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Smart Meters - let me know the pro's....
51 replies
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Hi All
I'm hearing/seeing a bombardment of ads telling me to save the environment, save the planet and the polar bears (said by young children for maximum effect) by fitting a smart meter. Can anyone let me know how this saves energy or the planet - I've tried to find out but can't see it - I must be missing something?
I currently send in my meter readings each month....
I'm hearing/seeing a bombardment of ads telling me to save the environment, save the planet and the polar bears (said by young children for maximum effect) by fitting a smart meter. Can anyone let me know how this saves energy or the planet - I've tried to find out but can't see it - I must be missing something?
I currently send in my meter readings each month....
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You may do, I may do, most of the regulars on this forum do but many don't - time and again we hear of people who haven't read their meter in years, didn't know they had to, landlords who won't give access to meter cupboards, large catch up bills .............
Smart meters will go a long way to "solving" this problem but the suppliers need to get their act together and respond to flat batteries, dubois readings - that technology is already there, it's the ability to transfer suppliers that is being handled very badly.
I guess the idea is that if you can see your usage more clearly then you see what’s using power and use less.
They’re handy for people who can’t take regular readings due to access etc too.
Also if you have solar panels, electric vehicles etc you need a smart meter to be able to take advantage of particular smart tariffs to save you money.
Smart meters allow the development of new tariffs and in the future we are likely to see tariffs which offer lower prices to encourage consumption during periods when energy is cleaner and cheaper, but charge more during peak periods which tend to be dirtier because older and more polluting power stations need to run to meet the peak demand.
The only reason I could see people like you accepting a smart meter is the hard cash inducements of some cracking low smart meter tariffs only available if they agree to have a smart meter fitted.
That recent smart meter only tariff from EDF with gas at only 2.8p/kwh and 16p dsc is tempting especially for big users.
Most of my friends I know and have helped with switching suppliers are absolutely dreadful at sending readings in . You would be lucky to get a reading sent in once every 2 years.
Meter readers are a rare sight nowadays and if they do call round they are not in and out at work. This is normal behaviour for most of the UK IMO and these are the people who need smart meters
I've kept my legacy (digital though!) gas meter for now and won't bother until V2 Smarts are all out, and they have been out for at least six months if not longer to ensure that you are getting a half decent-ish unit to start with, maybe.
Not bothering with this 'we'll upgrade it either by replacing it or updating tis firmware' nonsense. I can see the latter actually going wrong in a few cases, and I used to work in IT. Would be probably better but more costly to replace them all again. Then again who 'forgot' to check that V1's would work with each supplier eh ?
Although I'm not massively fussed about the Smart electric one (its prepay) although I do get more E.Credit on it if needed, I did actually look into having it swapped back and it was going to not be that cheap to do, probably involving switching suppliers to get them to comply as well. I'm relatively happy with it though to be honest. I ignore the IHD apart from its 'credit remaining' screen, that's the only thing I ever look at as to be 100% honest with a prepay meter that's all that really is important. You can always turn a light off if you wanted to save a pence, don't need a meter to tell you that.
Therefore the Smart Energy GB adverts are misleading. Each advert raises an emotive and genuinely important issue, such as climate change, showing a child's face with the headline "I want to help fight climate change" but then makes a spurious link to smart meters "I want a smart meter". Then follows a disclaimer that negates the link and the message of the advert "Smart meters can't solve climate change on their own."
The misleading claims from Smart Energy GB have caused the advertising standards agency to ban at least one of their adverts.
On checking my hob found one burner on the lowest setting, I had turned it right down rather than off after cooking my dinner !
The IHD does make you realise how much each device in the home uses and get's you into better habits.
When I got my smart meter I also moved to monthly billing in arrears, they read the meter remotely and bill me, which is taken by Direct Debit a couple of weeks later, I only pay for what I have actually used after the usage !
Smart meters will facilitate better integration of renewable power and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, through efficiently managing energy supply and demand by using near-real time energy data. Smart meters are the foundation of a smart energy system, and without them we will struggle to make widespread use of wind, solar and hydro power. With smart meters, we’ll know when & where cheaper, greener energy is available, cutting down waste and decarbonising the energy system.
Smart meters also make it easier for us to identify the situations where we're using a lot of energy and might want to make changes to reduce it. If you use the information shown on your IHD to help reduce your energy use, you should be able to cut your energy usage.
I am a verified representative of Smart Energy GB. MSE has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company so that I can help solve issues. You can see my name on the Verified Companies list. I am not allowed to tout for business at all. If you believe I am please report it to [email protected] This does NOT imply any form of approval of my company or its products by MSE.
Sorry, I meant it must be costing US a fortune, via our energy bills.