Smart meter installation deadline pushed back.to 2024

ashe

redlambs wrote: »

Smart meters are just a tool to allow higher charges. When everyone has a smart meter installed energy companies will be able to charge different rates at different times of day and demand, more at 9 am than at 9 pm, for example. This will make comparison between suppliers impossible and undermine the advice to switch to save cost. The eco argument is just a scam, who doesn't know that using a device costs money.

Why would the government want higher charges? You need to keep in mind that the energy industry did not drive smart meters, the government did - its costing energy firms a fortune. Time of use tariffs will always be optional and many people have had these already for years and would opt for better options given the choice, this is hardly new. Energy firms have price caps so can't really charge higher charges with smart than without because there are limits to what they can charge for - if they wanted to charge you more there would be easier, cheaper and more efficient ways to do so than using smart meters. Disengage tin foil hat.

Newhouses wrote: »

I've been advised we can't have a Smart Meter as we have no connectivity, 2G, 3G,4G signal etc. (I don't know if that's right or not?) and we're in a very remote location - but that doesn't stop them trying to make appointments to fit one. They've made 2 appointments so far but no-one turned up so I assume they can't find us!

This will depend which region you are in and which supplier as to their solution. there will be considerations they can make, such as installing extra equipment, linking it to broadband, that sort of thing. You should be able to contact them and ask them though.

Gerry1

ashe wrote: »

- its costing energy firms a fortune.

No, it's costing us a fortune. Just as with traditional metering, smart meter costs are recovered from energy suppliers’ entire customer bases.

ashe wrote: »

Time of use tariffs will always be optional

Evidence, please !

ashe wrote: »

Time of use tariffs will always be optional and many people have had these already for years

Apart from small increases in daytime rates and standing charges E7, E10 etc have only offered cheaper off peak rates. In contrast, smart ToU tariffs already have prohibitively expensive peak rates of up to 41.94p/kWh.

ashe wrote: »

Energy firms have price caps so can't really charge higher charges with smart than without because there are limits to what they can charge for

As above, they're already charging some people 41.94p/kWh.

ashe wrote: »

there will be considerations they can make, such as installing extra equipment, linking it to broadband

Smart meters do not communicate via broadband.

benny5

AndyCF wrote: »

Pretty sure my last 'new' one (had several! not my fault long story) has been there over a year and no one has wanted to see it. I think it was early or mid Summer last year so its over a year now. Certainly it was 'the warmer months'

The previous meter was a "token/stick" prepayment one and they did come out to look at that at least once I can remember. If I was a cynic I'd suggest probably to check nothing untoward was going on with it as (at that time) I did not use very much electricity anyway which may of possibly attracted attention perhaps wondering why the use was so low. Completely genuine though.

Annual or perhaps (bi-annual or is it biennial? , every two years at most) inspections are probably not a bad idea to check no one has been 'playing' , I am aware the erm 'growing things crowd' probably do not appreciate these smarts for a few reasons I won't post here.

Just discovered this info. on the Which? site.

"How often will my smart meter need to be replaced?

Smart meters will need replacing around every 10 years – which is more often than current gas and electricity meters. Your energy company will let you know when your smart meter is due to be replaced, and arrange a time and date for this to happen."

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-meters/article/smart-meters-explained/smart-meter-installation - Which?


[FONT=&quot]Guess who will end up paying for this?[/FONT]

Michaelw

redlambs wrote: »

Smart meters are just a tool to allow higher charges. When everyone has a smart meter installed energy companies will be able to charge different rates at different times of day and demand, more at 9 am than at 9 pm, for example. This will make comparison between suppliers impossible and undermine the advice to switch to save cost. The eco argument is just a scam, who doesn't know that using a device costs money.

I don't think we're likely to see anything controversial until theres around smart meter 90% take up and DCC adoption is complete.What we are likely to see as is happening reduced tariff opportunities'.

There has been some activity in this area elsewhere in the world.

https://www.esi-africa.com/industry-sectors/energy-efficiency/load-limiting-a-smart-solution-to-reduce-the-need-for-load-shedding/

Talldave

benny5 wrote: »

Just discovered this info. on the Which? site.

"How often will my smart meter need to be replaced?

Smart meters will need replacing around every 10 years – which is more often than current gas and electricity meters. Your energy company will let you know when your smart meter is due to be replaced, and arrange a time and date for this to happen."

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-meters/article/smart-meters-explained/smart-meter-installation - Which?


[FONT=&quot]Guess who will end up paying for this?[/FONT]

I've had legacy meters replaced at 10 years in the past, so no change.

And that was a really polite "we must replace your 10 year old meter, so be in " approach!

Michaelw

Talldave wrote: »

I've had legacy meters replaced at 10 years in the past, so no change.

And that was a really polite "we must replace your 10 year old meter, so be in " approach!

British Gas lease their meters and replace them every ten years'.Any meter with "meter fit" are funded by Calvin Capital.

https://www.meterfit.co.uk/index.php

Battery powered gas meters can fail after around two years' plus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvJOr8dsN8

Prepayment has a four hour call out time.

Jakubk

18cc wrote: »

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

They might as well put it forward to 2044 because I will NEVER agree to having one, END OF.

Bark01

A couple of points:

1)The 2020 target has not been altered in anyway. Ofgem still requires suppliers to be able demonstrate they have taken all reasonable steps to install a smart meter in all meter points by the end of 2020. ‘All reasonable steps’ is open to interpretation.

The new legislation is being drawn up to ensure the roll out doesn’t stop post 2020, as there is nothing currently in place to stop this happening.

2) Smart meters are specified to last 15 years but have a default re-certification date of 10 years. The actual lifespan of each model of meter will be set be BEIS. Each year they will contact suppliers and ask them to test a % of meters of a particular model and age. Once a certain % of meters fail testing an industry wide recertification age will be set for that particular model.

Non smart electricity have a 10year recertification period, this has been in place for a number of years.

Suppliers report on recertification at the end of every year and are are allowed to have 5% of their portfolio outside of the recertification period.

3) whilst I can’t comment on specific high peak prices, there is no sign of a trend towards this. I suspect outliers (as quoted above) are testing consumer behaviour to see if a large differential in price is enough to actually move customer usage to off peak.