Government + new technology = Farce

elle_may

melbury wrote: »

Every time I contact EDF they try and get me to have a smart meter and I keep telling them I don't want one and will only ever have one if it becomes law.

Me and SP. Judging by all the complaint's on their own forum, i won't have one. I have been monitoring and summiting my readings for 40yrs I don't need a smart meter to tell me when i switch on anything i am using energy.

AndyPK

If they told you the truth, no one would have them fitted!

I just hope the energy firms don't get fined! They are kind of in the middle!

robin58

Worked with a building tech manager who introduced me to Energy saving lamps and setting timer clocks to the day to day use, not one set of times fits all, in 1986, well ahead of the curve of today wide energy saving 'cult'.

It put me into a mindset of looking at what I use which has lasted me years.

I don't need a so called Smart meter to tell me that.

Norman_Castle

AndyPK wrote: »

If they told you the truth, no one would have them fitted!

If individuals were charged rather than sneaking the cost onto everyones bill no one would have them fitted.

Bigphil1474

The problem is they are being 'sold' as energy saving smart meters, when they are essentially a tool for people to monitor their energy use so they can see where they are wasting it. If the SMET1 meters somehow get an upgrade so they don't lose their smartness, then fair enough. As it is, what's the point of having one installed other than it would deter some people from switching suppliers if they have a SMET1 meter fitted.
It sort of surprises me (although it doesn't really) that someone in government hasn't stood up and said lets ditch the whole stupid idea until the technology is good for consumers. They'd have been better off spending all that money fitting solar and wind farms all over the place to provide community energy supplies which reduce bills instead of tech. to tell us how much we can 'save' against an ever increasing base line cost. By the time it's sorted we'll probably have cracked nuclear fusion anyway, so why bother.

Norman_Castle

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

It sort of surprises me (although it doesn't really) that someone in government hasn't stood up and said lets ditch the whole stupid idea until the technology is good for consumers.

How many people are employed in the smart meter industry? The £X billions spent is an employment scheme.

melbury

elle_may wrote: »

Me and SP. Judging by all the complaint's on their own forum, i won't have one. I have been monitoring and summiting my readings for 40yrs I don't need a smart meter to tell me when i switch on anything i am using energy.

Exactly, I am quite capable of monitoring my usage, which I do on a weekly basis.

Electron18

Quite agree.


I think Smart meters are a complete an utter waste of time. It is people that can change their behaviour and save energy by using an on/off switch in conjunction with timers, not a useless piece of technology.


Another useless money consuming project emanating from the EU.


A family member had one installed, had no bills for a year, went to ombudsman etc, got compensation. Bills were produced after about 18 months.


Encountered a power cut and lost power for two days. Apparently in their meter is a special fuse which was blown and can only be changed by certain engineers.


From what I read they cost £640 and save you £11 a year who in their right mind would make such an investment.


I have yet to determine why they are so good, for whom ?


Certainly not the consumer so there must be another more "sinister" reason.


I see no advantage to them that cannot be fulfilled by using pencil & paper and writing the readings down or using a spread sheet.


I wont be changing unless I really have to by law.

r2015

I see no advantage to them that cannot be fulfilled by using pencil & paper and writing the readings down or using a spread sheet.

Some people have to go outside in the pouring rain to read their meters.

JohnB47

r2015 wrote: »

Some people have to go outside in the pouring rain to read their meters.

Really? They have to wait until it's raining before going out to take a reading?


They should switch supplier.