Should I get a smart meter?

[Deleted User]

joncombe wrote: »

Yes the point is we don't know but there is going to be a large amount of money spent carrying out wholesale replacement of gas and electric meters in virtually every property in the country. That is ultimately going to be paid for by us, either by higher bills or from the government (which is of course funded by us through taxes). It could well turn out to be a huge waste of money.

My view is that if we are going to replace all meters energy companies should be fitting meters outside of peoples homes. This means they can't be fiddled with behind closed doors and meter readers or safety inspectors can't be denied access to check, as happens now. So it is less likely people will or attempt to bypass them (as there is a much higher chance they will be seen) and if they do it can be spotted more easily. Water companies have already done this (as far as I know water meters are installed on the public highway not inside homes) and I think energy suppliers should do the same.

I ve found many, many fiddled meters in outside boxes. Harlington Court in Denaby Ings S.Yorks has had umpteen different bypasses found, one lethal one with bare wire as the link ! . Other people will make sure their gates are always locked to even approach the box..post box outside. My most recent find was an outside box with an Ebay bought substitute gas meter. Used by a landlord for a house full of Poles where rent is inclusive of bills.

joncombe

Andy_WSM wrote: »

I'm not against smart meters, but am totally against the idea of putting the meters outside, simply because I don't want either my block paved driveway disturbed or pipe work visible on the front of my property - both of which would HAVE to happen if the meters were to be moved outside. Currently they are inside, tucked away in cupboards.

Presumably the electric cables pass over or under a public highway before they get to your drive though?

joncombe

sacsquacco wrote: »

I ve found many, many fiddled meters in outside boxes. Harlington Court in Denaby Ings S.Yorks has had umpteen different bypasses found, one lethal one with bare wire as the link ! . Other people will make sure their gates are always locked to even approach the box..post box outside. My most recent find was an outside box with an Ebay bought substitute gas meter. Used by a landlord for a house full of Poles where rent is inclusive of bills.

Sorry I wasn't clear I meant meters should be installed on the public highway (e.g. under drain covers, as water meters are) or in metal green boxes, as the telecoms companies are allowed to use. In other words somewhere that is not private property where as you say meter readers can still be denied access.

Andy_WSM

joncombe wrote: »

Presumably the electric cables pass over or under a public highway before they get to your drive though?

Indeed, but hardly seems relevant as they won't fit the meters on the public highway?!

If, from the outset they had adopted the same way of installing here as they do in America then, yes. But I don't think anyone is about to embark on such a monumental task of digging up roads and pavements and fitting meters on boundaries of properties!

joncombe

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Indeed, but hardly seems relevant as they won't fit the meters on the public highway?!

Why won't they, the water companies do that- they are just in a little drain under the pavement. All a meter needs to do is measure what is flowing through the cable/pipe, and provide a reading, which is exactly what water meters do so I can't imagine they have to be big.

If, from the outset they had adopted the same way of installing here as they do in America then, yes. But I don't think anyone is about to embark on such a monumental task of digging up roads and pavements and fitting meters on boundaries of properties!

It depends. In many streets the electric cables are on wooden poles at roof level where the cables into each house go. So just fit the meter on that, where the cables go to each house. If they are underground they might be in a culvert so accessible. For example in my area BT have been installing fibre optic, but they have not had to dig up the streets to do it, I presume because the cables are in culverts so they can thread them through.

In addition gas pipes have to be replaced every so often (they are being replaced in the street my parents live on at the moment for example), so when doing that work move the meter then. It doesn't have to be done overnight, but I do think moving the meters out of private houses is the best way to prevent fraud.

Andy_WSM

joncombe wrote: »

but I do think moving the meters out of private houses is the best way to prevent fraud.

I don't disagree with your sentiments, but do the practicality of doing it.

The infrastructure is huge, it's been in the ground for years (and most of it is NOT in ducting, like BT lines are) and much of it is still good for 50+ years. It's not going to get replaced any time soon.

applepad

Thanks for all that, I will NOT be getting a smart meter for now. I have had trouble with billing from FU and want to switch when my fix is up, depending on price of course. If I get a smart now I understand I might be limiting my options.

The idea of putting them outside like water meters sounds good to me, both in a cupboard in my lounge at the moment.

Thank you all and sorry again for openning a can of worms!

[Deleted User]

applepad wrote: »

Thanks for all that, I will NOT be getting a smart meter for now. I have had trouble with billing from FU and want to switch when my fix is up, depending on price of course. If I get a smart now I understand I might be limiting my options.

The idea of putting them outside like water meters sounds good to me, both in a cupboard in my lounge at the moment.

Thank you all and sorry again for openning a can of worms!

FU s smart meter is the same model as the British Gas smart meter. If you get FU s smart I have read that they try and charge you fitting costs if you move so maybe a good idea to avoid one. Any smarts fitted at the moment by a supplier will revert to a standard "dumb " meter. Smart switching is not yet available.

GingerBob_3

sacsquacco wrote: »

FU s smart meter is the same model as the British Gas smart meter. If you get FU s smart I have read that they try and charge you fitting costs if you move so maybe a good idea to avoid one. Any smarts fitted at the moment by a supplier will revert to a standard "dumb " meter. Smart switching is not yet available.

Do you know if smarts converted to dumb mode still permit remote disconnection / compulsory move to PPM?

[Deleted User]

GingerBob wrote: »

Do you know if smarts converted to dumb mode still permit remote disconnection / compulsory move to PPM? I dont know Gingerbob, my British Gas fitted smart is now a dumb meter with Npower.Npower have no connection to the meter so they cant remotly disconnect and so far I havent heard of smarts being able to switch to prepay mode in my area of S.Yorks.