smart meter?

jo03gra

Hi All,

Not sure if there is a more relevant board for this post, apologies if so.

I've recently moved and so have inherited a new energy provider. I'm now with SSE.

They are being very pro active in me having a smart meter for both my gas and electricity.

I'm wondering what the benefits are for me as the customer, except for having up to date readings which I thought I could update online anyway.

They have booked me in for a whole day! 4 hours for electricy and 4 hours for gas!

A day off work to have an engineer in my home isn't really doing it for me if meter readings are the only benefit.

So I'm curious...what are the benefits for me?

Thanks in advance

kwame41

Smart meters mean you dont have to give manual readings.



A good idea but you should wait until the SMETSV2 (unless thats the type being fitted) rollout as its likely when and if you change suppliers the new one wont be able to read the meter turning it dumb again.

theartfullodger

Smart? Dumb....

Merlin139

Will it give you access to a lower tariff than you are on at the moment?

Is the smart meter they fitting SMETS1 or SMETS2? If its 1 then it will become a dumb meter if you change supplier.

Will it save you money? No only changing your usage will do that. They should provide a in house monitor that will show you what you are using and that may help you save money if you change your usage as a result.

Do you read your meter at least once a month and provide readings to your supplier? Is it a pain to do? If the answer is no and yes then think about a smart meter otherwise I would not bother.

I will get one when they pay me for getting it! Not before!

Robin9

jo03gra wrote: »

I've recently moved and so have inherited a new energy provider. I'm now with SSE.

You will also have "inherited" a standard (ie expensive) tariff. At the very least contact SSE and swop to their best tariff.

Then you can swop to a better supplier.

Lots and lots of threads on the subject of Smart Meters

jo03gra

I have no idea what type of meter they are fitting....I'm just feeling reluctant to give up a whole day of my life for something which probably wont save me any money and it appears that its in the interest of the provider...as they wont need to send out a reader.

danlewi2

it can save you money - if your bills are more accurate instead of estimated readings. We had both fitted in a few hours. Yes if we change suppliers they will be come manual meters again - but currently on a fixed deal for a number of years and the display allows me to keep track of daily usage.

G_M

You will use less gas & electricity so your bills will be lower.


* The smart meter will automatically turn off the lights when you leave a room.
* it will take the TV off 'stand by' when you go to bed
* it will start the washing machine auomatically at 03.00 to exploit cheaper electricity (having taken the washing from the bathroom hamper and filled the machine for you)
* it will ensure that the re-chargeable batteries in your bedroom toys are fully charged up when needed
* It will adjust the central heating automatically to a lower temperature when you leave the house
* it will cook your dinner for you, using the minimun gas required to ensure the chicken is salmonella-free

AnotherJoe

jo03gra wrote: »

Hi All,

Not sure if there is a more relevant board for this post, apologies if so.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13

I've recently moved and so have inherited a new energy provider. I'm now with SSE.

They are being very pro active in me having a smart meter for both my gas and electricity.

Thats because the government is putting pressure on them

I'm wondering what the benefits are for me as the customer, except for having up to date readings which I thought I could update online anyway.

Pretty much zero as you say

They have booked me in for a whole day! 4 hours for electricity and 4 hours for gas!

A day off work to have an engineer in my home isn't really doing it for me if meter readings are the only benefit.

So I'm curious...what are the benefits for me?

Thanks in advance

Really none until the new meters come in (and arguably none after that). The whole thing is a scam / screw up of massive proportions.. If you get one now it will be obsolete immediately (since they are obsolete now and just using up old stock)
Eventually it will need to be replaced by a new non-obsolete meter.
So I'd say no.

agrinnall

G_M wrote: »

* it will ensure that the re-chargeable batteries in your bedroom toys are fully charged up when needed

You must have a lot of playtime in the bedroom if rechargeable batteries are justified :beer:

AnotherJoe

danlewi2 wrote: »

it can save you money - if your bills are more accurate instead of estimated readings.

Take ones yourself, say once a month?
In any case it wont actually save you money, since when you do get /take an actual reading it will catch up.

We had both fitted in a few hours. Yes if we change suppliers they will be come manual meters again - but currently on a fixed deal for a number of years and the display allows me to keep track of daily usage.

And what do you do with that other than put it in a spreadsheet?