Smart meter installation deadline pushed back.to 2024

18cc

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49721436

Talldave

It's still an unachievable deadline.

AndyCF

One might suggest that the fact that SMETS1 are still being pushed out may of effected this (I've not read the article yet) , I suppose they must be used up stock-wise or perhaps sent to another country to be used. Yes I'm aware some are firmware upgradable to SMETS2 however that's not quite the same thing as having a SMETS2 from the start.

Just surprised and not surprised that no one at that time, including the programmers / designers of the hardware and firmware , who are also in some way responsible for their 'creation' as well as those pushing it out never gave much though to "what happens then if the client moves supplier?"

Ectophile

When you give people targets, they will try to meet them.


The energy companies were told to roll out smart meters countrywide by 2020. So that's what they are doing. It doesn't matter if the meters are obsolete before they are even installed. It doesn't matter if the meters stop working when someone changes suppliers. The energy companies can say that their customers have smart meters. Job done.


Of course, it would have helped if the SMETS2 communication network was in place before the meters were rolled out. But that wasn't factored into the 2020 deadline.

AndyCF

That does make sense.

Gerry1

Wow - an outbreak of common sense at last ! :j
Shame they didn't scrap this crazy project entirely so that we could just have cheaper energy instead of every household being ripped off by £450.

But perhaps kicking it into the long grass means that it can be quietly scrapped later on. Fingers crossed !

davidgmmafan

I'm still dubious about this whole project and the alleged benefits to consumers. To me it seems the best plan from the start would've been to get the technology up to scratch first then allow the change to be made when the meters naturally get replaced.

I don't need a device to tell me heat and light cost more than no heat and light...

Streaky_Bacon

I stopped being an early adopter after Betamax.

AndyCF

Streaky_Bacon wrote: »

I stopped being an early adopter after Betamax.

To be fair there was nothing 'technically' wrong with those, nor the V2000 (the double-sided one a bit like an audio tape in that you could turn it over) , however market forces and prices etc etc... In some ways BMax actually a bit better than VHS quality wise!

I suppose similar could maybe of been said for the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray and previous 'situations'

Taking it even further ( ! ) you could say something about money saving for HS2 too, in that if it was really to help "up north" then logic suggest it should of been **started** up there and worked down , not started down south and worked up.


Back to the issue in hand, smarts only save money if you use less energy ultimately! Simple as that. Potentially meter readers are out of work too, it should cut down on energy thefts however but I'm afraid I think it was a case of 'leaping before looking' with the rollout of these really, especially with the deadline set.

cannonballdaze

Hi,

Does the new 2024 deadline mean that the extension also applies to requirement for solar panel owners to have a smart meter so that they can be paid for the power actually exported ?

And, in general, does the requirement apply to existing panel owners - i.e. I've had panels since 2011 - do I need a smart meter in the near future ?

Cheers - Joe

couriervanman

So in another 4 years that figure will have reached 18-20 million with an influx of hard sell phone calls/emails.......still woefully short