Smart Meters are they optional and what problems

tidnab1967

Hello
I now regret my switch to First Utility after reading a thread on here

But ive done it now and id love to cancel with them but ill see how it goes for now and keep an eye on these morons.

Anyway to my questions
I understand the reasoning for a smart meter but who owns it?

I assume F U do and therefore making a future supplier switch more difficult?
Do i have to have one installed?
After reading the above thread im a little worried to say the least


What happened to a buyers market, seems as customers we are getting ripped off by these robbing b******s and having shoddy workmanship
Something needs to be done NOW!

thanks in advance

C_Mababejive

Smart meters...no need for them. All that will happen is that it will add another layer of complexity and expense which ultimately will be passed onto consumers in the form of higher bills.

walkon

I can't help much with the First Utility issues but I would like to warn you against smart meters.


The meters in your home are normally owned by the regional electric or gas distributing company, in your area. This depends on where you live.

This will give you an idea https://www.ebico.org.uk/regional-variations

At the moment smart meters are optional but the government and the EU, want them in all homes by 2020. It's all to do with this global warming scam.

The only thing is, it maybe in the terms and conditions you signed with First Utility, that you have to have a smart meter. You would need to check that first.

This should not stop you moving to another energy supplier. You will use the same meter, no matter who supplies you.


At the moment, there is no legal requirement that you must have a smart meter. Even if it was, I would still not have one.

Smart meters will be big brother in your own home. The government will use it to charge more green taxes in future and even peak off peak charges. So I would never have one installed. I would advise everyone not to have them installed. For lots of reasons.
Just refuse.

Have a look at this website for more about stopping smart meters. http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/
I know it's american but it's all the same really.

And here http://refusesmartmeter.com/

PNPSUKNET

I believe before you switch the meter is set to a standard meter, and so does not act as a smart meter.

gazfen2279

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tidnab1967

Thanks everyone....clarified what i thought.

hippey

PNPSUKNET wrote: »

I believe before you switch the meter is set to a standard meter, and so does not act as a smart meter.

True, but as I have recently found the meter is still sending (and FU are still collecting and storing/forwarding to google powermeter) the readings from the meter even though they are not my supplier anymore and have sent the final bill and acknowledged the new operator. That is the big brother part! Who has access to this information? And how useful is it? For an energy company to target rival suppliers customers based on their actual usage it is information that is ideal! Which makes me wonder how safe the whole system really is!

Pincher

Movie theme.

Instead of Cybermen, we have CyberHomes.
Smart appliances linked to the smart meter are supposed to reduce peak load. Supervillain hacks into substation computer, override the "safety protocols" on a gas boiler and alarms, and you are dead.

I have foreseen this scenario, so my boiler is in an outside boiler room.

Now I just have to work out how to prevent the system from secretly defrosting my frozen food overnight, and then refreezing again so I get food poisoning.

Even without malice, I can foresee it already. The central computer overloads and crashes, utility company restarts computer, but no failsafe protocol to restart the freezers until the next off-on , so the food spoils and refreezes without you knowing. The salmonella becomes a time bomb that kills you. Alternatively, network interface on th freezer is flaky, so it doesn't get the on signal, the automated system sends you an e-mail while you are on holiday. One week later, you come back and delete all your old e-mails without reading them, or your junk mail filter threw it out already.

dunloadin

There seems to be a lot of paranoia about smart meters, all of which is unfounded.

They cant make your boilers blow up.

They dont have microphones or cameras in them.

They cant talk to any domestic appliances and turn them on and off (the electric meter will take the reads of the gas meter to pass on).

They cant tell the difference between what you have on standby and what you have switched on.

They can tell when you have had a power cut, or if they have been tampered with, so !!!!!! beware!

All they do is measure the amount of electricity or gas you use, allowing you to have an accurate bill and a breakdown of how much you use at certain points of the day.

Smart appliances will not be attached to the meters....perhaps to your PC so you can sort out when you want to use them, but that will be your choice and at your expence. I doubt the Government will be sending the SAS out to 23 Arcacia Av because Mrs Miggins has left her Sky box on overnight.

As for accepting the meters people will have the right to refuse, but once they start rolling them out full time that is what you'll be getting. If you refuse access 'they' can get a warrant to enter your property to replace or remove their meters.

walkon

As for accepting the meters people will have the right to refuse, but once they start rolling them out full time that is what you'll be getting. If you refuse access 'they' can get a warrant to enter your property to replace or remove their meters.

Yes they can get a warrent but if we all stick together and say no, nothing they can do about it. I for one will not be having a smart meter and if they force there way in, they will be met with a very strong resistance. I will be using the law as well, to stop them. Many laws can be used like, harassment, causing alarm or distress.

Edit. Like I said before, there is no law that says you must have a smart meter. They can't cut you off unless you don't pay your bill.

Btw It's not all paranoia. It won't blow up your boiler but it will be use against you in many other ways. The government like the sheep who think, it's in the best interest of it's people.

Do you know it's going to cost a few billions just to replace all the meters. Guess who is going to pay for that, you and me.

Why replace something that's not broken and does the job.
Smart meters won't save you any money. Country's that already have them, have found that out.

So, don't be dumb, don't get a smart meter.

Some videos on youtube about smart meters.

The Dark Side of 'Smart' Meters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLeCTaSG2-U&feature=related
Multiple Smart Meters on the living room wall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJeFFAvbbw&feature=related

dunloadin

walkon wrote: »

Btw It's not all paranoia. It won't blow up your boiler but it will be use against you in many other ways. The government like the sheep who think, it's in the best interest of it's people.

OK, explain how it will be used against you.

You give loads away about yourself by how you use your chip and pin card, surf the net or use a mobile phone, yet everyone has them.