An energy revolution - Smart meter technology

ani_26

Terrylw1 wrote: »

And will everything they have fit be compliant to DCC standards and the latest SMETS? Since regulation states they don't have to be, they could have just been a selling perk for some.

A selling perk for whom? The company who sells to the energy supplier?

It hasn't cost me anything, and it shouldn't cost you anything.

ani_26

mqandy wrote: »

Can I ask if you're in a built up area?

I moved to First Utility because of their attractive prices on a smart meter. However, their installer didn't show up on the day I stayed at home for him, and over the following year First Utility simply didn't want to know when I phoned (most months!) to complain.

I suspect we're just not in a busy enough area for them to regularly be out fitting near here.

Left them in the end after getting fed up of their variable only direct debit, set to whatever-the-hell-they-fancied KWH each month (1 month was billed for £240. Actual usage, £35...)

Maybe you should change your supplier?


No, i don't live in a built up area. Far from it. I don't think it's an issue with area, more customer service?


I've been told they don't have enough engineers to cope with demand, if all their customers decided they were going to change over to the smart meter. However, so far they have done exactly as it says on the tin, turned up at the pre arranged appointment, etc.

2010

ani_26 wrote: »

.
Do you think the energy company is going to monitor every household individually

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This is exactly what they do do, if you have a "smart meter".

Maybe you should google and find out why they are no longer compulsory.

ani_26

2010 wrote: »

This is exactly what they do do, if you have a "smart meter".

Do you think the energy company is going to monitor every household individually and start charging them extra when their usage is at its peak? I would have thought that was already obvious.

Maybe you should post the whole of my quote to appreciate the context in which it was written? i.e. do you think we will ever see the day when we receive tailor made bills per household, targeted at maximum usage?

Maybe you should google and find out why they are no longer compulsory.

I don't recall using the word compulsory, although i do recall using the word offer.

victor2

Cardew wrote: »

Do you mean just your slow cooker is costing 4.43p an hour? or all the electricity being consumed in your house(at that moment in time) is costing 4.43 an hour?

ani_26 wrote: »

Yes. The slow cooker was the only electrical appliance switched on, ( apart from the smart meter, that is.)

So you don't have a fridge then? Or you switched it off while using the slow cooker?

As you have seen, there's a bit of mixed opinions about these meters. An elderly person I know has one and likes not having to provide readings himself.
Personally, I can read my meters myself and do on a regular basis, so would see no benefit. EDF make enough screw-ups with my direct debits when they get readings anyway. I shudder to think how they'd cope with a smart meter system!

Cardew

ani_26 wrote: »

Originally Posted by Cardew
Do you mean just your slow cooker is costing 4.43p an hour? or all the electricity being consumed in your house(at that moment in time) is costing 4.43 an hour?



Yes. The slow cooker was the only electrical appliance switched on, ( apart from the smart meter, that is.)

I suggest if you switched off the slow cooker, your cost wouldn't drop by 4.43p an hour. Every property has a 'background' electrical load.

For instance, my slow cooker is 180 watts - about 2p an hour, the Morphy Richards 3.6 litre's 3 settings are 37w, 118w and 160w. So all under 2p an hour.

I appreciate the slow cooker isn't thermostatically controlled, but most electrical appliances are. As an example a washing machine might show as high as, say, 36p an hour for the time when the heater is working, but a 1.5 hour cycle might only cost, 5p.

Terrylw1

ani_26 wrote: »

A selling perk for whom? The company who sells to the energy supplier?

It hasn't cost me anything, and it shouldn't cost you anything.

Offering smart meters as a switching perk.

Given its been ruled that previous meters don't need to be to industry specs, its unclear if everyone has a true smart meter. By rushing in to grab more customers, it might mean these meters will not be as smart as those that are compliant when the DCC goes live. So, your meter doesn't continue to be smart when you switch unlike later compliant meters.

hotpot1000

what about the electromagnetic and radio waves from them

http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/national-news/1212244-government-smart-meter-roll-out-triggers-health-risk-fears.html

ani_26

hotpot1000 wrote: »

what about the electromagnetic and radio waves from them

http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/national-news/1212244-government-smart-meter-roll-out-triggers-health-risk-fears.html

Hmm. That article is almost two years out of date?

Do you own any of the following?

" The paper explains that people are already increasingly exposed to radiofrequency radiation at home through the use of numerous wireless devices.

These include mobile and cordless telephones, Blackberry and iPhones, broadband, baby monitors and home security systems."

Who doesn't have a mobile phone, and look at all the hype about mobile phones?


I assume, rightly or wrongly, that many people accessing mse, use broadband?


Need i go on?

ani_26

Cardew wrote: »

I suggest if you switched off the slow cooker, your cost wouldn't drop by 4.43p an hour. Every property has a 'background' electrical load.

Of course, that's true.

For instance, my slow cooker is 180 watts - about 2p an hour, the Morphy Richards 3.6 litre's 3 settings are 37w, 118w and 160w. So all under 2p an hour.

I appreciate the slow cooker isn't thermostatically controlled, but most electrical appliances are. As an example a washing machine might show as high as, say, 36p an hour for the time when the heater is working, but a 1.5 hour cycle might only cost, 5p.

All the estimations are irrelevant, as the meter provides " real time " information, and tells me exactly how much energy i am using, and how much it is costing / has cost, ( of course, nothing is ever 100% reliable,) and i can only assume the information i am being fed is as close to the truth as one could hope for? As yet, i've no reason to suppose there is a problem with it?


As for radiation, do i really care?

For me, personally, i am a low usage user, anyway. I am on the cheapest tariff i can acquire, and i am more concerned about monitoring my usage. Maybe i am obsessive about my usage, but i have to be. If it's not being used, it's switched off, but i was brought up with this principle. If you leave a room, switch the light off. If you are not using something, switch it off. There isn't an eternal supply of energy, anyway. We should all work to conserve? My meter also provides CO2 emissisons.


It's interesting to see so many people seem to be against them?