MSE News: Energy firms hit two million households with late bills

davidgmmafan

I agree it's not much of a chore to check your meter reading and I remain grateful for MSE forums for reminding me that some consumers do actually know how it works.

Still sometimes I wonder why companies read meters less often, how putting petrol in the car yourself has become normal, how shops want me to scan my own shopping (for no reward) and finally banks and the like wanting everything to be online (then insisiting on paper copies as proof of ID!). Some days I think a line should be drawn somewhere, though I can't say I'll be keen to get a smart meter installed. I just can't see how it makes any difference to active consumers like me.

System

davidgmmafan wrote: »

though I can't say I'll be keen to get a smart meter installed. I just can't see how it makes any difference to active consumers like me.

The 'hidden' agenda with smart meters is the management of peak demand through the offer of time of use pricing. At the moment, the Govt is paying energy generators £Bns per year to maintain out-of-date generation capacity just in case there is an extraordinary demand for electricity. Through pricing, the Govt hopes to smooth out demand by encouraging consumers to change their usage habits.

Whilst smart meters are not compulsory, my guess is that tariff penalties will be used to make people accept them.