Compulsory Smart Meters.

Brooker_Dave

phillw wrote: »

Even if the meters have a remote kill switch, it would be a legal nightmare for them to use it.!The!compensation claims!from a hack would put them out of business.

The meters are controlled by the energy cartel, dispute a bill, miss a direct debit and and click, lights out.

Time to buy stove and a bag of coal to keep warm.

These meters and their vast costs are not for customers benefits.

phillw

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

The meters are controlled by the energy cartel, dispute a bill, miss a direct debit and and click, lights out.

It won't happen, you're just spreading fear.!They know that people will just go to the newspapers and sell their story and it would be!a PR disaster. The next step would be court and the energy companies wouldn't do very well there either.

System

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

These meters and their vast costs are not for customers benefits.

I think that is the thrust of tonight's ITV programme. Suppliers will save £Ms in metering reading costs per year but there is no mechanism for this money to be paid back to customers. Ofgem just 'hopes' that more competition will see lower prices.

phillw

Hengus wrote: »

I think that is the thrust of tonight's ITV programme. Suppliers will save £Ms in metering reading costs per year but there is no mechanism for this money to be paid back to customers. Ofgem just 'hopes' that more competition will see lower prices.

No, they still send a guy round to read the meters. I spoke to my meter inspector the other day and he is still inspecting smart meters as they have a legal obligation to do so.

The benefits of smart meters

1. They hoped that people would reduce their energy usage if they could easily see what it was.
2. Accurate reads will remove bill shock/excessive credit balances.
3. They can offer tariffs that are different at different times of the day (the price they pay varies during the day).

Brooker_Dave

phillw wrote: »

1. They hoped that people would reduce their energy usage if they could easily see what it was.
2. Accurate reads will remove bill shock/excessive credit balances.
3.!Time of day/week based tariffs allow them to charge!less, when energy is costing them less. However they will charge more when it costs them more, so you have to make that choice based on your specific circumstances.

That's the cover story, the propaganda.

Brooker_Dave

phillw wrote: »

It won't happen, you're just spreading fear.!They know that people will just go to the newspapers and sell their story and it would be!a PR disaster. The next step would be court and the energy companies wouldn't do very well there either.

From the British Gas website:

"Will customers on smart meters be disconnected remotely?"

"No. With smart meters, energy suppliers have no more powers to disconnect than with a standard meter."

So the answer is no, but then it turns out in the very next sentence they were lying, and no in this case actually means yes:

"On those extremely rare occasions when this is necessary it will be possible to disconnect the meter remotely"

So yes they can remotely disconnect customers, and plan to.

But if asked they'll say they won't.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Meters-meter-readings/Smart-Meters/whats-different-with-smart-meters/Will-customers-on-smart-meters-be-disconnected-remotely.html

System

phillw wrote: »

No, they still send a guy round to read the meters. I spoke to my meter inspector the other day and he is still inspecting smart meters as they have a legal obligation to do so.

The benefits of smart meters

1. They hoped that people would reduce their energy usage if they could easily see what it was.
2. Accurate reads will remove bill shock/excessive credit balances.
3. They can offer tariffs that are different at different times of the day (the price they pay varies during the day).

Ofgem made an annual meter reading mandatory from 1 Apr 16 BUT did not state how the meter had to be read. As they have moved from a 2/5(BG) year obligation to once per year, it follows that if all meters have to be physically read then metering costs would increase not fall.

From the Ofgem website:

The rollout of smart meters will reduce the need for suppliers to visit consumer premises to read meters as the meters will be capable of sending consumption information wirelessly to suppliers.

phillw

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

That's the cover story, the propaganda.

The government wouldn't dare let them!get away with something like that, as the!EU would have stopped them.

Brooker_Dave

phillw wrote: »

It won't happen, you're just spreading fear.!They know that people will just go to the newspapers and sell their story and it would be!a PR disaster. The next step would be court and the energy companies wouldn't do very well there either.

"If you have a smart energy meter in your home, your supplier could potentially disconnect your supply remotely without needing to access to your meter."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-supply/if-youve-been-told-your-energy-supply-will-be-disconnected/

So yes, someone miles away, with a click of a mouse can turn your energy off.

No need for a court order or any of the normal impediments to profiteering.

Brooker_Dave

phillw wrote: »

The government wouldn't dare let them!get away with something like that, as the!EU would have stopped them.

How many times in the last 10 years have one of the big 6 been fined for cheating their customers or rigging the system and breaking the (lax) rules?

We live in a greed based economy where large companies can behave in any which way they want, worst cast slap on the wrist, and a small fine.

But still it goes on.