Advantage of having smart meters

Mineral1

You might find using the tumble dryer instead of a dehumidifier saves you money as dehumidifiers are energy hogs. 

Ironically that is the sort of thing you could easily see by having a smart meter.

[Deleted User]

I think people need to try to see the big picture. If I had stood up 25 years ago and predicted that in the near future most people would communicate by email; Twitter; social media etc, I would have been laughed out of the building. 

Smart meters are just one small element of what is known as a Smart Grid. A smart grid is needed to be better manage intermittent renewable energy supplies with consumer demand. Part of this is the profiling of home consumption in 30 minute chunks. In future, we will see tariffs based on not just on how much energy people use but when they use it. Consumers will be financially encouraged to reduce consumption at times of known high demand (4 to 7pm for example) to avoid us all having to pay for standby power on a ‘just in case’ basis. If you look at DraxInsights today, we are paying for coal-fired power stations to idle away just in case there is high demand combined with little wind or sun. Non smart metered homes will no doubt continue to be supplied but at a much higher cost  than is the case today. No longer will people enter their kWhs/year into a comparison website. The historical information to determine the cheapest time of use tariff will be downloaded directly from the meter (with the consumer’s permission and by a Registered DCC User). Accurate billing is another direct benefit.

tim_p

Swipe said:

Saves me going outside in the cold to get a daily reading for my spreadsheet

I go every day (evening actually) and read both gas and electric. Takes about 20 seconds, rain, shine, cold. No big deal. 

Mineral1

tim_p said:

Swipe said:

Saves me going outside in the cold to get a daily reading for my spreadsheet

I go every day (evening actually) and read both gas and electric. Takes about 20 seconds, rain, shine, cold. No big deal. 

That's fine but you aren't honestly saying that's easier than a display opposite your living room sofa are you?

lohr500

molerat said:

Nope, still can't think of any.  Marketed as ideal for the lazy but it seems that is not always the case, just lulls them into a false sense of security.

So how would I enjoy off peak rates for 10 hours through the week and all day through the weekend without a smart meter?

Gerry1

lohr500 said:

molerat said:

Nope, still can't think of any.  Marketed as ideal for the lazy but it seems that is not always the case, just lulls them into a false sense of security.

So how would I enjoy off peak rates for 10 hours through the week and all day through the weekend without a smart meter?

Get a time machine and travel back to the 70s !

Legacy tariffs are being withdrawn, and those that remain became stupidly expensive, even before the recent market turmoil.  Any switch of tariff may well be far more expensive that what you have at the moment.

Chino

Dolor said:

Smart meters are just one small element of what is known as a Smart Grid. A smart grid is needed to be better manage intermittent renewable energy supplies with consumer demand. Part of this is the profiling of home consumption in 30 minute chunks.

Entirely missing the point that smart meters do not predict demand, they only record past demand that suppliers already know.

Chino

The_Fat_Controller said:

You will have an In Home Display

Just don't lose or break it and hope it doesn't fail, because your energy supplier won't provide you with a replacement.

Ultrasonic

tim_p said:

Swipe said:

Saves me going outside in the cold to get a daily reading for my spreadsheet

I go every day (evening actually) and read both gas and electric. Takes about 20 seconds, rain, shine, cold. No big deal. 

Strange hobby. I bet it actually takes you quite a bit longer than 20s too.

Spies

Mineral1 said:

You might find using the tumble dryer instead of a dehumidifier saves you money as dehumidifiers are energy hogs. 

Ironically that is the sort of thing you could easily see by having a smart meter.

What a load of twaddle, a (compressor) dehumidifier uses 250w, for 4 hours use that's only 20p.