Bulb - Smart Meter - are they worth it?

liz001

Does a Smart Meter help save you money?

I tried to get Bulb to install one for my holiday let, but after coming back to the UK (I often work abroad), the engineer cancelled the appointment because he needed money for the carpark.

Is it worth me rearranging?

The meter is not in the flat, its in the shop on the floor below so I'm not sure if it would work anyway.

JJ_Egan

No not really .
You save by turning down and that does not need a smart meter .

Browntoa

And their app reminds me to give meter readings so no need for that either.

And particularly now the big six are likely to "monetise" the data collected

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-7576605/The-Smart-Meter-snoopers-homes-tracking-energy-habits.html

[Deleted User]

If you are like many or most people I meet on my meter reading rounds and I ask them this question "How much electricity does your electric shower use , or your kettle use ", they have absolutely no idea.
A smart meter can play its part in educating those who refuse to be educated in energy appliance usage, so therefore it could help in lowering energy usage.One of my all time heros backs me up in this .Chris Packham, soon to be knighted, backs smart meters..good enough for me .
My simple question on how much an electric shower uses was answered correctly by virtually no one.
I must admit I did nt know myself a few years ago..8000 to 12000 watts ( ok pedants 8kw to 12 kw ) an hour was a surprise to me TBH..
Electric shower on would send the IHD monitor straight to the red alert.. It has prompted many women to hide the monitor because hubby moans about how long they are in the shower, or even reach in and switch shower off lol

RelievedSheff

We found that our smart meter did help us save a few quid here and there. Not huge amounts but certainly enough to warrant having it.

It has also alerted us to the fact that we have left items on that we had forgotten about on numerous occasions when our current use LED indicator has been in the red. This has certainly saved us some money!

twhitehousescat

RelievedSheff wrote: »

We found that our smart meter did help us save a few quid here and there. Not huge amounts but certainly enough to warrant having it.

!

we turned off the TV and sat watching the in house display , distinct lack of channel choise tho

Gerry1

Houbara wrote: »

My simple question on how much an electric shower uses was answered correctly by virtually no one.
I must admit I did nt know myself a few years ago..8000 to 12000 watts an hour was a surprise to me TBH..

It's a surprise to me as well, I'd always been taught that power was measured in watts or kilowatts.

But then I just look at the label on my kettle, I don't need a £475 toy to tell me it uses 3kW.

Or as you prefer, 3000Wh an hour.:rotfl:

JJ_Egan

Saved money on a shower only washed 1 leg .

Takmon

Houbara wrote: »

My simple question on how much an electric shower uses was answered correctly by virtually no one.
I must admit I did nt know myself a few years ago..8000 to 12000 watts an hour was a surprise to me TBH..

So does that mean if your in there for half an hour it only use 4000 to 6000 watts? (Half the amount) :rotfl:

I know something that will surprise you even more; even if you turn the shower on for only a few seconds it will still use 8000 to 12000 watts of electricity

Its ironic how a meter reader doesn't know how electricy is measured :rotfl:

Swipe

Does having a smart meter with Bulb force you on to their smart tariff? The peak hour rates look really expensive and the off peak rates don't seem cheap either

Norman_Castle

liz001 wrote: »

Does a Smart Meter help save you money?

A smart meter simply has a display showing what is currently being used. The only way they save money is if the person looking at the meter turns things off to reduce consumption. As this is for a holiday let its unlikely to save you anything.