I'd like a smart meter and Google Power but....

digitaltoast

I'd like a smart meter and Google Power but according to Google only First Utility offer them free.

The problem is that we have no gas here, and FU said straight away that they wouldn't be competitive without dual fuel. Besides, I'd avoid FU at all costs anyway having read this.

And I'll be damned if I'm paying £50 + sub for a separate one.

So, are there any other options?

NeverInDebt

Eventually most of us will get them there but it may take some time

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/smartmeters.html

Government announces commitment to deliver smart meters
Back in 2008, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that gas and electricity smart meters would be rolled out by energy suppliers to every home in Britain by the end of 2020.

NeverInDebt

According to this article they may not cut your usage obviously it relies on interaction from the customer to cut there usage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11199771

Plushchris

I dont see the big facination with Smart meters anyway.. they generally mean your direct debits will be high in winter and low in summer, I'd personally prefer to spread the cost, I know you can do this with smart meters but then that really defies the logic of smart meters..

Xbigman

Interesting article. Essentially they are useless. If its in a cupboard outside and bills will always be right the vast majority of people will never read them at all. I read my meters on the first of every month and keep a record on a spreadsheet so I know the exact cost of the bills before they arrive. That may be a bit farther than most people want to go but it works for me.

In the article it mentions that the utility company could do things like remotely turn off you emersion heater. So are the utility companies rewiring my house now? And if you have a combi boiler and no water tank its even more pointless.



Darren

savemoney

I may be wrong but the only positive thing I can see of having one is this

1. Showing you in almost real time your usage
2. Possible having more accurate billing if the meter can be read on regularly basis via telephone, or wireless link

All of which can be done now by most people via abet slightly inaccurate meters like the owl and or informing your provider of your meter readings

Haarlem

It is to enable energy suppliers to off time of day tariffs and maximise the revenue from customers by charging higher rates during the higher demand times during the day for both gas and electricity.

Remote reading and therefore accurate billing is only a side line and not the main driver

Joyful

I have found a very good reason for mine. I no longer have to lie on the floor to get my meter reading! Having had mine for a month it gives me the same info that my energy monitor did with the additions of the readings, the prices I pay and the amount of money I have used each day up to when I check it and also the carbon emissions of the house.

It will come into its own when meter exchanges will no longer need an engineer to change from Credit to Pre payment or vice versa. It will also allow tariffs to be changed dependant on your usage. They will also be able to be used as internet connections ( I have seen the trial version) so people will be able to go shopping etc via the Smart meter.

Plushchris

The other problem I see with it at the moment is the suppliers havent come up with an "industry standard" meter, which means they are all trialing different brands of meter that arent compatible with each other.

Resulting in anyone who has a smart meter fitted now will more than likely need it changed in the future anyway once a universal meter has been decided on..

Plushchris

Oh, and dont forget they can be cut off remotely... no embarassing doorstep scenarios for the suppliers..

digitaltoast

My main interest was just to see what time of day and night we use most, and how the weather affects it on a minute by minute basis. Like this: