Smart meters. Good or bad?

BML

The energy company I use tell me they are installing free smart meters. Cynical I might be but I'm unable to accept that anything classed as, "free" does not have a hidden cost.
Couls someone please let me know if there are any good or bad points to smart meters?

Robin9

Lots and lots of threads already on this subject.

Use the "Forum Search" facility and make your own mind up.

bonus2010

You're right smart meters aren't free and as an energy consumer you've allready paid for the installation of smart meters along with every other UK enrgy consumer regardless of whether they have a smart meter or not. through a levy applied to every bill.

I've had a smart meter that worked for a short while when I was with Scottish Power and considered it a good idea with not having to open the door to meter readers etc... but when I moved over to Our Power it wasn't compatible with their system, but the In-house display continued to work, which meant I haven't needed to look into dark cupboards to get a meter reading.

I think they're a good idea but disappointed that there's different types of smart meters not compatible with all suppliers... hopefully that'll change though

wavelets

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/smart-meters/

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2018/07/smart-meters-will-save-consumers-just-11-a-year-says-new-report/

... and as mentioned in post#2, lots and lots of threads already on this subject.

mmmmikey

Yes - lots of views on this, probably ranks alongside "is Brexit good or bad" in terms of the range of opinions

matelodave

There must be a hundred threads on this subject with opinions varying between "spawn of the devil" and the "best thing since sliced bread"

As said above, you've already paid for one whether you decide to have it or not.

They are good when they work but until the energy companies and everyone gets their act together they stop being smart when you swap energy providers.

I suggest that you have a browse through through the pages and pages of info and see if you can come to an opinion rather than trying to start another thread.

giraffe69

If you are considering one then oft repeated advice is to ensure it is a "SMETS 2" meter so that it won't go dumb if you change supplier. By now all/nearly all ought to be fitting these but I will want it written in blood before they install one for me.

E30M3

giraffe69 wrote: »

If you are considering one then oft repeated advice is to ensure it is a "SMETS 2" meter so that it won't go dumb if you change supplier. By now all/nearly all ought to be fitting these but I will want it written in blood before they install one for me.

Interoperability tests concluded in January 2019 showing that SMETS1 meters can now connect like a SMETS2 meter allowing people to change supply and retain their smart meter functionality :T

Owain_Moneysaver

NHS Health Research Authority

https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/application-summaries/research-summaries/health-monitoring-using-smart-meters/

Our novel technology assesses an individual’s personal physical and mental-health by monitoring their electricity usage at home. This is achieved by processing data collected from smart meters, which captures detailed habits of an individual’s interactions with electrical devices. The technology identifies any anomalies in a person’s routine, which is the result of a health-related condition. For example, an Alzheimer’s patient leaving an oven on or person suffering with depression remaining awake at night. This is achieved by employing advanced data analytics, known as machine learning, to understand trends in electricity usage. The system can identify when an individual gets up, goes to bed, eats, their location within the home and a bad night’s sleep. Essentially, the technology creates a personalised profile of the user’s behaviour at home.

And who do you think the electricity companies will sell this data to?

mmmmikey

matelodave wrote: »

There must be a hundred threads on this subject with opinions varying between "spawn of the devil" and the "best thing since sliced bread"

"spawn of the devil" 15 "best thing since sliced bread" 0


(see last post)


now, about Brexit......

giraffe69

Interoperability tests concluded in January 2019 showing that SMETS1 meters can now connect like a SMETS2 meter

They can (perhaps) but will they? This is from the Octopus site dated 23 Jan "SMETS1 is miles ahead of a standard credit meter, but it can’t always be transferred with ease between suppliers and retain its smart functionality."