The Future - SMART Meter and Truly Variable Unit Prices

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I think the way the wind is blowing, even if we Luddites try to hang on to our Olden Days meters (remember everything was better in The Olden Days*, before stuff was made in China to the cheapest price ) we will be forced to change, as we simply won't be eligible for the cheaper rates because our meters can't split the consumption.


* examples of better in The Olden Days

TV picture (apart from the few HD channels)_
Streetlights
White goods
customer service everywhere

Richie-from-the-Boro

GingerBob wrote: »

Speak for yourself - I'm only 16. :beer:

- I too can REM being 16 ............ once ............... the year before Steptoe & Son was first screened !

GingerBob_3

facade wrote: »

I think the way the wind is blowing, even if we Luddites try to hang on to our Olden Days meters (remember everything was better in The Olden Days*, before stuff was made in China to the cheapest price ) we will be forced to change, as we simply won't be eligible for the cheaper rates because our meters can't split the consumption.


* examples of better in The Olden Days

TV picture (apart from the few HD channels)_
Streetlights
White goods
customer service everywhere

I'm guessing what will happen is that over time the traditional type of meter will become extinct and "smart" meters will become the order of the day. The important thing, though, is that the consumer choice should be "smart activated" or not. If not activated, then they can't remotely disconnect you and only get quarterly readings, albeit automatically. I would think there'd still be plenty of good tariffs, even for quarterly readings. The issue of WiFi is irrelevant, but that of privacy is a cause for concern if data is being collected on a frequent basis.

[Deleted User]

facade wrote: »

I think the way the wind is blowing, even if we Luddites try to hang on to our Olden Days meters (remember everything was better in The Olden Days*, before stuff was made in China to the cheapest price ) we will be forced to change, as we simply won't be eligible for the cheaper rates because our meters can't split the consumption.


* examples of better in The Olden Days

TV picture (apart from the few HD channels)_
Streetlights
White goods
customer service everywhere

Yes, the luddites will be left with options of "standard " and "standard/variable " tariffs to chose from, then watch all these dedicated money savers ditch their prejudices and as usual money will rule the heart. The speed that things are progressing with the rollout its going to be at least 2030 before even smart switching or 80% coverage is reached . The government target has been set back to 2022 now and thats optomistic. BG started approx 7 years ago installing smart meters in my area and I m still reading a quarter of every streets non smart meters for both BG and Sainsburys BG.
The superbly run suppliers like Npower or Scot Power havent even started yet and they re sure to mess it up

jayson043

At the moment everyone is paying more than they should as the price you pay for energy is the same, while the cost is higher during high demand periods. Therefore you all will have to pay £100bn to meet this high level of demand as there is no price signal that reflects the true cost. Why should I have to subside those that use energy during high cost periods, who don't pay the true cost.

jayson043

sacsquacco wrote: »

Yes, the luddites will be left with options of "standard " and "standard/variable " tariffs to chose from, then watch all these dedicated money savers ditch their prejudices and as usual money will rule the heart. The speed that things are progressing with the rollout its going to be at least 2030 before even smart switching or 80% coverage is reached . The government target has been set back to 2022 now and thats optomistic. BG started approx 7 years ago installing smart meters in my area and I m still reading a quarter of every streets non smart meters for both BG and Sainsburys BG.
The superbly run suppliers like Npower or Scot Power havent even started yet and they re sure to mess it up

Full smart roll out starts in 2016, to be completed by 2020. Thanks.

[Deleted User]

jayson043 wrote: »

Full smart roll out starts in 2016, to be completed by 2020. Thanks.

Now come on , get realistic ! 5 years to go !, not a chance in hell. Most suppliers have nt even started the main roll out. It will take at least another 15 years . You want to see how many gas meters are in corners of modern kitchen units in unaccessable places. Meter fitters take one look at the position of the meter, lasting 30 secs,then leave, leaving stupid occupiers in anger who think meter fitters possess magical powers to install the new meter witthout ripping their expensive kitchen units out. This is a huge problem and it wont be overcome very easily.
The gas meter was there first, but that means nothing to the occupiers.

brewerdave

Just had my elec. meter changed under the auspices of EON - I asked the pleasant young guy doing the job whether he would be fitting a smart meter ...his words were " not this time ,maybe in 20 years...we haven't started fitting any yet !!"

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EON have been offering me smart meters for a couple of years, I just ignore the letters.

I haven't got over the day that I had to have a "New" gas meter, and when the fitter came he gave me some story about not being able to fit it to my 1970s pipes, as all the "regs" had changed, and I had to pay for new pipework to bring me upto 21st century "regs"

(In retrospect, I shouldn't have had to pay anything really I suppose, but the problem was my side of the meter)

GaryOctogen

Part of the problem is that there is no such thing as an agreed standard for smart meters. BG rushed ahead with installations in the hope everyone else would use their spec. Off course nobody did. That's a major factor in why a lot of the companies haven't even started rolling them out yet. The ones who have are betting that their standard will be picked. It's entirely possible that some or all of the ones already installed will need to be replaced in the future

The issue is interoperability - that your next supplier will be able to seamlessly talk to your existing meter. What we have seen to date is that customers with smart meters who change away from the installer supplier are either having to have the meter changed (as its an expensive asset for the old supplier to lose) or lose all smart functionality. What a mess :rotfl: