Smart Meters

Michaelw

I switched from Eon they were very expensive and had a "cannot afford it" attitude to me on the phone.from Eastern to TXU to Powergen suddenly when Eon took over Independent Gas Transporter charges appeared and bills rocketed,they told me on the phone "the days of cheap energy are over".

Companies from abroad should never have been allowed to take over our energy infrustructure in such a vast manner.

Nick_C

Michaelw wrote: »

I switched from Eon they were very expensive and had a "cannot afford it" attitude to me on the phone.from Eastern to TXU to Powergen suddenly when Eon took over Independent Gas Transporter charges appeared and bills rocketed,they told me on the phone "the days of cheap energy are over".

Companies from abroad should never have been allowed to take over our energy infrustructure in such a vast manner.

What does that have to do with smart meters?

RandomQ

Ziafloa wrote: »

Hi
First utility have said they will charge me £8 a month if I don't let them install a first generation smart meter. Is this right? I believe they are not mandatory so can they make this charge,
Having heard that these meters may not work after changing suppliers I'd rather keep tho old style meters.
Do I have to pay this extra charge?

If you signed up to a contract that gave a discount of £8 a month for having a smart meter then they can charged you and hold you to remaining with them for the term.

Otherwise vote with your feet and make sure to let them know the reason you are leaving.

You are not obliged to have a meter or an appointment.

RandomQ

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hello RandomQ and thank you for your observations. I've passed these through to our senior management team to help inform future decisions.

As I mentioned previously and as Hengus explains, we've a regulatory obligation to make customers aware of significant developments with the smart meter roll-out. This is a dynamic and ever-changing project and, to meet our obligations, we need to let customers know about new developments like the introduction of SMETS2. Failure to do so could leave us open to hefty fines for non-compliance.

I totally accept there's no way you'll change your mind. This isn't the case with everyone and one source of complaint is where customers feel we haven't kept then sufficiently informed about issues especially when something changes. Smart meters are optional and customers can reject these offers to have them fitted at any time.

Thanks again for your comments RandomQ. This sort of feedback is invaluable particularly if our regulatory obligations change in the future.

Malc

With respect Malc you are talking absolute tripe.

Let me be clear, the LAW that protects consumers from SPAM trumps your so called "regulatory obligation" and I URGE ANYONE FEELING PRESSURED BY EON TO FORMERLY INFORM YOU TO CEASE AND DESIST CONTACT REGARDING SMART METERS OR ANY OTHER MARKETING, I.E. YOU ARE ONLY AUTHORISED TO CONTACT THEM FOR BILLS OR EMERGENCY REASONS.

It is complete BS to suggest that you will be open to hefty fines if you do not SPAM people.

I am going to raise your comments with OFGEM and the ICO.

It has nothing to do with changing my mind, it is FACT.

If your management want to improve decisions, try deciding to stop spamming customers, stop deceiving them by telling them they are legally obliged to have this that or the other.

Doweknow78

It seems to me that smart meters are 10% useful and 90% an electricity industry 'lets make some money'.
Most of the posts have ranted on about SMET1 etc and how some companies do this or that.There are bigger questions that should be asked regarding how these helps the end consumer - for me I cannot see any advantage, but can on the horizon see total control from energy suppliers.


Many years ago I was given a energy usage meter, a clip round one incoming lead next to my meter - simple.
It told me when I boiled the electric kettle it used 3kW. Immersion heater, economy 7, 3kW. Oven 3kW. Electric fire 3kW. These were the big use items. If needed each and every other electric item could be measured. Once this was done I knew average usage and it importantly it didn't change. Over many years out yearly kilowatts used remained the same.


Why do I require a 'smart meter'?


On the horizon I see that energy will be charged in timed bands. High cost 7 to 10, lower 10 to 12, extra high 12 to 14, etc. Each time band at a different rate and changing depending on weather, etc. This means nobody can have the faintest idea how much you bill will be per month - thus energy companies can charge what they like and you have no way of questioning this.
Big brother is coming down your electric supply!

daveyjp

"suppliers should consider appropriate re-contact strategies based on customers’ preferences"

So when a Customer prefers not to be contacted they can't be.

If you opt out no info should be sent, regardless of how "dynamic" or "ever changing" the situation is.

[Deleted User]

And...as smart meters contain executable files, they can be manipulated by hackers, and...They can also be switched off by government diktat in times of crisis. Are smart meters files encrypted yet...

System

DouglasRankine wrote: »

And...as smart meters contain executable files, they can be manipulated by hackers, and...They can also be switched off by government diktat in times of crisis. Are smart meters files encrypted yet...

The data security standards for SMETS2 meters were reviewed and strengthened by GCHQ 2 years ago; however,......... Industry experts always say that' it is not a question of if a smart meter can be hacked, it is only a question of when'. The big concern is not the loss of your data but a cyber attack which simultaneously disconnects 1000s of smart meters. This has the potential to do irreparable damage to the Grid.

Quote: The reason for that concern is that these meters contain an OFF switch which allows power to be disconnected by the energy supplier. This is a convenience for them, as they no longer need to send someone round to gain access to a building. However, if it were ever hacked, the hackers could turn off millions of meters at the same time. That could be used to destroy the electricity grid. Unquote

http://www.nickhunn.com/how-to-hack-a-smart-meter-and-kill-the-grid/

One has to ask why the suppliers insisted on remote disconnect when only 210 meters were disconnected in 2016? Other Nations have reduced the risk of Grid damage by not installing any remote disconnection features in their smart meters. Mr Hunn has given evidence to Parliament over the past few years.

Doweknow78

Who makes these meters?
If telecoms are only just waking up to who controls what, are we buying Chinese?

Anthorn

Doweknow78 wrote: »

Who makes these meters?
If telecoms are only just waking up to who controls what, are we buying Chinese?

They are made by different manufacturers and not only that the manufacturers themselves or their agents provide the software and the monitoring services. So therefore each supplier might choose a different manufacturer. The major problem is that each manufacturer has different means of accessing their own meters and that is why compatibility is an issue. The DCC is an attempt to rectify the lack of a common standard which should have been in place from the outset. On the other hand a common standard stifles progress and innovation and innovation could mean that the present meters fail to work in the future even with the DCC and have to be replaced. We see the same effect in for example Personal Computers.