Forced to take a Smartmeter but will be worse off for it

Astria

QrizB said:

Astria said:

So do some companies now allow you to download your usage data? Or are you using a separate energy monitor?

I was told by EDF that the only way to get the data from the smart meter was the in-home display, and it wasn't possible to export that data to a PC, however I could take photographs of the IHD for my records! At which point I said it was pointless booking the time off work to have one installed as it would provide no benefit for me. They didn't seem to agree with my reasoning but eventually agreed.

My chart is a screenshot from my Octopus account, but yes they let customers download their smart meter data as a .csv file.

I was previously with EDF (until September) and I could also download my data from them, via the "My account" page on their website.

In that case it sounds like EDF may need to give there CS staff some extra training... Unless they thought I actually wanted to connect to the meter to download the data, but when it was possible to get from a website, why would anyone try to do it a more difficult way?

Swipe

Astria said:

QrizB said:

[Deleted User] said:

Curiousgirl1 said:

@[Deleted User] I don’t understand your graph. Is it indicating that you used zero electricity until about 8pm yesterday 

I only buy in electricity at off peak to charge a battery; charge an EV; run washing machines etc at 5p/kWh.

I do something similar and mine looks a bit like this:

So do some companies now allow you to download your usage data? Or are you using a separate energy monitor?

I was told by EDF that the only way to get the data from the smart meter was the in-home display, and it wasn't possible to export that data to a PC, however I could take photographs of the IHD for my records! At which point I said it was pointless booking the time off work to have one installed as it would provide no benefit for me. They didn't seem to agree with my reasoning but eventually agreed.

You can also install the BRIGHT mobile app and it will show you all your smart meter data for the last 13 months and present you with 30min, hourly, daily and monthly usage and costs.

savers_united

With energy prices high, and energy suppliers having smart meter install targets to meet, I can see a carrot as cheaper tariffs for those with smart meters or agreeing to get one fitted.

Up until now you could avoid the companies doing this with so many cheaper smaller players not insisting on an install. However these small cheaper players are going at an alarming rate, so choices will be limited going forward to avoid them as part of the contract agreement.

And with so many now on a Gov't cap tariffs it would be the perfect opportunity to do this with many no doubt in the coming months looking to get back onto a new fixed deal. 

I guess to save a few Bob many would agree to a smart meter. 

oliverbrown

savers_united said:

And with so many now on a Gov't cap tariffs it would be the perfect opportunity to do this with so many in the coming months looking to get back onto a new fixed deal. 

I wonder how long it will be until the fixed deals start to look attractive again. Meanwhile, the cheapest tariffs are SVRs which don't require a smart meter.

QrizB

oliverbrown said:

 Meanwhile, the cheapest tariffs are SVRs which don't require a smart meter.

Meanwhile, the cheapest tariffs are time-of-use which do require a smart meter.

wittynamegoeshere

I wonder how many additional houses will burn down when everyone's running their washing machines and tumble driers while they're asleep?

QrizB

wittynamegoeshere said:

I wonder how many additional houses will burn down when everyone's running their washing machines and tumble driers while they're asleep?

I'd guess zero. I'm not aware of any link between time-of-day and white goods fires.

Boxman

wittynamegoeshere said:

I wonder how many additional houses will burn down when everyone's running their washing machines and tumble driers while they're asleep?

We did this for the 10 years we were on economy 7 and to the best of my knowledge it did not happen to us.

Gerry1

QrizB said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

I wonder how many additional houses will burn down when everyone's running their washing machines and tumble driers while they're asleep?

I'd guess zero. I'm not aware of any link between time-of-day and white goods fires.

Boxman said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

I wonder how many additional houses will burn down when everyone's running their washing machines and tumble driers while they're asleep?

We did this for the 10 years we were on economy 7 and to the best of my knowledge it did not happen to us.

https://www.notts-fire.gov.uk/nfrs-news/Pages/Firefighters-urge-residents-to-not-leave-tumble-dryers-on-overnight.aspx

wittynamegoeshere

Hmmm... should I rely on the advice of random strangers on the interweb, or should I listen to the likes of these people?...

https://www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/news/2018/11/tumble-dryer-dos-and-don-ts/

Indeed, tumble dryers have accounted for 57% of all fires involving white goods in Wales over the last three years (there are on average 158 fires involving white goods in every year).

Don't leave appliances unattended – don't turn the tumble dryer on before you leave the house or go to bed. Tumble dryers contain powerful motors with fast moving parts that can get very hot.

I think, on balance, I'll take the advice of those people that drag dead and dying people out of their burning homes and just accept that it will cost me an extra 5p for the daytime leccy.