Getting caught out with smart meter T&Cs

Highland76

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

They surely can't be all positive. I don't believe it for a second.

Then can you provide genuine negative reasons? The first gen of smart meters (called SMETS1) became dumb meters if you changed energy suppliers but this is no longer the case with SMETS2.

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

The annoyance of another socket being taken up.

Why would you need a socket if your energy display unit isn't being used? Just to be clear you are NOT forced to use this, you can simply store it in the attic and never use it (as i plan to do.) Unless you thought the smart meters had to be plugged into a socket?

JustAnotherSaver

Highland76 wrote: »

Then can you provide genuine negative reasons? The first gen of smart meters (called SMETS1) became dumb meters if you changed energy suppliers but this is no longer the case with SMETS2.


Why would you need a socket if your energy display unit isn't being used? Just to be clear you are NOT forced to use this, you can simply store it in the attic and never use it (as i plan to do.) Unless you thought the smart meters had to be plugged into a socket?

Yes, to be fair i did think they had to be plugged in to a socket. I thought that's what they were. So in that case how do they work?


As for what do i have against them - are they always going to be 100% accurate? I read they're not, not even the SMETS2 units.

Currently if my meter reads 7000 and then the next time i submit a reading it reads 8000 (i always submit on 1st of the month regardless) then i've used 1000, no question right? But i read these super-duper things can be wrong. How so if they're 'smart'? I also read they can also estimate. What's the point in that?


Out of interest, are you suggesting there's no real disadvantage to a SMETS2 meter?

Gerry1

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Yes, to be fair i did think they had to be plugged in to a socket. I thought that's what they were. So in that case how do they work?

Think of your portable home display as a CCTV monitor looking at your meters. The meters will still work and be phoning home even if the CCTV isn't watching them !

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Out of interest, are you suggesting there's no real disadvantage to a SMETS2 meter?

There are numerous disadvantages. Sooner or later you're likely to face expensive Time of Use tariffs (peak rate 41.94p/kWh), and you can be remotely disconnected whenever there's a shortfall in supply. The recent out(r)ages that stopped the trains show how just fragile the network is, and this will only worsen when existing power stations are decommissioned.

And who knows what will happen to all your lifestyle information that your energy company is now busily collecting? Who are they selling it to, what are they doing with it, and what if it leaks? It's not tinfoil hat stuff: several unique email addresses have been leaked by or hacked from BT, Adobe and Primus Telecom, and I receive 20 or so nuisance calls from scammers every month. I certainly don't want any of them to know when I'm in (more junk calls), when I'm out and when I'm on holiday (great for burglars).

RelievedSheff

None smart meters can also give wrong readings in rare cases. Not sure what your point is there!

We have found that we have made small improvements with our energy consumption since we have had smart meters. We dont use much power anyway but every saving is a bonus.

If nothing else we use the in home display to get the meter readings as it is easier than fumbling around in the meter boxes. We have checked that the readings match on the in home display and the meters and as expected they do.

PixelPound

Highland76 wrote: »

Why would you need a socket if your energy display unit isn't being used? Just to be clear you are NOT forced to use this, you can simply store it in the attic and never use it (as i plan to do.) Unless you thought the smart meters had to be plugged into a socket?

Smart meters are battery operated - think about it you don't want electrical supply running on your gas meter in case there is a leak. The batteries are supposed to last 15+ years too

Carrot007

nic_c wrote: »

Smart meters are battery operated - think about it you don't want electrical supply running on your gas meter in case there is a leak. The batteries are supposed to last 15+ years too

?


Yes smart gas meters have a battery. However all modern gas meters do as well. 15 years is good since they intend to replace them every 10 years. (this is not a smart meter thing, the 10 years applies to all modern meters (yes it is a cost thing)).


In my last house the electric and gas meters were in the same 1/2 cellar, along with the incoming water supply. If you are that paranoid about things best not have gas or electric supplies. Or water, who knows what they put in it ;-).


Having a battery around a gas leak does nothing by the way. You need more than that to cause issue, and if the gas leak was that bad it would be erasy for it to find something to cauase an issue. Like you switching on a light.

JustAnotherSaver

I'm not convinced by these 15 year batteries.

Why not?
Because my fire alarm was supposed to have a 7 year battery. 3 years in and it started acting up. One of those FireAngel units fitted by the local firemen.

Gerry1 wrote: »

Think of your portable home display as a CCTV monitor looking at your meters. The meters will still work and be phoning home even if the CCTV isn't watching them !
There are numerous disadvantages. Sooner or later you're likely to face expensive Time of Use tariffs (peak rate 41.94p/kWh), and you can be remotely disconnected whenever there's a shortfall in supply. The recent out(r)ages that stopped the trains show how just fragile the network is, and this will only worsen when existing power stations are decommissioned.

So are you saying that being on a meter - they could cut my supply, or limit it in some way?
Not selling smart meters to me here.



Like anything, i'm a pessimist, so i prefer to look at negatives before positives and see if it's worth it.

And who knows what will happen to all your lifestyle information that your energy company is now busily collecting? Who are they selling it to, what are they doing with it, and what if it leaks? It's not tinfoil hat stuff: several unique email addresses have been leaked by or hacked from BT, Adobe and Primus Telecom, and I receive 20 or so nuisance calls from scammers every month. I certainly don't want any of them to know when I'm in (more junk calls), when I'm out and when I'm on holiday (great for burglars).

Yeah i wasn't a fan of this either.

RelievedSheff wrote: »

If nothing else we use the in home display to get the meter readings as it is easier than fumbling around in the meter boxes.

Lucky for me then that i just walk over to my electric meter, kneel down and look at the display.
I then get the gas box key, walk outside, open the box & read the display.

I log in on my phone and submit the readings.



Worst that'll happen ... it rains as i go out to the gas box. Not the end of the world since i work outside in all weather so a bit of rain for 30 seconds wont kill me.

Gerry1

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

So are you saying that being on a meter - they could cut my supply, or limit it in some way?

Absolutely, BOTH !

Just have a look at the SMETS2 spec (e.g. Sections 4.5.3.10, 5.5.6 iv, 5.6.3.11, 5.7.4.19, Line 4354) or a typical smart meter User Manual (e.g. Section 4.7 Load limiting).

So when the grid is struggling, Time of Use tariffs will make electricity prohibitively expensive. If that doesn't work, then they can limit your consumption to say 5kW: cooker OR washing machine OR tumble drier, but only one, and no power showers ! If that doesn't work, then CLUNK ! you get your very own personal power cut.

Still want a Smart Trojan Horse?

PixelPound

What if you got smart meters, covered them in tinfoil and unwrapped them once a month to let the reading out ..... lol


My gas meter was installed in the 90's by the looks of the label (or maybe that's when it was checked) and I know my parent's gas meter was installed early 80's (there electric meter is probably as old as it has dials and a wirring central disc).

I've not had smart meters installed yet and probably won't until I'm forced, not because of avoiding, but don't see any advantage. Do I want to have to take time off work to allow someone to install them knowing I may need to do it again in another 10 years. Any advantage over my 30 year old one that's still going strong.

JustAnotherSaver

That’s what concerns me. But some, including in this thread, sell it as - but you make savings right?

I could make savings by switching to a 1.0litre put-put car. Would I be happy over what I’ve got?
Certainly not.

Saving money is nice but you have to take in to account what the trade off is.