Martin's appearance on This Morning - and dreaded smart meters!

littlewren

I'm confused and a bit annoyed. When Martin appeared on This Morning yesterday to say about either switching suppliers now or staying with the same supplier to get a better deal, I thought this sounded great so I've just been checking where he hinted at and lo and behold, I found that I could save a fair bit by switching/staying with my current supplier, Scottish Power.

What he didn't say was just how many suppliers in the table of results including the better deal with S Power now want you to have a smart meter installed. My current tariff with S Power doesn't require me to have a smart meter, yet getting a better deal with them does.

I really don't want a smart meter and it's not to do with rumours that fly around regarding them, it's to do with my health. I have tinnitus, quite badly recently, and having researched I've found that there could be a link between tinnitus and smart meters.

I realise this might be completely false and I could have a smart meter fitted and not notice any worsening of symptoms, but if I do find it gets even worse I'm stuck with a smart meter!

I also realise that I'm using equipment such as laptop, mobile phone etc which could aggravate my condition but that is my choice. Yet a smart meter would be forced on me and I wouldn't have an easy time trying to get it removed - if at all.

RelievedSheff

If you already have tinnitus how do you expect a smart meter will make that worse?

No one is forcing you to sign up to a smart meter deal. If you don't want a smart meter find a deal that doesn't require one fitting.

If you want the cheapest deals you will have to accept that you need a smart meter.

JJ_Egan

No rise in Tinnititus since Smart Meters started have been put down to such by any legitimate medical sources .
Plenty of tariffs with no smart meter to choose from .
So pay slightly more and have no extra Tinnititus than you have now .

littlewren

I presume you don't have tinnitus matelodave, or maybe you just get a little bit every now and then, otherwise you wouldn't post such a derogatory comment. Yes, I already stated that of course I use a laptop and mobile phone and I'm aware of the similarities between those and smart meters, but I have no wish to give up my phone and laptop so I make do and accept that these could be having an effect on my tinnitus.

However, why should I have to have a smart meter to get the cheaper deals when I'm not sure if the additional radio frequencies will make it worse!

The B Gas engineer who came out to service my boiler a couple of weeks ago was talking about the link between tinnitus and smart meters and the consultant at ENT backed it up.

I'd forgotten that people on here could be so vicious.

UnclaimedEnergy

littlewren wrote: »

I really don't want a smart meter and it's not to do with rumours that fly around regarding them

littlewren wrote: »

I've found that there could be a link between tinnitus and smart meters.

Sorry to pick but... these two sentences contradict each other. Depending where you look and who you ask you will here one story or the other. However if this is what you choose to believe then so be it, but the reasoning for not getting one is due to rumors.

Anyway

Unfortunately, with Ofgem and BEIS threatening tough fines etc. on suppliers for not keeping up with smart meter installations, you'll find it difficult to avoid at least being asked about a smart meter.

A lot of contracts now will say that "you agree to be contacted regarding installing a smart meter". However, they can't force you to have one.

Most of the smaller companies won't currently force you to get a smart meter. However read the T&C's of the tariffs before you switch, as some suppliers will move you onto a more expensive non-smart tariff if you haven't had a meter installed within a certain amount of time.

matelodave

Nothing vicious in what I said.

You just don't seem to understand that all the stuff that you have in close proximity to your person is squirting out far more EMF that a smart meter parked in a cupboard or attached to a wall somewhere. Not to mention the stuff that comes form the houses around you and those people that walk past you in the street or that you sit next to in a train or on a bus.

leviathan

littlewren wrote: »

I really don't want a smart meter and it's not to do with rumours that fly around regarding them, it's to do with my health. I have tinnitus, quite badly recently, and having researched I've found that there could be a link between tinnitus and smart meters.

Nothing to do with the rumours about them but everything to do with the rumours about them ?!


You must have meant nothing to do with the facts about them re ability to vary the tariff depending on grid load, cut you off remotely, put you on a pre-payment, which are documented features of smart meters not speculative opinions without evidence.


Unless you've got some evidence from the ENT department ?
Such as a research paper or medical study.




EDIT:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5630983/claiming


Worth a read....

Gerry1

leviathan wrote: »

You must have meant nothing to do with the facts about them re ability to vary the tariff depending on grid load, cut you off remotely, put you on a pre-payment, which are documented features of smart meters not speculative opinions without evidence.

Don't forget Load Limiting.

In order to comply with the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications, UK smart metering systems will need to support Load Limiting functionality.

No power showers or using both the cooker and the tumble dryer at the same time ...

littlewren

UnclaimedEnergy wrote: »

Sorry to pick but... these two sentences contradict each other. Depending where you look and who you ask you will here one story or the other. However if this is what you choose to believe then so be it, but the reasoning for not getting one is due to rumors.

Anyway

Unfortunately, with Ofgem and BEIS threatening tough fines etc. on suppliers for not keeping up with smart meter installations, you'll find it difficult to avoid at least being asked about a smart meter.

A lot of contracts now will say that "you agree to be contacted regarding installing a smart meter". However, they can't force you to have one.

Most of the smaller companies won't currently force you to get a smart meter. However read the T&C's of the tariffs before you switch, as some suppliers will move you onto a more expensive non-smart tariff if you haven't had a meter installed within a certain amount of time.

Strangely, earlier today the tariff for Scottish Power that I would have considered said that you had to have a smart meter installed, yet I have just gone to the tariff again and it no longer says that, which is confusing.

littlewren

Gerry1 wrote: »

Don't forget Load Limiting.

In order to comply with the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications, UK smart metering systems will need to support Load Limiting functionality.

No power showers or using both the cooker and the tumble dryer at the same time ...

You can't have a power shower when on Load Limiting?!

Gerry1

littlewren wrote: »

You can't have a power shower when on Load Limiting?!

It depends what value of load limiting they may set at any given time. For example, with this meter it can be anywhere between 0 - 24 kW (see 4.7). If it's a cold winter's night and they said you can have only 5kW until 9pm, you couldn't use a 3kW kettle and a 3kW tumble dryer simultaneously, and you couldn't have a 10kW power shower.

The whole idea behind smart meters is that instead of you deciding to use electricity when it suits you (e.g. have a hot meal when you get in and have Sunday lunch at lunchtime), they will decide when they will let you.

You didn't really think that your £475 smart meters were there to help you save maybe a measly £11 per year, did you? If so, there's a lovely bridge you can have at a very good price.