£11bn ‘waste’ of rolling out smart meters

Terry98

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/11bn-waste-of-rolling-out-smart-meters-zjgdtvws6

A few people here are saying 'told you so' but I still like them!

CashStrapped

There is nothing wrong with them in principle....

But, the current version is already out of date and not compatible with all suppliers.

Most companies have massive stock of version 1 which they are trying to get rid of before version 2 is released.

Once you make anything "smart" you build in to it planned obsolescence of sorts. If there is ever a required change in how these things transmit their data, they will need to be upgraded. At the pace at which technology changes, you either maintain legacy systems (which a lot of companies do) and which costs a lot (and will be passed on to the end user) or bring out a replacement product (meter).

The idea with these meters is that you can have set periods of cheap energy at specific times of the day depending on how you use energy. Again fantastic in theory, we shall see how it pans out in practice. BGs first attempt with "free weekend" is not such a good deal...but it is a start. Think of it as E7 or E10 on steroids. Although I do not relish the idea of comparing tariffs with multiple charging periods.

The good thing about smart meters is it should help cut down on fraud. People not paying bills and cutting and running, bypassing meters etc. . Again, we shall have to see how that pans out. If it is anything like the tax disc situation...maybe not.

Terry98

The report went on to say that because the meters are being introduced by individual energy suppliers rather than network operators, such as National Grid, they are being installed house by house rather than street by street, which would be much cheaper. In the end the customer pays for these !!!!! ups

CashStrapped wrote: »

The good thing about smart meters is it should help cut down on fraud. People not paying bills and cutting and running, bypassing meters etc. . Again, we shall have to see how that pans out. If it is anything like the tax disc situation...maybe not.

They might be getting to grips with the tax disc situation if this post is anything to go by
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5524569

teddysmum

A thought : Do these smart meters affect anyone with a heart pacemaker ?


I ask, because, when we had a smart fridge on free trial, the literature, from the provider, said that people with a heart monitor should not go near the apparatus (so my husband's friend stopped coming into the house), but that could have been because of the internet transmitter they used to monitor efficiency.

spiro

teddysmum wrote: »

A thought : Do these smart meters affect anyone with a heart pacemaker ?


I ask, because, when we had a smart fridge on free trial, the literature, from the provider, said that people with a heart monitor should not go near the apparatus (so my husband's friend stopped coming into the house), but that could have been because of the internet transmitter they used to monitor efficiency.

People like that are more at risk standing next to someone who is using a mobile phone. Lots of meters are outside and the readings will be transmitted when the network will be quite so I suspect overnight.

coffeehound

So lots of obsolete meters will be binned – how very "Green". The load shifting capabilities sound worthwhile when they happen, and will probably be essential in time, what with increasing numbers of electric vehicles needing charging overnight and the reducing generation versus consumption margins.

With new technologies it's usually best to be a late adopter and wait for the problems to be sorted out and for the economies of scale to make it cheaper before jumping on. As long as folk use power sensibly, do their research when buying appliances, and turn things off when not in use, I don't see smart meters offering major benefits yet.

katejo

coffeehound wrote: »

So lots of obsolete meters will be binned – how very "Green". The load shifting capabilities sound worthwhile when they happen, and will probably be essential in time, what with increasing numbers of electric vehicles needing charging overnight and the reducing generation versus consumption margins.

With new technologies it's usually best to be a late adopter and wait for the problems to be sorted out and for the economies of scale to make it cheaper before jumping on. As long as folk use power sensibly, do their research when buying appliances, and turn things off when not in use, I don't see smart meters offering major benefits yet.

I have been thinking much the same way. i pulled out of Ovo last year just after signing up because I heard that they were pressuring customers to switch to Smart meters. I agree with all the points made here. i had also heard that the meter doesn't work as well if you don't have very strong wifi in the house or perhaps in older houses with meters in a cupboard under the stairs (like mine). I don't know whether this is correct.

Terry98

coffeehound wrote: »

I don't see smart meters offering major benefits yet.

I do.

To have an accurate bill at the end of every month is a major benefit.

I have been in my current property for just over two years now. The previous occupiers were with one of the 'big six' who were having massive problems with billing.

I immediately moved to a smaller supplier who fitted a smart meter.

It was almost impossible to work out anticipated usage so my monthly payments were double the actual usage. Even then it took a year to sort out my average usage but now I control my monthly payments not the supplier. Without a smart meter it would be a lot harder.

Looking at it from the suppliers point of view Smart Meters ensure they know actual usage and don't have to rely on meter readers.

Norman_Castle

Terry98 wrote: »

A few people here are saying 'told you so' but I still like them!

If you had the choice of handing over £410 for these meters or keeping your current meters would you choose them?

Terry98 wrote: »

To have an accurate bill at the end of every month is a major benefit.

I enter readings online and have an accurate bill every month. Estimated readings will be corrected eventually. Only the cash strapped are seriously inconvenienced by them. People with limited funds would be £410 better off without the cost of these meters being added to their bill.

The £11 billion bill is acceptable to energy companies as they are not paying it. We are.

MeterMan

Let us not forget Norman, that when everyone is on smart meters, the amount of energy theft will drop significantly.

People who can't pay a bill, will just switch over to prepay without the need for a meter change.

Norman_Castle

MeterMan wrote: »

Let us not forget Norman, that when everyone is on smart meters, the amount of energy theft will drop significantly.

So customers are funding more secure meters instead of energy suppliers. Why can't energy companies fund smart meters based on the savings from preventing theft? Will the savings be passed on to customers? Highly unlikely.