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

greyteam1959

Privacy ?????......what about when the meter reader comes round & rummages through your knicker drawer !!!!
:rotfl::rotfl:

KTF

PollySouthend wrote: »

The old fashioned ones cost a fraction of the price and have a low maintenance cost, they don't need a sim card.

Anyway they are talking about binning perfectly good meters to put in the new technology.

I have not seen the prices of either one so cant comment. Nor have I seen reliability statistics.

But there are additional overheads from having the meter readers coming out to read them that will be saved as a result plus both of my meters have been replaced at periods of time to ensure that they remain accurate so if the timing of the installation of a smart meter is in line with that the cost is the same anyway.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

Have a browse on this forum and be amazed how how many 'stupid' people there are

The energy industry doesn't like dealing with the results of people not sending back accurate readings, moaning to their call centre staff about 'bill shock', etc. so thinks up a way to sort it (smart metering).

Yet even this seemingly isnt good enough for the great unwashed they think this is some conspiracy to 'spy' on them instead.

So either way the energy company is on a hiding to nothing.

The world is full of stupid people.

Anyone that doesn't trust the big energy companies and their smart meter promises is "unwashed"? wow your logic and reasoning skills impressive.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

I have not seen the prices of either one so cant comment. Nor have I seen reliability statistics.

But there are additional overheads from having the meter readers coming out to read them that will be saved as a result plus both of my meters have been replaced at periods of time to ensure that they remain accurate so if the timing of the installation of a smart meter is in line with that the cost is the same anyway.

Maybe you should go research on the ofgem website and come back here.

Smart meters will cost the end users (you and me) 11bn to roll out, and will save the (private and many foreign owned) energy companies 300m a year according to ofgem.

KTF

PollySouthend wrote: »

The world is full of stupid people.

Anyone that doesn't trust the big energy companies and their smart meter promises is "unwashed"? wow your logic and reasoning skills impressive.

Yes and seemingly they need saving from themselves hence the installation of smart meters.

No, it is a turn of 'endearment' for the general public.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

Yes and seemingly they need saving from themselves hence the installation of smart meters.

No, it is a turn of 'endearment' for the general public.

Many people are leaving school without general understanding of maths and English. I would rather money is spent on educating people to read numbers and learn what the word estimate means.

It's like people keep walking off a cliff, you can either put a barrier up to stop them walking off (they will probably just walk off another cliff) or educate them not to walk of cliffs.

KTF

PollySouthend wrote: »

It's like people keep walking off a cliff, you can either put a barrier up to stop them walking off (they will probably just walk off another cliff) or educate them not to walk of cliffs.

Yes, I agree. However, that will take generations to achieve and because politicians only think in 4 year chunks they like to stick their oar and think up various schemes instead - cue Millibands speech - to win favour in the polls and a few votes.

LittleMissAspie

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.

Well this is how water meters work. Our meters have always been inside our house and no-one from the water company has ever come to read one, and the bills are actual usage not estimated. I wish our gas and electricity meters were like this because it's a pain having to remember to take a reading once a month.

I really don't see your problem.

Andy_WSM

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

Well this is how water meters work. Our meters have always been inside our house and no-one from the water company has ever come to read one, and the bills are actual usage not estimated. I wish our gas and electricity meters were like this because it's a pain having to remember to take a reading once a month.

I really don't see your problem.

I don't have a problem with privacy concerns, I do have a problem with my bills being increased yet again to pay for smart meters as people find taking their own readings once a month "a pain". My current meter is just a few years old and works perfectly well, but will be in a scrap pile within a couple of years. Seems insane to me.

PollySouthend

KTF wrote: »

Yes, I agree. However, that will take generations to achieve and because politicians only think in 4 year chunks they like to stick their oar and think up various schemes instead - cue Millibands speech - to win favour in the polls and a few votes.

Agreed. But I'm still not sure why you think people against smart meters are the general public? It seams to be the more educated that are cautious with them. The general public are wowed by the adverts on the telly between xfactor telling you about this amazing new device that will allow you to turn on your shower via text message...