I DO NOT want Electricity smart readers

ggloria007

Hi, 
In July I have joined Shell dual fuel plan. From September I am bombarded with emails / calls etc to install the smart meter. I have received yesterday almost threatening email that if I do not install the smart reader I will be moved to a standard rates (higher!) and will be charge £40 exist fees per fuel. I mean seriously, with such a pressure and bizare threats I am suspicios of the smart readers even more. There is only 2 of us and we are extremely thrift so electricity bills are less than £20 a month (we use gas for heating). So, I do not understand what the pressure is. There is no smar meeting that is smarter than me in terms of savings! So I recon the smart meter is smart for somebody else. I also red that recent bills with smart readers are much higher, that there is a problem with switching to another provider, that they have some radiation etc... of course they also use energy to be smart and send signals/readings. Who is paying for this? Shell? or Me?  
Can you please let me know if I am getting a bit too much hang up on these. I do not beleive in "hard selling" and I was so many times right in folllowing my own instincs. However, I need to know which companies are still providing competitive rates but are not pushing consumers. This is so hard to find online. It will be good to hear your thoughts. Cheers  sorry for the typos  I am on tyoung this on my mobile.. :-)

Neil_Jones

well if the tariff said you require a smart meter and you don't want one, it probably wasn't a wise decision to go for the tariff that requires the smart meter in the first place.  Shell are within their rights to offer tariffs on condition of you having a smart meter and if you don't have one, they can and will move you off it onto something else and charge exit fees in the process.  Read your tariff conditions.

Plenty of suppliers around that don't require smart meters.  Switch to one of those, since it sounds like you're going to be charged £80 anyway.

[Deleted User]

The is a lot of paranoia about smart meters based on a raft of misinformation. It is though worth bearing in mind that all meters have a finite life,  and suppliers have the legal right to replace meters that they deem have reached the end of life. The rules were strengthened last year:

Quote:

New and Replacement Obligation

This related obligation requires energy suppliers to use smart meters for all new metering points and all meters requiring replacement. Although it is subject to all reasonable steps, Ofgem have said it is reasonable for a supplier to charge for the installation of a conventional meter if a smart meter is refused.

• 30 June 2019 - New and Replacement Obligation (NRO) established.

Unquote (source: smartme) 

43722

I am in the process of moving to Shell, via MSE. Your account may have different conditions. One reason I went for Shell is that it said that they would be in touch with me about a Smart Meter, but they would not be insisting on it... I think in the long run though, it may be difficult to hold out against them.

molerat

[Deleted User] said:

The is a lot of paranoia about smart meters based on a raft of misinformation.

I agree.  Some of the misinformation dished out by Smart Energy GB is absolutely appalling.

I reckon I will be ready for one by the time they have got round to SMETS4 standard or so, maybe someone will have figured a standard based on customer friendliness by then.

elsien

I think you may have been reading some inaccurate information. 

My bills are no higher since moving to a smart meter, because they are based on the amount of energy used in exactly the same way as a non-smart meter.
The transfer over went fine, with no issues.
The new generation meters read ok when you swap tariff. If for any reason they don’t, you just go back to reading it yourself, just like you do now.
They are being pushed because there are  incentives for the company to do so. That doesn’t mean that that they are detrimental to you, in any way.
Using the display isn’t obligatory and probably only costs pence anyway 

I’m with Shell and I certainly didn’t feel pressured into having one. I have previously declined, but when I looked into it I had no strong feelings either way, so I just thought why not when it saves me crawling into the cupboard to check it.
I think you’re overthinking it. 

mac.d

I think you are getting too hung up on it, but as someone who has been happily avoiding them up to now, if you really don't want them.... that's your choice. But you might have to pay more for that choice.

As Neil_Jones says, you need to check the terms and conditions for your tariff, and if there is a requirement to accept smart meters, you either get them fitted or pay the exit fees.
Do check carefully though, as there have been suppliers that have tried to insist on smart meters despite it not being specified in the terms for a particular tariff. This was however, a while back when they first started introducing smart meter only tariffs, most likely they'll have it in the terms and you'll have to accept it.

rp1974

Did you sign up to a contract that requires a smart meter and you dont want a smart meter?.
If that's the case then yes they can put you onto a different tariff,as you have broken the terms of your supply.
Providing you stay with Shell I'm not sure they can charge exit fees,somebody else might be able to confirm,again read your contract.
If it bothers you that much,do comparisons,DONT sign up to another contract without checking if there's a smart meter requirement,pay your exit fees and move on.

Gerry1

No need to worry about radiation hazards etc unless you don't have a mobile phone, wi-fi etc.  But the real reason for smart meters is to skimp on investing in sufficient power stations to meet the demand on cold dark winter's evenings with no wind.

In a few years when when push comes to shove and the demand cannot be met, you'll be persuaded to have a tariff with very expensive rates between 4pm - 8pm or so, and / or the meter will ration you to a few kW (Load Limiting).  Use more than you're allowed at that time and your smart meter will cut you off (Load Shedding).  If they still can't meet the demand, then they can just cut you off remotely, but not affect hospitals and people on ventilators etc.  That's the bit they don't publicise in the glossy brochures and advertising.

ggloria007

thank you all! 
Garry, these are very interesting fact you are talking about...  
" you'll be persuaded to have a tariff with very expensive rates between 4pm - 8pm or so, and / or the meter will ration you to a few kW (Load Limiting).  Use more than you're allowed at that time and your smart meter will cut you off (Load Shedding).  If they still can't meet the demand, then they can just cut you off remotely, but not affect hospitals and people on ventilators etc.  That's the bit they don't publicises in the glossy brochures and advertising. "

If this is the case I hope that they will "award" those who are very thrifty or i will share my meter with a neighbour ;-) 
 

MikeE67

ggloria007 said:

of course they also use energy to be smart and send signals/readings. Who is paying for this? Shell? or Me?

As I understand it, having smart meters doesn't cost you anything because the energy used by the electric smart meter comes from the electric cable coming into your property before measurement takes place and is put down to transmission losses and in any case is a miniscule amount of energy used anyway.

Your gas smart meter uses a battery which lasts around 10 years of normal usage and this battery is either replaced when it runs out or a new gas smart meter is fitted after it comes to the end of it's life.