smart meters, its all a con for energy companies to spy on us right? they still visit

PollySouthend

I had an old wheel meter taken out yesterday and replaced with a smart meter.

Reading the information they still have to visit once every two years for a safety check, so its all bull about saving them money on site visits.

This whole energy companies are going to help you spend less is a total lie, if people spend less they make less profits.

It has to be more about so they can monitor usage, kind of like how supermarkets use cards to mine information on people and sell it as a benefit.

Its no more use than that device british gas gave out a few years ago to monitor your usage, useful for a couple of days then you learn what uses alot of energy and you use it less (lighting in my case).

Shame on me for being fooled by them

KTF

PollySouthend wrote: »

It has to be more about so they can monitor usage

Well yes. Thats why they are installed. It monitors your usage and sends the stats back so there are no more estimated bills and 'bill shock' for people who are too lazy to take a reading themselves.

Norman_Castle

I don't think its a con. I do think they are a waste of time and money, mainly promoted by the manufacturers and fitters to provide themselves work, and a hobby for gas executives.
I don't want or need one.

macman

The 'safety' inspection every two years still applies. But they will certainly save on the other 7 meter reading vists they won't now have to make in that period.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

Well yes. Thats why they are installed. It monitors your usage and sends the stats back so there are no more estimated bills and 'bill shock' for people who are too lazy to take a reading themselves.

I'm an adult I dont like to be monitored / spied.

If its just using the mobile network to send your information surely if someone can hack it, they can tell when people are at home / work. So much information they will have and there are ALWAYS data breaches. The less information about me there is sitting on a computer waiting to be hacked or in the wrong hands the better.

PollySouthend

macman wrote: »

The 'safety' inspection every two years still applies. But they will certainly save on the other 7 meter reading vists they won't now have to make in that period.

They only visit once a year, so it will just change to being visited once every two years.

KTF

PollySouthend wrote: »

I'm an adult I dont like to be monitored / spied.

Do you have a mobile phone? That can be used to triangulate your position.

Do you go into shops, walk down a high street, use public transport? You will be picked up by the multitude of CCTV cameras.

Your ISP can see the websites you are visiting, etc. if they needed to.

Do you use credit or bank cards? They can be used to track your location and purchase history.

The list is endless and a smart meter isnt really that high up it.

If you dont like being monitored/spied then you are out of luck already

macman

PollySouthend wrote: »

They only visit once a year, so it will just change to being visited once every two years.

In which case, they'e still halved their meter reading costs. Millions saved.

macman

Is the fact that BG may be able to tell that you've switched on your kettle really a civil liberties issue?

ollski

PollySouthend wrote: »

I'm an adult I dont like to be monitored / spied.

If its just using the mobile network to send your information surely if someone can hack it, they can tell when people are at home / work. So much information they will have and there are ALWAYS data breaches. The less information about me there is sitting on a computer waiting to be hacked or in the wrong hands the better.

It's sending your meter readings but it doesn't know which appliances are using it at what times (yet), that would need 2 way communication. Things turn themselves on and off and run on timers etc so it's not giving anything away apart from how much energy you use to receive an accurate bill. The neighbours / councils cctv pointing through your window and uploading pics through a (wireless) network will reveal much more about your habits.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

Do you have a mobile phone? That can be used to triangulate your position.

Do you go into shops, walk down a high street, use public transport? You will be picked up by the multitude of CCTV cameras.

Your ISP can see the websites you are visiting, etc. if they needed to.

Do you use credit or bank cards? They can be used to track your location and purchase history.

The list is endless and a smart meter isnt really that high up it.

If you dont like being monitored/spied then you are out of luck already

So because we are one of the most spied on countries in the world it doesn't matter how much more we are spied on?