Smart Meters

Laurensalive

I am thinking of having a smart meter. Does anyone know what are the cons with them. I am with SSE.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

None ! at least none are reported by normal people without vivid imaginations of illness. Its just a standard meter with a nice little toy attached where you can see your usage displayed in hard cash per hour/day/month. Also lets you become completely lazy and lets the meter send your readings in instead of you, so no nasty big bills appearing every two years due to ignoring the actual readings and relying on a inaccurate direct debit..All pro s...no cons

[Deleted User]

I can be a paid if you have poor mobile signal, I think the meters use Vodafone. Sometimes mine does not report for days then when it does it will drop me into the minus or the other day I forgot to topup so once I did there was no connection to turn it back on so had to call up for a long code.

System

Laurensalive wrote: »

I am thinking of having a smart meter. Does anyone know what are the cons with them. I am with SSE.

Thanks

No more estimated bills provided that the supplier can establish a connection that works.

The 'Cons':

1. May not work as a smart meter if you decide to switch suppliers.

2. If you receive PV Solar FITs, you may be forced to move to metered export payments rather than 50%.

3. If the IHD fails after 12 months it is unlikely that the supplier will replace it FOC.

4. You may need a new smart meter when the roll-out on the updated versions start next year.

5. The meter itself will not save you a penny. The Govt hopes that IHD watching will result in better domestic energy usage; i.e. only filling the kettle with the amount of water that you need, showering for half of the time etc.

Laurensalive

Thanks for all the replies. I will wait until the upgraded smart meters roll out next year.

System

This document appears to be up to date re smart meters:

http://u.jimdo.com/www400/o/sb7a590684030bb2c/download/m9c5e35eaca676d32/1441879758/Housing+Professionals+Guide+to+Smart+Meters.pdf

Laurensalive

Thank you for putting this link for the up to date info on smart meters. After a quick read I can see I need the upgraded version. I will wait until after April 16 and decide on a smart meter then. I can see the newer one will make switching companies easier.

[Deleted User]

Laurensalive wrote: »

Thank you for putting this link for the up to date info on smart meters. After a quick read I can see I need the upgraded version. I will wait until after April 16 and decide on a smart meter then. I can see the newer one will make switching companies easier.

It wont . smart switching is years away yet.You can easily switch with a smart, it just becomes a dumb meter, like the one you have now, unless you re going BG to Sainsburys Energy they all revert to being normal meters with no connection to the servers. It will continue to operate as a superior energy monitor.