which npower smart meter?

donnajunkie

npower have told us we will be getting smart meters soon. however they have given 3 different options. optimum, standard and minimum. now it would appear optimum would be the one to go for but is that really the case? i thought i would seek advice before deciding. it just seems odd that if the optimum gives you everything for free why have another 2 options that give you less?

[Deleted User]

Thats got me baffled, optimum, standard or minimum ? what the hell are they on about ? A smart meter is a smart meter, it sends the reads back directly to the server/supplier. . Users can more or less forget about entering readings . I wonder what daft thing Npower have dreamt up to try

poppellerant

From page 3 of this booklet, I get the impression it's just how often they take your meter readings.

With OVO I choose to have daily readings, which is the same as the the "standard" choice in Npower's literature. I can't see why would they need data of a higher resolution.

Robin9

Can I have a Pink one please -!

donnajunkie

I am just wondering whether there are any negatives to do with any of the options that people may have experienced.

System

donnajunkie wrote: »

npower have told us we will be getting smart meters soon. however they have given 3 different options. optimum, standard and minimum. now it would appear optimum would be the one to go for but is that really the case? i thought i would seek advice before deciding. it just seems odd that if the optimum gives you everything for free why have another 2 options that give you less?

NPower cannot make you accept a smart meter. Ask them whether the meter on offer will be SMETS 1 or SMETS 2 compliant? If the former, then the meter will lose connectivity if you decide to switch suppliers.

donnajunkie

Hengus wrote: »

NPower cannot make you accept a smart meter. Ask them whether the meter on offer will be SMETS 1 or SMETS 2 compliant? If the former, then the meter will lose connectivity if you decide to switch suppliers.

In the FAQs it says you can still change supplier, therefore it must still work. It just says certain suppliers may not have the technology yet and will have to still take meter readings the old way.

System

donnajunkie wrote: »

In the FAQs it says you can still change supplier, therefore it must still work. It just says certain suppliers may not have the technology yet and will have to still take meter readings the old way.

There is no restriction on changing suppliers. The point is that the meter will most likely not be capable of being read by a new supplier unless it is SMETS2 compliant. You will have to read it yourself or it will have to be exchanged again when a SMETS2 meter is available. Personally, I would wait a couple of years before agreeing to a smart meter. They will still be free to the customer (ignoring the £11.6Bn that is going onto future bills).

Waldir

donnajunkie wrote: »

now it would appear optimum would be the one to go for but is that really the case?it just seems odd that if the optimum gives you everything for free why have another 2 options that give you less?

As poppellerant noted, the only difference is how often the readings are collected (minimum=monthly, standard=daily, optimum=every 30 minutes sent once a day in bulk).

NPower is offering multiple solutions because some people fear that too many readings will invade their privacy, allowing electricity providers to analyse their consumption and deduce what they are doing during the day.
However, even with the "optimum" solution taking readings every 30 minutes, providers will be far from able to do such inferences, and will actually be hard-pressed identifying any "products and services to suit you", apart from directing you to an economy7 tariff if appropriate.

Just my opinion now, but to me, the most likely outcome of these smart meters is positive, as it is a step towards better energy monitoring, which would allow, for example, my computer to warn me when I forget to switch off the hob or when my kid leaves the bathroom heater on.
Maybe we'll see some of these solutions appear once enough people are equipped with smart meters... (and it won't have to invade privacy as it could use the smart meter locally without sending data to providers).

[Deleted User]

I think Npower have hit on a good idea there, surely no one could be so paranoid as to object to a once a month reading being sent in automatically. The most diehard oddballs with vivid imaginations about wifi waves coursing thro their brains could nt come up with a valid excuse to object to that, but they will !. Maybe Npowers lead with this idea can be followed by all suppliers.We don`t really need the things sending back a constant stream of data 24/7.

teddysmum

I haven't been offered one and don't want one. I'm quite happy to read my meters and post online where I can see that the readings I posted have been recorded.


Trivial matter, but who supplies the batteries ?