Smart Meter Disinformation

[Deleted User]

PCWs are old hat.

Quote: Vital Energi will lead a consortium to perform exploratory research, user testing, data modelling and software development to identify and test innovative solutions to compare smart tariffs, such as time-of-use tariffs, export and electric vehicle tariffs. The consortium will publish reports, open source code and technical guidance at the end of the project, and hold events to disseminate the findings.

The project will investigate how domestic energy users approach tariff comparisons and switching through consumer research. The consortium will engage across the sector, including energy suppliers, to ensure the solution considers all requirements. Findings will be integrated in the iterative development and testing of a smart tariff comparison prototype tool. The intention is to build a user centric solution, designed to meet the needs of energy consumers no matter what their profile, or start point. Unquote (source BEIS)

The tool was produced last year and it works!

PS: MSE will have to sit all the exams to become a registered DCC User or partner with an organisation that holds DCC User status. 

Phones4Chris

[Deleted User] said:

Phones4Chris said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

Verdigris said:

You also need to be fully awake, preferably on amphetamines, to get the reading before they disappear.

The anti-vaxxer, tinfoil hat, smart meters are evil, 5G causes covid brigade may possibly be on amphetamines but have probably never been fully awake.

The In Home Display may offer a means of getting a meter reading, but I needed help and a manual to work out how, it's pretty hidden.  I don't know whether they can show multi-tariff readings though.

AFAICT, it's only gives the total units used, not the figures for each rate. The idiots responsible for the design of the software/firmware for these devices and the "smart" meters are clearly not as smart as the devices could be.

You are falling into the trap of assuming that electricity bills going forward will be based on meter readings. For nearly 3 years now, I have had up to 33 page electricity bills each month with the cost of energy based on daily 30 minute usage data not index readings. Up to 48 tariff rates a day can be set in the meter memory, but it is easier (and cheaper) for the supplier to do all the calculations within its own billing system. Future price comparisons will be based on 12 month smart meter data pulls and not kWh/year. This is a much better way of comparing tariffs when the cost of energy varies throughout the day. Various Apps now provide better information than any IHD.

Oh, so you think we won't be paying for electricity based on the number of kWh's we've used even if there are different rates at different times of day? That sounds rather fanciful to me.
As for 48 tariff rates per day, how do you get them in an Aclara meter that seems to have only 4 (import) registers?
And as for the 33 page bill, well I suppose if you insist on having the information for every 30 minutes on the bill!

Keep_pedalling said:

Phones4Chris said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

Verdigris said:

You also need to be fully awake, preferably on amphetamines, to get the reading before they disappear.

The anti-vaxxer, tinfoil hat, smart meters are evil, 5G causes covid brigade may possibly be on amphetamines but have probably never been fully awake.

The In Home Display may offer a means of getting a meter reading, but I needed help and a manual to work out how, it's pretty hidden.  I don't know whether they can show multi-tariff readings though.

AFAICT, it's only gives the total units used, not the figures for each rate. The idiots responsible for the design of the software/firmware for these devices and the "smart" meters are clearly not as smart as the devices could be.

It is not the devices that are the problem, it is the suppliers incompetence and rubbish back end systems.

I have the older SMETS 1 meters, but Octopus are able to take the data from that and provide me with my daily tariff usage in 30 min intervals, somthing my previous supplier (SP) could not do. Zog provided me with with monthly gas usage, but since being forced onto EDF I get sweet FA. 

I'd totally agree there. It would seem as though it's the older "dinosaur" companies such as EDF, BG etc. who are the worst. Newer and some of the smaller ones that have now gone, appeared to be much better.

QrizB

Phones4Chris said:

As for 48 tariff rates per day, how do you get them in an Aclara meter that seems to have only 4 (import) registers?
And as for the 33 page bill, well I suppose if you insist on having the information for every 30 minutes on the bill!

Only one register is needed. All the billing is done by the back end.

[Deleted User]

QrizB said:

Phones4Chris said:

As for 48 tariff rates per day, how do you get them in an Aclara meter that seems to have only 4 (import) registers?
And as for the 33 page bill, well I suppose if you insist on having the information for every 30 minutes on the bill!

Only one register is needed. All the billing is done by the back end.

As you know, but for the benefit of those who might not, smart meters have 4 registers and each register has 48 by 30 minute slots. When daily data is pulled by the supplier, the meter provides both an index reading and an XML file with the 30 minute usage data. As you say, all billing calculations are managed by the supplier but third-party DCC Users can also access this data (with the consumer’s permission). Below is my gas usage for today 

Phones4Chris

@[Deleted User] & @QrizB you have both missed my original point - in response to @wittynamegoeshere where I said -

Phones4Chris said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

Verdigris said:

You also need to be fully awake, preferably on amphetamines, to get the reading before they disappear.

The anti-vaxxer, tinfoil hat, smart meters are evil, 5G causes covid brigade may possibly be on amphetamines but have probably never been fully awake.

The In Home Display may offer a means of getting a meter reading, but I needed help and a manual to work out how, it's pretty hidden.  I don't know whether they can show multi-tariff readings though.

AFAICT, it's only gives the total units used, not the figures for each rate. The idiots responsible for the design of the software/firmware for these devices and the "smart" meters are clearly not as smart as the devices could be.

I can only get the number of units for each rate by crawling into a cupboard under the stairs and fiddling with the buttons.

Your responses have actually confirmed the major criticism made here by 3 of us (at least), that the software/firmware of these devices (mainly the IHD) is poor, especially when you look at the way the "advantages" of these IHDs is promoted. It's complete garbage.

And @[Deleted User], are you actually saying that even if your meter is set to give daily readings - not half hourly - that your energy supplier is still getting 30 minute usage data? If so, that sounds to me like there could be some sort of breach of data protection!

MWT

Phones4Chris said:

And @[Deleted User], are you actually saying that even if your meter is set to give daily readings - not half hourly - that your energy supplier is still getting 30 minute usage data? If so, that sounds to me like there could be some sort of breach of data protection!

No, he isn't, he is saying that if you are on a tariff which uses half-hour data then the supplier will get that level of of data so you will have already had to agree to providing it to get onto the tariff...

Phones4Chris

MWT said:

Phones4Chris said:

And @[Deleted User], are you actually saying that even if your meter is set to give daily readings - not half hourly - that your energy supplier is still getting 30 minute usage data? If so, that sounds to me like there could be some sort of breach of data protection!

No, he isn't, he is saying that if you are on a tariff which uses half-hour data then the supplier will get that level of of data so you will have already had to agree to providing it to get onto the tariff...

Didn't realise @[Deleted User] had changed his name! And that is NOT clear from his post.

QrizB

Phones4Chris said:

Dolor & QrizB you have both missed my original point ...

Your specific question was (you can check it above if you've forgotten):

Phones4Chris said:

As for 48 tariff rates per day, how do you get them in an Aclara meter that seems to have only 4 (import) registers?

The answer to that question is, for a smart meter all the consumption is recorded on a single import register and the billing is done by the supplier's back-end systems.

It's really not complicated and I don't know why you persist with this straw-man argument.

badmemory

There  is only one answer when one of these cos ask when can we come & fit your not so marvellous smart meter.  -  So sorry I am still shielding & not letting ANYONE into the house.

MWT

Phones4Chris said:

MWT said:

Phones4Chris said:

And @[Deleted User], are you actually saying that even if your meter is set to give daily readings - not half hourly - that your energy supplier is still getting 30 minute usage data? If so, that sounds to me like there could be some sort of breach of data protection!

No, he isn't, he is saying that if you are on a tariff which uses half-hour data then the supplier will get that level of of data so you will have already had to agree to providing it to get onto the tariff...

Didn't realise @[Deleted User] had changed his name! And that is NOT clear from his post.

Your question presumed being on a tariff that used 48 half-hour slots so the answer he gave similarly presumed that fact, you however chose to interpret something else altogether from his reply, so it really didn't require much insight to provide the answer...