Smart meters are not compulsory

NPowerUser

I am pretty frugal when it comes to energy use, there are only 2 of us in the house. We turn off lights, sky box goes into standby when not in use. The router gets turned off when the computer is not being used. Same for the TV, etc, etc.

My energy company has sent me an email advising its time for me to switch to a shiny new smart meter by booking an appointment through Lowri Beck.

My thoughts then switched to a couple of articles
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/do-i-have-to-accept-a-smart-meter#.U7lWHlUM1uA.facebook

And this one here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2681954/Unveiled-New-200-smart-meters-household-pay-not-work.html

I appreciate we will all end up paying for it but alas, until the government force me, I will be insisting on a new dumb meter!

Andy_WSM

NPowerUser wrote: »

Smart meters are not compulsory

Whilst this is currently true, in the long term your choice may well end up costing you in the form of higher standing charge or unit costs to "encourage" you to make the "right" decision.

I don't really care what meter is fitted at my house. All this talk of Smart meters frying your brains is a load of balls and as for "knowing your lifestlye & usage pattern" - not a chance! I have Solar PV and the generation is variable which means you couldn't tell whether I am using the power locally or it's just not being generated. I have enough automatic lights at night to keep anyone guessing too.

lstar337

NPowerUser wrote: »

I am pretty frugal when it comes to energy use, there are only 2 of us in the house. We turn off lights, sky box goes into standby when not in use. The router gets turned off when the computer is not being used. Same for the TV, etc, etc.

My energy company has sent me an email advising its time for me to switch to a shiny new smart meter by booking an appointment through Lowri Beck.

My thoughts then switched to a couple of articles
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/do-i-have-to-accept-a-smart-meter#.U7lWHlUM1uA.facebook

And this one here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2681954/Unveiled-New-200-smart-meters-household-pay-not-work.html

I appreciate we will all end up paying for it but alas, until the government force me, I will be insisting on a new dumb meter!

Do you mind if I tell my daughter this story when I put her to bed tonight?

Not only will she feel safer knowing that the evil smart meters are not compulsory, I imagine it'll put her right to sleep.

chanz4

the supplier would also have the option to refuse to supply, under the rights of having an approved meter fitted

[Deleted User]

OP I cant understand your attitude about smart meters. You obviously are not concerned about the mild wi fi signals they emit as you re tapping away on your laptop with a mobile phone clamped to your ear sometimes. Some people seem paranoid about energy companies knowing your habits and timings. I have smart meters and could nt care less if British Gas know my comings and goings, I m more worried about the people who live in my rough area kicking my rear door in, thats why I ve had an barred gate to protect it. One old lady I met this week was under the impression she would be charged £150 to have a smart meter. There will be a small charge, probably added to the green energy levy.
I expect Gingerbob will be along soon warning you off them
.Good point made by Chanz4, also the energy companies I have been told, will eventually bill you approx £60 a year metering costs because your refusal to join the 21 st century is costing them extra so they will simply pass the costs on.

[Deleted User]

Npoweruser, stick to your guns, there will be many thousands, at the very least, who will not be accepting these boxes, me included. I live in an eco house so could not be more aware of energy usage. Just a charter for snooping. They will not be allowed entry

[Deleted User]

kittie wrote: »

Npoweruser, stick to your guns, there will be many thousands, at the very least, who will not be accepting these boxes, me included. I live in an eco house so could not be more aware of energy usage. Just a charter for snooping. They will not be allowed entry

Kittie, you legally have to give the meter fitter,( and readers for that matter) entry so your drawbridge will have to be raised occasionally. You will definitely be forced to have a smart meter fitted eventually. A few Liberal M.P.s raised there weedy wet arms and voted against making them compulsory. These people will obviously be swept away next year when the people have their say in the next election and sense will prevail and a new vote will take place.
I have just listened to a spokesman on BBC news extolling all the benefits of smarts to both the householders and to the suppliers. I hope you are prepared to pay for your stance. I see no reason why the likes of the very few, like you, should nt be forced to either allow entry without us getting both locksmiths and warrants to allow the legal fitting of a smart meter, the costs will fall on you.
We get exactly the same pig headed attitude from people like you who deny legal access to your meter for an inspection every 2 years and create a fuss over nothing.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

kittie wrote: »

Npoweruser, stick to your guns, there will be many thousands, at the very least, who will not be accepting these boxes, me included. I live in an eco house so could not be more aware of energy usage. Just a charter for snooping. They will not be allowed entry

The tin foil bill must be high in your house

NPowerUser

kittie wrote: »

Npoweruser, stick to your guns, there will be many thousands, at the very least, who will not be accepting these boxes, me included. I live in an eco house so could not be more aware of energy usage. Just a charter for snooping. They will not be allowed entry

My feelings summed up in that paragraph.

The government want to know how you spend your money, where you get your money, try and track your every move via your mobile phone, monitor your shopping habits & restricts freedom of speech.

Just another "snooping charter" as Kittie states.

A smart meter would never benefit me, it would only benefit the energy companies.

We no longer live in a free country. We are constantly being channelled along a path that suits other people, not the individual.

ollski

Lol typing on the internet where every pages tracks your interests, hobbies, habits, interests, friends, family, business. Your isp seeing and filtering everything you see, gchq keeping a record on everything you ever saw / searched for, the police ready to pounce and inspect your life recorded on your computer for any suspected midemeanor, every move you make captured on some security camera and you really have time to worry your electricity supplier may have the ability to see what time of day you tend to use more power?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

NPowerUser wrote: »

My feelings summed up in that paragraph.

The government want to know how you spend your money, where you get your money, try and track your every move via your mobile phone, monitor your shopping habits & restricts freedom of speech.

Just another "snooping charter" as Kittie states.

A smart meter would never benefit me, it would only benefit the energy companies.

We no longer live in a free country. We are constantly being channelled along a path that suits other people, not the individual.

The government can already find out all these things about you. GCHQ can probably track your every movement. So what? I'm not up to anything nefarious, frankly I couldn't give a flying !!!! if the government know what I get from Aldi, when I have my morning brew and what funny cat pictures I look at.

I've heard some people say that burglars could "hack the system" and work out who won't be in their homes. Um, right. Or, they could sit outside and watch.

It will have the benefit of bringing an end to estimated bills. A good percentage of people who come here in difficulty have had underestimated bills for years, and then have to stump up thousands when their meter is read.

Also, because our toothless governments/regulators haven't made securing future generation a condition of license, we are going to see huge demands on the grid for electricity at peak times as old power stations get closed down. We'll probably need to introduce flexible pricing like Australia - for which smart meters will be necessary. Perhaps they'll make the luddites/refuseniks pay peak prices 24/7, I'm sure people would soon change their tune....