Smart Meters

schrodie

Are Smart Meters worth getting installed or is keeping the staus quo preferable? Are there any disadvantages to getting them installed?

I keep my own record of energy consumption per month and enter the data into a spreadsheet to see how much I'm using and the associated cost.

bob_bank_spanker

schrodie wrote: »

Are Smart Meters worth getting installed or is keeping the staus quo preferable? Are there any disadvantages to getting them installed?

I keep my own record of energy consumption per month and enter the data into a spreadsheet to see how much I'm using and the associated cost.

Disadvantages - Meter readers will eventually be out of work. The tin foil hat brigade would have you believe they will give you cancer, and the data will be accessible to nefarious people.

Advantages - Persistent non payers can be cut off remotely, no more clambering around for some to read their meters, accurate bills for all etc.

My theory is in the next 5-10 years when we start to experience energy shortages tariffs will be structured to give discounts to those who use energy during hours when the load on the grid is low. Smart metering will be required for this (it will be more complex and fluid than the current E7).

penrhyn

Free electricity on Saturdays from Grittish Bass. Allegedly.

schrodie

bob_bank_spanker wrote: »

Disadvantages - Meter readers will eventually be out of work. The tin foil hat brigade would have you believe they will give you cancer, and the data will be accessible to nefarious people.

Advantages - Persistent non payers can be cut off remotely, no more clambering around for some to read their meters, accurate bills for all etc.

My theory is in the next 5-10 years when we start to experience energy shortages tariffs will be structured to give discounts to those who use energy during hours when the load on the grid is low. Smart metering will be required for this (it will be more complex and fluid than the current E7).

So no real disadvantages then. I'm intrigued as to how "they" can cut you off remotely?

Does it cost any more to have one of these meters installed and does it involve the removal of ones current electric and gas meters? I ask because currently the electric and gas meters are in two different places and not close to each other.

macman

It doesn't cost you anything (directly). You will of course pay for it in your bills long term.
The existing meters are removed.
Domestic customers are not cut off, they have PPM's fitted.

penrhyn

schrodie wrote: »

So no real disadvantages then. I'm intrigued as to how "they" can cut you off remotely?

.

They send a signal via GPRS to the meter.

schrodie

macman wrote: »

It doesn't cost you anything (directly). You will of course pay for it in your bills long term.
The existing meters are removed.
Domestic customers are not cut off, they have PPM's fitted.

So how will the gas and electricity usage be measured? In my house the electricity meter is under the stairs the gas meter is in the kitchen; so will the gas pipe have to be rerouted and the electric cable be rerouted to the new location where new Smart Meter location will be?

Also what's PPMs?

Ta

penrhyn

Smart meters replace the existing units. The smart gas meter syncs wirelessly up with the electric meter,which transmits usage data.

schrodie

penrhyn wrote: »

Smart meters replace the existing units. The smart gas meter syncs wirelessly up with the electric meter,which transmits usage data.

So if I understand you correctly. My current gas meter at its current location (the kitchen) will be replaced by one smart meter and the electricity meter in a different location (under the stairs) will be replaced by another smart meter.

So all in all I'll have 2 smart meters one for gas and one for electricity?

chanz4

yes x2 meters, the gas normally sends the signal via the electric back to the supplier.

I have a smart meter and eon still ask for reads