Smart Meter? No thanks I'll keep my dumb one.

Eurobird

I will state my own position from the outset - Smart Meter? No thanks I'll keep my dumb one.

With the roll-out of smart meters ever closer, those who are undecided of the 'benefits' may care to take a look at the following article.

www. lightbluetouchpaper.org/2012/09/17/the-perils-of-smart-metering/

"Light Blue Touchpaper" is a weblog written by researchers in the Security Group at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory.


Think carefully as to who the real beneficiaries of this are going to be. I personally don't see it as being the consumer.

The fitting of smart meters is not mandatory "Smart meters will be rolled out as standard across the country by 2019, but it will not be a legal obligation on individuals to have one". (page 7, section 3.1 of the following document.)

www. parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06179.pdf

(Sorry, unable to post live links yet.)

Wonder why I feel the energy companies may try to 'persuade' us otherwise...


Regards

Cardew

This is the link:

http://www.lightbluetouchpaper.org/2012/09/17/the-perils-of-smart-metering/

[Deleted User]

Not mandatory yet for residential but will be eventually. Personally OP, I dont know why you are making a fuss , I ve got one , its brilliant, a real moneysaver. You are only delaying the inevitable, they will be forced into your house whether you want one or not. One great thing about them is they stop meter bypassing ( mostly ) stone dead, some areas I work in energy theft is rife and getting worse. Smart meters will be the only answer to vastly increasing energy theft as the various suppliers are doing little to combat it

sheffield_lad

The link takes you to a bunch of nutters worried over the 'privacy' Pleaseeeeeeeeee tell me OP your not concerned over this are you? lol

Did you ban google from taking a pic of your house? lol

Smart meters are great in domestic use, they have arrived after tests carried out over the last few years found home energy monitors on electric meters encouraged users to reduce their usage by around 15% how can that be a bad thing?

Unless 'they' want to know what you are up to! Bet 'they' have already bugged your phone! lol

gasmanmartin

I don't understand why folk think these things are money savers. All it does is submit a meter reading on your behalf to your energy supplier. The energy monitor is, in my eyes, a terrible invention. Many a time i have visited elderly customers with these and seeing the current cost frightens them into not using their heating.
Personally if i'm too cold or too hot i'll adjust the heating accordingly - i don't need a machine to tell me to do it

[Deleted User]

They definitely result in a lowered energy consumption, but only for people who are interested in keeping down the costs. The BG smart meter energy monitor is excellent, far better than a pathetic energy monitor. It shows exact costs per hour you are on in real money and kwhrs, also what costs in last week and last month you ve used. Having said that I have just recieved yet another email photo from a meter reading freind, who went behind the cover of a prepayment meter to find another bypass. This guy would ve been paying 0.00 pence per kwhrs and having a lovely warm house on the backs of the paying consumers, increasing the wholesale price of electric at the same time. Smart meters hopefully will eradicate this.The sooner they get them functioning for prepayment meters the better. They shoud ve started on prepays to begin with, not credit meters

Road_Hog

My_name_is_howee_and_I'm_a_nutter wrote: »

The link takes you to a bunch of nutters worried over the 'privacy'

Smart meteres also allow the energy company to cut you off, without a court order or having to enter your home.

Enjoy.

sheffield_lad

Road_Hog wrote: »

Smart meteres also allow the energy company to cut you off, without a court order or having to enter your home.

Enjoy.

Errr nope another myth, you don't pay your bill it's a prepayment meter (also smart), installed if you don't let them in via a court order.

Hang on just the same as now then lol,

Does knowing how much you spend reduce usage? Ask a PP meter user it has a sobering effect.

Will the elderly worry, probably but is that any different to when they receive a high bill a week or so later?

2010

Include me out

sheffield_lad

2010 wrote: »

Include me out

Not that simple your going to get one anyway, but this thread really is scarmongering when there is nothing to be scared of.

How many threads on here are to do with estimated bills? Hundreds or thousands? All eliminated as the utility knows your usage 'booo' scary lol

What about other folk who get told to pay £5per month as the meter has been read incorrectly they don't object, (it must be right they say so DOH!!), then start a thread complaing the debt is not their fault as nasty leci firm told me so?

What about moving into an all electric property and not having a clue how much its costing you until the bill turns up in April?

What about students who have ZERO knowledge of costs?

Smart meter are very welcome for all the above.

Eurobird

@ sacsquacco
@ howee

So, sorry! Didn't realise I was making a fuss. As for the issue of privacy; that's for each individual to decide.

You are free to make your own choices, just as I have made mine.

Regards.