smart meter?

AnotherJoe

G_M wrote: »

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

I think you forgot, if you are watching TOWIE, Love Island, Kardassians or X Factor, it will turn the TV off anyway and force you to read Proust out loud to the family by the single light of 1W LCD bulb

danlewi2

Well i rather my bills be accurate all the time with the added convenience of nothing having to read the meter manually myself. Why should the over-payment sit with my supplier when it could be sitting in my bank account.
Also your daily usage - you can think about how to save some money (oh wait is that not the whole point of this website?) turning lights off - using more efficient bulbs etc etc

WorldCitizen

I have smart meters installed by SSE.
As they say it is obligatory to do for everyone until 2020 (or 2022?).
At least in Scotland.

moneyistooshorttomention

I've read articles about health hazards to do with them - which you could soon enough google for.

It's hardly going to save me money - I'm the only one that can save my money (ie by deliberately choosing to use less fuel)

Yep....the fact they'd turn dumb the second I swopped supplier

I've read of them getting the bills (very) wrong and people getting landed with whopping bills and having to "fight" them about it

Do I really want someone somewhere to be able to sit there behind their computer screen and tell how much fuel I'm using at any given time? Them (and any hacker that cared to) to be able to think "Oh yes....she may be out at the moment.....as she's only using a very basic level of electric. Oh yes....she must be in....she's clearly whacking on all sorts of electric appliances currently"?

There is absolutely nothing in it for us to have these meters. I've made it very plain to my supplier they will NOT be changing my meters ever.

Why give up a day of your Life to suit them and for no benefit whatsoever for yourself? That's assuming the tradespeople concerned did turn up as per plan and you weren't sitting there fuming about a "no show".

moneyistooshorttomention

danlewi2 wrote: »

Well i rather my bills be accurate all the time with the added convenience of nothing having to read the meter manually myself. Why should the over-payment sit with my supplier when it could be sitting in my bank account.

Don't know about anyone else - but I pay for my fuel on monthly direct debits.

In my experience - I'm surprised just how accurately my fuel company can work out my likely usage. They seem to have got it figured out pretty accurately as to what I use.

WorldCitizen

I found:
'Smart meters are not compulsory; it's entirely your choice. The government requires energy suppliers to offer smart meters to all homes and small businesses across Great Britain by 2020, but whether you accept them is completely up to you. More than four in five people who have a smart meter say they would recommend one.'

davidmcn

danlewi2 wrote: »

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

Why would estimated bills necessarily mean you're paying too much? You could have (by accident or design) underestimated bills, in which case (using your logic) a smart meter would cost you money.

WorldCitizen

Actually I like it. I can see how much energy I used and when. Also it led me to change electric hob to gas.

danlewi2

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Don't know about anyone else - but I pay for my fuel on monthly direct debits.

In my experience - I'm surprised just how accurately my fuel company can work out my likely usage. They seem to have got it figured out pretty accurately as to what I use.

After we moved into our house - we have a £300 over payment so they are not always that accurate.

danlewi2

davidmcn wrote: »

Why would estimated bills necessarily mean you're paying too much? You could have (by accident or design) underestimated bills, in which case (using your logic) a smart meter would cost you money.

Accurate bills = better budget control therefore you are not either overpaying or underpaying!