E-on are trying to force a Smart Meter on me....and they're making threats.

[Deleted User]

Dahliaa said:

Both EOn next and Sainsbury tariffs loads of people from here were recently switching to had it written that you agree to have smart meter installed. That’s why I didn’t switch to them.

Why? A prediction. Increasingly, we are going to see suppliers introducing time-of -use tariffs. Many countries already have them; for example, Ontario which has a 2 season 3 tier pricing model. A further prediction. Suppliers already have the legal right to fit smart meters when your present meters are deemed to be end-of-life. You don’t get to say yes or no to a smart meter. Suppliers are constantly pressing BEIS to make smart meters mandatory. For the moment, BEIS is resisting as other ‘marketing’ methods are proving to be successful. Smart meters will, as is the case in most European countries, become mandatory. 

If you want to get the cheapest time-of-use tariff, then you need much more data than just kWhs/year. A smart meter stores this data in 48 by 30 minute blocks each day. This data can be pulled from the meter by your nominated supplier or another DCC User (with your approval). 

Price comparison websites are going to have to change. I mentioned the BEIS tool in my post above yours. Even without this tool, I am able to compare all the Octopus tariffs using my actual usage.

This screenshot compares the billing period cost of the tariff that I am on with Octopus’ Agile tariff:

Ultrasonic

[Deleted User] said:

Dahliaa said:

Both EOn next and Sainsbury tariffs loads of people from here were recently switching to had it written that you agree to have smart meter installed. That’s why I didn’t switch to them.

Why? A prediction. Increasingly, we are going to see suppliers introducing time-of -use tariffs. Many countries already have them; for example, Ontario which has a 2 season 3 tier pricing model. A further prediction. Suppliers already have the legal right to fit smart meters when your present meters are deemed to be end-of-life. You don’t get to say yes or no to a smart meter. Suppliers are constantly pressing BEIS to make smart meters mandatory. For the moment, BEIS is resisting as other ‘marketing’ methods are proving to be successful. Smart meters will, as is the case in most European countries, become mandatory. 

If you want to get the cheapest time-of-use tariff, then you need much more data than just kWhs/year. A smart meter stores this data in 48 by 30 minute blocks each day. This data can be pulled from the meter by your nominated supplier or another DCC User (with your approval). 

Price comparison websites are going to have to change. I mentioned the BEIS tool in my post above yours. Even without this tool, I am able to compare all the Octopus tariffs using my actual usage.

This screenshot compares the billing period cost of the tariff that I am on with Octopus’ Agile tariff:

None of that concerns me. What is the key concern from your perspective?

My smart meter is currently set up to just send a single reading per month, although I appreciate that in time this could be forced to change. I've actually been wondering if it would be wise to do so now in case my current provider goes bust.

If TOU tariffs help us manage a finite resource more effectively, and in a way that is likely better from a climate change perspective, them personally I find it hard to argue strongly against them.

JenB79

nictu said:

A few years ago I saw some youtube videos that certainly didn't recommend installing a smart meter, but this was a long time ago and things could have changed.

You shouldn't believe everything you see on youtube, its full of nutjobs.

 If E.ON are hassling you to get smart meters then go ahead and get them installed - otherwise E.ON would be entitled to put you on a more expensive non smart meter tarif. If it makes you feel better, bin the IHD and take manual readings every month and pretend you have traditional meters installed.

prowla

Ultrasonic said:

prowla said:

If nothing else, I don't want to have to reset all of my clocks.

Why not? You're presumably talking about having new meters that are counting up from zero but what negative effect are you worried about?

You may just be coming from the position that everythng is working fine as it is and are just taking the view that any change gives a chance of an issue occuring? This was my own attitude.

No, I mean because the installation will involve switching off the power in the house, so I'll have to go around setting the time on things.

No biggie, but why would I go through the rigmarole of giving up my time to allow someone into my house to disrupt my WFH and then leave me having to update my various clocks & appliances.

Probably 2-3 hours of my life for absolutely no benefit to me.

Ultrasonic

prowla said:

Ultrasonic said:

prowla said:

If nothing else, I don't want to have to reset all of my clocks.

Why not? You're presumably talking about having new meters that are counting up from zero but what negative effect are you worried about?

You may just be coming from the position that everythng is working fine as it is and are just taking the view that any change gives a chance of an issue occuring? This was my own attitude.

No, I mean because the installation will involve switching off the power in the house, so I'll have to go around setting the time on things.

No biggie, but why would I go through the rigmarole of giving up my time to allow someone into my house to disrupt my WFH and then leave me having to update my various clocks & appliances.

Probably 2-3 hours of my life for absolutely no benefit to me.

Ah, right, yes I'm with you and that part was slightly annoying. As was needing to be home in the first place in my case. Thankfully I now only have two mains powered clocks that need resetting when the power goes off, which it does a few times a year for me anyway sadly.

jimjames

I saw this on a previous switch with a supplier and it clearly said the tariff required smart meter. At that point I cancelled the switch as I didn't want one installed.

[Deleted User]

jimjames said:

I saw this on a previous switch with a supplier and it clearly said the tariff required smart meter. At that point I cancelled the switch as I didn't want one installed.

Let me put the question in a more direct way: why don't you want smart meters? They are first and foremost just meters that record your usage as all meters do. There is nothing smart about the metering. The smart bit is the comms hub that passes readings and usage information to your supplier.

Smart meters also offer other benefits to the network operators. For example, it allows them to monitor the Grid voltage to your home. Previously, if high or low voltage was suspected a man in a van would have to come out to test the voltage with a multimeter. Better Grid monitoring means fewer power outages and a reduction in Grid maintenance costs. I could go on. 

phillw

nictu said:

A few years ago I saw some youtube videos that certainly didn't recommend installing a smart meter, but this was a long time ago and things could have changed.
.

I don't recommend taking advice from youtube videos.

That said, I avoided them during the SMETS1 era due to tie in & haven't been offered one by any of the cheap suppliers. But if I refused a smart meter now, then I would expect the supplier to move me a worse tariff.

Astria

My last tariff was smart meter exclusive, I never refused the smart meter I just never gave them a date to install one as I've been working from home a lot since the start of Covid and didn't really want my electric cut off for several hours (or possibly longer if they run into problems)

That said, my neighbor asked for one to be fitted and they refused saying his installation was unsafe - the part after the meter, although why they are interested in that I've no idea. If they can install the meter safely, why are they interested in what is after it?

oliverbrown

I've heard some suppliers will install smart meters with the communications module disabled. Perhaps this is enough to comply with the T&C for people who are hesitant.