept-24 22:20:45

Marydoll

Sarahr

Why are you concerned about a smart meter? It saves having to keep reading the meter and you can see how much energy you are using. We have had one for 8 years now.

That's ok if it works. Unfortunately, our two didn't! That's why I don't want a smart meter. End of.

My partners was taking the wrong reading for ages. I’ve heard so many bad reports. I’m only getting one so I can get a better tariff but I’m really worried about it especially as my gas meter is in the garage and everything I try to do in the garage seems to go badly wrong.

Kayteetay1 Mon 23-Sept-24 06:22:38

Curious to learn what the issues are. Have had one for years and never realised there were any dangers associated. Now you’ve got me wondering what I need to be anxious of. I just presumed a smart meter is only a digital interface of the traditional meter. I did become addicted to checking usage in the early days and did become somewhat anxious when I tracked usage and costs but surely that takes the sting out of any unexpected high bills and encourages more informed energy usage decisions. Checked mine at 5am when I got up for work and noticed it had already measured £0.73 in electricity costs ands that before a single light switch or kettle has been activated. Gas usage £0. Being informed and in control is a good thing?

Marydoll Mon 23-Sept-24 07:27:28

I wasn't going to mention, having to call out the National Gas Emergency Service on top of all my other woes. It was the last straw.

My neighbour came to tell, me that there was a terrible noise coming from my gas meter, which was housed in a box outside.
When I opened the box, the meter was vibrating. I had to immediately switch off the gas and open all the windows and doors, it was the middle of winter and I was looking after a sick grandchild.
DH of course, was on the golf course, oblivious. 🤬

The outcome was that I got a spanking new, old style, gas meter. The engineer said to not build up my hopes, because Scottish Gas only installed refurbished ones and may replace it the new one, once informed of the problems. I still have the new one. 🤞

You may understand why I hate smart meters! I like them in principle, but not in my home.😉

tictacnana Mon 23-Sept-24 18:28:27

My supplier tried to make me have one by saint that it was the law … so no.