EON want me to have smart meters

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Sosumi wrote: »

Hengus,

Thank you for the additional information. Much appreciated. :A

It’s extremely interesting.

But, in some respects, it’s also rather alarming.

Upon the strength of all you’ve so kindly explained I’ve decided to resist having smart meters installed and, for as long as it’s possible, I’ll refuse to permit it at my own home.

Now, I’d like to make it clear that I’m most certainly not being Luddite about this: normally, I welcome and embrace progress and new technologies but this particular one has too much downside for me.

First of all, on a purely technical point, I don’t think my gas meter would be able to establish a reliable wireless link to my electricity meter, anyway. They are located quite a distance apart, on different-facing walls of a fairly large property and there is a lot of serious masonry between them. Not to mention other devices, wiring and plumbing, such as you describe, that would cause interference and disrupt their communication.

My main objection, though, is that I would lose control over the meter readings upon which my supplier bases its calculation of my account balance.

Other than when we’re away (leaving the house on tick-over) I check both meters every Sunday morning, pop the readings into a now fairly sophisticated Excel workbook and submit them online to my supplier (E.ON) every fortnight. It takes but a moment.

I also take, record and submit readings on the days I switch tariffs within E.ON (usually collective fixes), so that their figures and mine always tally exactly.

By this process, E.ON and I sing to precisely the same songbook and we always both know the exact state of my account. By keeping an eye on that, I’m also able to tweak the amount of the monthly direct debit online myself, when necessary, to keep things prudently on track So, all is sweetness and light: they’re happy and I’m happy.

If, however, my meters are replaced with smart ones which then start sending readings to E.ON of their own accord and without my knowledge, this permanent synchronisation of E.ON’s figures with mine will be lost.

So, for that reason, I’d rather stay in hands-on control, with dumb meters and my own Internet connection to E.ON’s (excellent) online account management tools.





But I can see, nonetheless, why smart meters could offer a better solution for others less prepared than I to micro-manage their energy accounts.

(Until gremlins get into the system, the disrupted and corrupted Einsteins begin sending rogue readings to the suppliers and customers start receiving huge, incorrect bills which then take an army of support staff – and ages on the telephone – to sort out.)

Wait till nPower, “Scottish” (Spanish) Power and Co-op Energy have to deal with that one… :eek:

Afternoon Sosumi. No problem here. As I've posted above, Smart Meters are optional with no legal obligation to have them. Thought I'd let you know, if you were to change your mind at a later date, the billing frequency wouldn't change as a result. If you receive quarterly bills now, this wouldn't change and bills would be issued at the same intervals.

Glad you like and are making use of our online tools. Entering meter readings, Real Time Billing, the Direct Debit Manager etc are great for helping keep on top of accounts.

Malc

Sosumi

Yeah, Malc, I know. It’s just that, for the reasons stated, I, personally, prefer (and intend) to stick with dumb meters, Excel and your online tools to manage my energy account.

(Take no offence: I also like my cars to have manual gearboxes!)

JEN22

Ive just refused a new smart meter. They are coming Monday to put an updated traditional meter in

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Sosumi wrote: »

Yeah, Malc, I know. It’s just that, for the reasons stated, I, personally, prefer (and intend) to stick with dumb meters, Excel and your online tools to manage my energy account.

(Take no offence: I also like my cars to have manual gearboxes!)

Don't worry Sosumi, no offence taken.

Malc

brewerdave

...as the letters don't work, EON have now taken to emailing me!

[Deleted User]

Hengus wrote: »

The hub normally sits alongside the meter provided your meter box isn't close to metal or a Faraday cage.

Whilst the expensive Leccy and Gaz adverts try to imply that a smart meter will in itself save you money, the truth is somewhat different.

The aim is to bring in ToU tariffs - based more on available generation than just demand. It follows that when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, consumers should be able to avail themselves of almost free energy. Conversely, when generation capacity is low, then initially demand will be managed via pricing with the long term hope that consumers will buy smart appliances which can be turned off, as you say, by the supplier. For example, turning off a freezer for 3 hours will do the contents little harm.

The Govt's hope is that by reducing peak demand, they will not have to pay for old power stations to be on standby 'just in case'.

Hengus, seeing you are now the go-to man for smart meter technology info, would the electric smart meters fitted with a hub and not a simcard only need the hub exchanging to become SMETS2 compliant ? for the last 2 or 3 years BG smarts have all had hubs alongside the meters and not meters with internal simcards .

nwc389

I've just had the email today .
I happily read my own meters , submit the readings online and log them on my excel spreadsheet. I cant for the life of me see what benefit I would get from a smart meter , it won't stop us using the stuff we need to and it certainly won't stop the lads leaving every blooming thing plugged in and switched on.
All I can see is the nuisance of having to wait in and spend time without electricity/ gas so I won't be bothering.

Frozen_up_north

nwc389 wrote: »

I've just had the email today .
I happily read my own meters , submit the readings online and log them on my excel spreadsheet. I cant for the life of me see what benefit I would get from a smart meter , it won't stop us using the stuff we need to and it certainly won't stop the lads leaving every blooming thing plugged in and switched on.
All I can see is the nuisance of having to wait in and spend time without electricity/ gas so I won't be bothering.

I don't blame you. Since having a smart meter fitted in May, it hasn't made one scrap of difference to our use of energy, for the government and suppliers to suggest otherwise is naive to put it politely.

It looks likely the meter will need replacing again in order for it to be compatible with the other suppliers, it's currently only being read once a month by E.on. On top of that, being an Economy 7 household, the indoor remote doesn't show night and day units, only a combined total. The meter itself isn't easy to read/interpret...

Total farce and costly for consumers too (it's not free, the install costs will be passed to consumers in the form of higher bills).

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

brewerdave wrote: »

...as the letters don't work, EON have now taken to emailing me!

Glad you've received the email brewerdave. Sometimes, if you've given us permission to contact you by email, you'll receive these instead of letters. At other times, particularly where there's a legal requirement, you'll receive a letter or even both. Depends what the subject is really.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

nwc389 wrote: »

I've just had the email today .
I happily read my own meters , submit the readings online and log them on my excel spreadsheet. I cant for the life of me see what benefit I would get from a smart meter , it won't stop us using the stuff we need to and it certainly won't stop the lads leaving every blooming thing plugged in and switched on.
All I can see is the nuisance of having to wait in and spend time without electricity/ gas so I won't be bothering.

You're right nwc389, Smart Meters by themselves won't affect what energy is used. It's hoped, though, they might help raise awareness among those less energy conscious and encourage people to save a bit more.

Benefits also include reducing the number of estimated bills as readings can be taken remotely. Totally understand, many MSE users are well on top of their accounts and, like you, use our online tools to make sure their bills are accurate. As I posted earlier, there's no obligation to have Smart Meters and, given what you say, probably best to decline the offer.

Others not quite as energy efficient might benefit from a bit of help. If they do, it takes our technicians about an hour per fuel to remove the existing meter and fit a new one. The supply will need to be switched off for about 30 minutes for each fuel while they do this. After this, they set up the Energy Display and then explain how it all works.

Many thanks nwc389 for letting us have your readings regularly and I do understand why you find smart meters a turn off.

Malc