The Great Hunt: How smart is your smart meter?

Former_MSE_Sam_M

How smart is your smart meter?

Have you had a smart meter installed? Was it voluntary? Have you found it to be a smart addition or more clutter?

We'd love to have your feedback.

bonjan

Have you had one installed?
Yes, I had one installed by First Utility.

Was it voluntary?
I got a letter from First Utility / Siemens asking me to call an 0800 number to schedule the date and time of its installation.
I guess I could have ignored the letter.

Have you found it to be a smart addition or clutter?
Neither.
I was not offered an in home display, so no clutter.
I welcomed not having to remember to send meter readings and to be able to see my electricity usage with 30 minute intervals on my phone.
That said, I just switched to e.on through the MSE collective switch and it turns out e.on can't read my smart meter, so I'm back to sending meter readings.
I think it's stupid that money is being wasted on installing smart meters that become useless as you switch provider.

dj1471

Yes, I registered my interest with e.on and got them fitted once they were available in my area.

It's nice not having to submit meter readings and very useful to always have up-to-date annual usage figures available online when shopping around, but the monitor is destined for a cupboard. I already had an energy monitor, but the smart meter one annoys me by having a very bright backlight that you can't turn off... Aside from being a nuisance in the evening, it's also wasting energy!

bagby

Had one fitted by company but then changed companies and now need to submit meter readings but meter difficult to read. No instructions given. Smart meter never really worked properly there were problems from the start. Now doesn't work at all

Terry98

Have you had a smart meter installed? Was it voluntary? Have you found it to be a smart addition ?

Yes, Yes and Yes.

The overall concept is good but the roll out has been ill planned and a waste of customers money. Although smart meters are free the customer always has to foot the bill in the end by way of higher charges.

micksboy79

My smart meter was fitted by EDF as an option. Not really saved any money since having it fitted, I just tend to look at it to see if I have left any power guzzling appliance on by mistake. Apart from that the display itself consumed a small amount of power so I reverted back to my battery powered version. After all, if you need to use something electrical you are going to switch it on, I don't fancy using candles instead of electric lights or lighting the BBQ to cook Sunday dinner!! I think the only benefit was the ability for EDF to get a reading from the meter but as I have now switched supplier this does not apply. Technology takes over too much of ones life and I sure ain't going to live my life looking at a display every time I switch something on, far better to pay less for what I use........or am I missing the point?

magicgranny

We live in one of a small group of houses on a farm, and our meters are housed in a shed some distance from the properties. The electricity companies tell us that smart meters will not work due to the distance. 😚
We are currently using eon as part of the latest collective switch.

[Deleted User]

MSE_Sam_M wrote: »

How smart is your smart meter?

Have you had a smart meter installed? Was it voluntary? Have you found it to be a smart addition or more clutter?

We'd love to have your feedback.

Yes, I ve got them and yes it was voluntary, it should nt be ! The French, Italians and Spanish and many others in Europe made smart meters obligatory.And yes its useful for many people to understand what appliances makes the meters spin fast and yes, the inhd is plug clutter so once you ve had some fun with it dump it in a cupboard.
Smart meters are loved and needed by the suppliers especially Npower and Scottish Power who are hopeless at billing so customers should accept them willingly

dewdrop87

Had one installed by OVO voluntarily. Changed to EON and they can't read it. Totally useless!!

jcpsew

Had smart meters fitted for both gas and electricity. Working great but then changed suppliers and meters not compatible so now having to log readings online (meters not the easiest thing to read) until I can get new supplier to change meters. Surely the meters should have been designed to work for all suppliers. Seems such a waste of money (and time) having to change them again.

C_A_Wodo

I had gas and electric smart meters installed.

Then British Gas removed the gas meter because it couldn't be read (and trashed the front garden doing so). Now, despite still having an electric smart meter, I have to personally supply a reading for both - yet, as the gas meter is on the street at the front of the house, it could be read without anyone having to enter the premises.

So I provide a personal reading every quarter.

Shortly after I do this they send round a man to read the meters, because they obviously don't think I can read them correctly. (I can).

Smart meters? Unfortunately, the utility companies aren't smart enought to install them... and if they do, they don't bother reading them any way.

Complete waste of time.

:mad: