Smart Meter Disinformation

matelodave

TBH most of the problems that people seem to have is not specifically with the smart meter just the sheer useless incompetence of the suppliers who seem to be unwilling or unable to make them work properly or even understand them themselves. The implementation of smart meters has been a total shambles and doesn't really seem to be getting much better

The whole concept is pretty simple - meter data is sent back to the supplier and they send you a bill.   Phone & broadband suppliers have been doing it for years and companies like Sky and Vigin have the capability to control your set-top box and decide what you are able to watch and bill you for extras so it shouldn't really be ever so difficult to read a meter remotely.

Octopus seem to be able to manage it so why cant the others

[Deleted User]

niktheguru said:

By all means you can continue with the status quo and keep your current meter, so long as you are providing regular meter readings, but sooner or later smart meters will become compulsory. Just pick when you fancy moving!

Good luck.

Just to add a further thing to think about. The domestic supply sector is moving inexorably towards time-of-use tariffs: E7 and Go are simple examples of a time-of-use tariff.  In the future, tariff price comparisons will not be based on just kWhs/year as is the case today. Tools are already being developed to allow consumers to overlay their historic profiled usage (in 30 minute blocks) against all the tariffs on the market. This offers, for example, an easy way to see if a tariff such as Octopus Agile (with 30 minute changing prices) would actually save a consumer money. These tools will also allow consumers to see how much they could save if they avoided high energy use items during peak demand periods.

BEIS has just spent £400k of taxpayer money to commission the development of a such a tool by Hildebrand and others. A number of us have had access to it. I am sure that PCWs such as MSE are developing similar smart tariff comparison tools whilst working towards getting Registered DCC User status*. To get a comparison, the tool needs access to historic data from a smart meter.

*Only your supplier and Registered DCC Users can access your smart meter data. The latter also require consumer approval which is renewed on an annual basis. 

Gerry1

Apparently there is (or has been) a severe shortage of 5-terminal smart meters, i.e. the type that has a switched output that's connected to the immersion and night storage heater circuits so that they are automatically turned on only when the lower rate applies.

steamer_25

As usual something that is fairly simple is made too complex. If I could get varied tariffs administered properly I'd have one fitted tomorrow. Unfortunately most of the energy companies are only interested in being able to use these devices on standard tariffs ker ching !! My suppliers can't even agree on the meter readings god help us with smart meters. The government and Ofgem must take responsibility particularly with the advent of electric cars.  

Swipe

Gerry1 said:

Apparently there is (or has been) a severe shortage of 5-terminal smart meters, i.e. the type that has a switched output that's connected to the immersion and night storage heater circuits so that they are automatically turned on only when the lower rate applies.

Mine is due to be fitted on Friday and I have storage heaters. If they don't show up with a 5-terminal meter I'll be sending them on their way.

Verdigris

steamer_25 said:

 Unfortunately most of the energy companies are only interested in being able to use these devices on standard tariffs ker ching !!.  

You can often find single rate tariffs that cost about the same per kWh as the cheap rate on E7. They often have a lower daily charge, too. So you will be saving 24 hours a day.

steamer_25

Swipe said:

I'm on economy 7 and reluctantly having one installed by EDF on Friday to keep my current cheap tariff. I'll let you know how I get on.

It will be interesting in seeing how you get on. They can't make you have on fitted and that's the law. I'm no Luddite but I've been using E7 at 2 properties for 33 years and never had a problem. This falls into the Combi Boiler saga that left a lot of houses cold out if pocket and using an appliance that was worse than was taken out. In the process making a lot of manufacturers and gas fitters a lot of money. The government keeps setting unachievable climate targets, boilers are next but what will replace them?

steamer_25

[Deleted User] said:

steamer_25 said:

[Deleted User] said:

steamer_25 said:

As an Economy 7 customer Smart Meter pestering is becoming a nightmare. Are other consumers having problems with these devices? Having been a Yorkshire Energy customer I am now with another supplier via Scottish Power another nightmare. While I agree with the principle of smart meters I have to caution the way in which they are being deployed and how I nearly succumbed to their behaviour. Economy 7 is a bit of a throwback but I use it for dishwasher, tumble dryer, immersion etc. It's very useful and I find it economical. Unfortunately Smart Meter GB via it's advertisements and the energy companies are trying to lever me onto a Smart Meter. From internet searches they are still problematical and most unlikely to give me Economy 7 capability. For a smart device this is not the best move and canvassing neighbours gives no savings.

Complete and utter rubbish. I have had SMETS2 meters for nearly 2 years. I am on a dual rate tariff and I am billed on the two rates 14.63/5p per kWh. Suppliers have the option to bill based on meter readings or on 30 minute usage data. Octopus uses a single register and 30 minute usage billing.

A smart meter is nothing more than a meter which in itself will never save you any money. They do allow you to access time-of-use tariffs which are often cheaper than non smart tariffs.

Could you point me in the right direction particularly charging EV's. Obviously this technology is from the US.

Try this link:



The Octopus Go tariff that I am on is available to everyone not just EV owners.

I've just installed a new computer OS and it's less complicated. I find sometimes organisations make it this way my 72 yo neighbour doesn't even know who supplies her energy and she's got a Smart meter !! Thanks again.

[Deleted User]

steamer_25 said:

Swipe said:

I'm on economy 7 and reluctantly having one installed by EDF on Friday to keep my current cheap tariff. I'll let you know how I get on.

It will be interesting in seeing how you get on. They can't make you have on fitted and that's the law. 

There is no actual law. The Government has not made smart meters mandatory. However, it has said that suppliers can fit smart meters when a meter is deemed to be end of life as suppliers already have a legal right of entry to a property to change meters in such circumstances.

Verdigris

my 72 yo neighbour doesn't even know who supplies her energy and she's got a Smart meter

Would a dumb meter be able to tell her who her supplier is?