Advantage of having smart meters

[Deleted User]

wild666 said:

Dolor said:

wild666 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

wild666 said:

jrawle said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

As I said in my comment, I would have no objection to a new meter being a smart meter when the time came for it to be replaced anyway. What I object to is meters being replaced before it's necessary, due to waste, and the potential for unnecessary damage to be done to my property.

I also dislike the deceitful letters the big suppliers send out saying my meter is "obsolete" and must be replaced as soon as possible. Clearly twaddle, motivated by targets for smart meter installation set by the government. It's little better than the situation at the start of privatisation when salesmen would call and say you had to switch supplier as the old one had "run out of gas". Lies, plain and simple.

A friend who moved into a new build flat in 1983 is being pressured into having the meter changed for a smart meter. He is like me, a very low user, using around 120 kWh per month on electric and around 1 unit gas in summer and 4 units in winter per month. His meter readings haven't changed in nearly 40 years, his monthly DD for gas in winter is more than his usage. He uses hot water bottles and extra layers of clothing in winter. 
He turns everything off at the socket, even before I started to do so. 

If he is still on the original meter then it sounds like it is due for replacement because of its age. It won’t make any difference to his usage or how much he pays so why object to it being replaced?

He's stubborn, he believes if it ain't broken don't try and fix it and that's what he thinks about changing meters. His meters are outside the flat so the energy company could just send someone to replace them and notify him that they are changing them when they come to change them by knocking at his door and telling him he will lose power whilst they change the meters.

Stubborn or not, if the supplier deems his meters to be end-of-life it can now fit smart meters without his consent. The supplier can also apply to a Court under The Electricity and Gas Acts for a Warrant to enter the property to do so.

They wouldn't need a court order as both his meters are outside his flat on a wall under the kitchen window.

As the installer is required to ensure that all gas appliances are turned off before the installation of a smart gas meter then I guess that a Warrant of Entry would be required to carryout post installation purging and safety checks.

schiff

wild666 said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

jrawle said:

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago, and I posted my view there:

I have so far resisted having a smart meter not because I have something to hide or am a conspiracy theorist, but because I don't like having things messed with unnecessarily. My meters work perfectly well at the moment. I have seen several accounts of people who have had gas leaks following a meter exchange. It seems that just about every job I have done at home by a tradesman is substandard, or results in damage being done to my property. If my meters genuinely wear out and need replacement, I would be happy for the replacement to be a smart meter, but not for them to be changed just for the sake of it. There is also an environmental impact of having a meter changed before the end of its life.

I also do not like the way the adverts give the impression that smart meters magically save energy, with small print such as "consumer action required" the only disclaimer. Non scientifically minded people may well believe this, and actually do less to save energy once they have smart meters.

I do not believe automatic meter reading will cut excessive credit balances, either. This has little to do with estimated readings, and anyone who gives their supplier a regular reading well knows. It is more to do with suppliers deliberately running up a credit to make a few extra pennies out of each customer.

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

They definitely do save energy, evidenced by the huge number of threads on here where people are trying to work out what is costing them however much per hour or whatever - people are alerted to this consumption by their meter.  They work out what's needlessly costing them money and switch it off.  In the old days they wouldn't have known any of this.

If it doesn't need to be on in my place then it's off at the socket the only appliances that stay on 24/7 are the fridge, freezer and router everything else is off and stays off unless I want to use it.

I've found this very useful and I'm now enrolled into the system! I've 'found' two plugs that are switched on for a phone and a laptop that I've not used in years. Now switching off the kettle (in use probably 20 minutes a day) and the microwave about the same. TVs laptops etc. One simple thing I'm unsure about - I click off the plugs via the red rocker switch on the wall socket. Is that enough (the connection no longer being live) or should the plug be taken out altogether for the required result? TYIA

wild666

schiff said:

wild666 said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

jrawle said:

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago, and I posted my view there:

I have so far resisted having a smart meter not because I have something to hide or am a conspiracy theorist, but because I don't like having things messed with unnecessarily. My meters work perfectly well at the moment. I have seen several accounts of people who have had gas leaks following a meter exchange. It seems that just about every job I have done at home by a tradesman is substandard, or results in damage being done to my property. If my meters genuinely wear out and need replacement, I would be happy for the replacement to be a smart meter, but not for them to be changed just for the sake of it. There is also an environmental impact of having a meter changed before the end of its life.

I also do not like the way the adverts give the impression that smart meters magically save energy, with small print such as "consumer action required" the only disclaimer. Non scientifically minded people may well believe this, and actually do less to save energy once they have smart meters.

I do not believe automatic meter reading will cut excessive credit balances, either. This has little to do with estimated readings, and anyone who gives their supplier a regular reading well knows. It is more to do with suppliers deliberately running up a credit to make a few extra pennies out of each customer.

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

They definitely do save energy, evidenced by the huge number of threads on here where people are trying to work out what is costing them however much per hour or whatever - people are alerted to this consumption by their meter.  They work out what's needlessly costing them money and switch it off.  In the old days they wouldn't have known any of this.

If it doesn't need to be on in my place then it's off at the socket the only appliances that stay on 24/7 are the fridge, freezer and router everything else is off and stays off unless I want to use it.

I've found this very useful and I'm now enrolled into the system! I've 'found' two plugs that are switched on for a phone and a laptop that I've not used in years. Now switching off the kettle (in use probably 20 minutes a day) and the microwave about the same. TVs laptops etc. One simple thing I'm unsure about - I click off the plugs via the red rocker switch on the wall socket. Is that enough (the connection no longer being live) or should the plug be taken out altogether for the required result? TYIA

I think the red rocker switch should be enough as many homes sockets were positioned neat the ground in older homes. I recently had my flat rewired and had the sockets raised to just over 1 meter from the ground to stop me having to crouch over things to turn stuff on and off. My grandparents actually pulled the plug out of the socket.

BikingBud

schiff said:

wild666 said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

jrawle said:

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago, and I posted my view there:

I have so far resisted having a smart meter not because I have something to hide or am a conspiracy theorist, but because I don't like having things messed with unnecessarily. My meters work perfectly well at the moment. I have seen several accounts of people who have had gas leaks following a meter exchange. It seems that just about every job I have done at home by a tradesman is substandard, or results in damage being done to my property. If my meters genuinely wear out and need replacement, I would be happy for the replacement to be a smart meter, but not for them to be changed just for the sake of it. There is also an environmental impact of having a meter changed before the end of its life.

I also do not like the way the adverts give the impression that smart meters magically save energy, with small print such as "consumer action required" the only disclaimer. Non scientifically minded people may well believe this, and actually do less to save energy once they have smart meters.

I do not believe automatic meter reading will cut excessive credit balances, either. This has little to do with estimated readings, and anyone who gives their supplier a regular reading well knows. It is more to do with suppliers deliberately running up a credit to make a few extra pennies out of each customer.

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

They definitely do save energy, evidenced by the huge number of threads on here where people are trying to work out what is costing them however much per hour or whatever - people are alerted to this consumption by their meter.  They work out what's needlessly costing them money and switch it off.  In the old days they wouldn't have known any of this.

If it doesn't need to be on in my place then it's off at the socket the only appliances that stay on 24/7 are the fridge, freezer and router everything else is off and stays off unless I want to use it.

I've found this very useful and I'm now enrolled into the system! I've 'found' two plugs that are switched on for a phone and a laptop that I've not used in years. Now switching off the kettle (in use probably 20 minutes a day) and the microwave about the same. TVs laptops etc. One simple thing I'm unsure about - I click off the plugs via the red rocker switch on the wall socket. Is that enough (the connection no longer being live) or should the plug be taken out altogether for the required result? TYIA

"Found" two plugs?

Was this via a quick visual review/inspection of all your sockets or as a result of getting a smart meter?

Fundamentally it is about overall approach to power usage, consumption, even low levels, should be evident irrespective of the type of meter that is installed.

schiff

BikingBud said:

schiff said:

wild666 said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

jrawle said:

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago, and I posted my view there:

I have so far resisted having a smart meter not because I have something to hide or am a conspiracy theorist, but because I don't like having things messed with unnecessarily. My meters work perfectly well at the moment. I have seen several accounts of people who have had gas leaks following a meter exchange. It seems that just about every job I have done at home by a tradesman is substandard, or results in damage being done to my property. If my meters genuinely wear out and need replacement, I would be happy for the replacement to be a smart meter, but not for them to be changed just for the sake of it. There is also an environmental impact of having a meter changed before the end of its life.

I also do not like the way the adverts give the impression that smart meters magically save energy, with small print such as "consumer action required" the only disclaimer. Non scientifically minded people may well believe this, and actually do less to save energy once they have smart meters.

I do not believe automatic meter reading will cut excessive credit balances, either. This has little to do with estimated readings, and anyone who gives their supplier a regular reading well knows. It is more to do with suppliers deliberately running up a credit to make a few extra pennies out of each customer.

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

They definitely do save energy, evidenced by the huge number of threads on here where people are trying to work out what is costing them however much per hour or whatever - people are alerted to this consumption by their meter.  They work out what's needlessly costing them money and switch it off.  In the old days they wouldn't have known any of this.

If it doesn't need to be on in my place then it's off at the socket the only appliances that stay on 24/7 are the fridge, freezer and router everything else is off and stays off unless I want to use it.

I've found this very useful and I'm now enrolled into the system! I've 'found' two plugs that are switched on for a phone and a laptop that I've not used in years. Now switching off the kettle (in use probably 20 minutes a day) and the microwave about the same. TVs laptops etc. One simple thing I'm unsure about - I click off the plugs via the red rocker switch on the wall socket. Is that enough (the connection no longer being live) or should the plug be taken out altogether for the required result? TYIA

"Found" two plugs?

Was this via a quick visual review/inspection of all your sockets or as a result of getting a smart meter?

Fundamentally it is about overall approach to power usage, consumption, even low levels, should be evident irrespective of the type of meter that is installed.

Checked every socket in the house - one was a bit out of sight under a wall cupboard and the other was for my fixed phone line that I haven't used in years. I've set my mind against a smart meter until I'm forced to. I submit my readings on the last day of every month and now that I'm using (thanks to wild666 inter alia) these little economies in the use of power, I feel in control.

littlemoney

wild666 said:

schiff said:

wild666 said:

wittynamegoeshere said:

jrawle said:

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago, and I posted my view there:

I have so far resisted having a smart meter not because I have something to hide or am a conspiracy theorist, but because I don't like having things messed with unnecessarily. My meters work perfectly well at the moment. I have seen several accounts of people who have had gas leaks following a meter exchange. It seems that just about every job I have done at home by a tradesman is substandard, or results in damage being done to my property. If my meters genuinely wear out and need replacement, I would be happy for the replacement to be a smart meter, but not for them to be changed just for the sake of it. There is also an environmental impact of having a meter changed before the end of its life.

I also do not like the way the adverts give the impression that smart meters magically save energy, with small print such as "consumer action required" the only disclaimer. Non scientifically minded people may well believe this, and actually do less to save energy once they have smart meters.

I do not believe automatic meter reading will cut excessive credit balances, either. This has little to do with estimated readings, and anyone who gives their supplier a regular reading well knows. It is more to do with suppliers deliberately running up a credit to make a few extra pennies out of each customer.

All meters have a lifespan, they always have had.  The components inside wear over time and they lose accuracy.  I remember getting our old cogs and gears one replaced with one with a digital display back in 2000-odd.  This is just exactly what has always happened.  It just so happens that the latest meters do a bit more than older ones.

They definitely do save energy, evidenced by the huge number of threads on here where people are trying to work out what is costing them however much per hour or whatever - people are alerted to this consumption by their meter.  They work out what's needlessly costing them money and switch it off.  In the old days they wouldn't have known any of this.

If it doesn't need to be on in my place then it's off at the socket the only appliances that stay on 24/7 are the fridge, freezer and router everything else is off and stays off unless I want to use it.

I've found this very useful and I'm now enrolled into the system! I've 'found' two plugs that are switched on for a phone and a laptop that I've not used in years. Now switching off the kettle (in use probably 20 minutes a day) and the microwave about the same. TVs laptops etc. One simple thing I'm unsure about - I click off the plugs via the red rocker switch on the wall socket. Is that enough (the connection no longer being live) or should the plug be taken out altogether for the required result? TYIA

I think the red rocker switch should be enough as many homes sockets were positioned neat the ground in older homes. I recently had my flat rewired and had the sockets raised to just over 1 meter from the ground to stop me having to crouch over things to turn stuff on and off. My grandparents actually pulled the plug out of the socket.

Take the plug out. Year ago I used a monitoring device and found my switched off washing machine, i.e.the machine and the plug,  was still using power. I always unplug after use.

QrizB

littlemoney said:

wild666 said:

I think the red rocker switch should be enough as many homes sockets were positioned neat the ground in older homes. I recently had my flat rewired and had the sockets raised to just over 1 meter from the ground to stop me having to crouch over things to turn stuff on and off. My grandparents actually pulled the plug out of the socket.

Take the plug out. Year ago I used a monitoring device and found my switched off washing machine, i.e.the machine and the plug,  was still using power. I always unplug after use.

If that's true, the socket is faulty and you should get it looked at.

The switch on a switched socket should be capable of turning off the appliance and removing the plug should have no additional effect.

littlemoney

No advantage of smart meter until you are forced to have one to get cheaper tarriff. I read my meters once a week, record in a spreadsheet with formula for weekly costs. I could record daily costs shouId I wish. Electricity and gas appliances are only used when needed. It's common sense, switch off when not in use and don't use standby. You don't need a smart meter to save money. I believe the smart meter uses electricity for its display so it costs money to run.

Gerry1

littlemoney said:

I believe the smart meter uses electricity for its display so it costs money to run.

The smart meter is on the wall and its own electricity usage is not billed.  The portable display (IHD) does use a small amount of electricity when it's plugged in.

wild666

littlemoney said:

No advantage of smart meter until you are forced to have one to get cheaper tarriff. I read my meters once a week, record in a spreadsheet with formula for weekly costs. I could record daily costs shouId I wish. Electricity and gas appliances are only used when needed. It's common sense, switch off when not in use and don't use standby. You don't need a smart meter to save money. I believe the smart meter uses electricity for its display so it costs money to run.

Yes the IHD does use electric and is just a gimmick that shows usage if you want to know how much electric and gas your using do readings at least weekly for gas and possibly daily for electric, daily gas readings could be done if you have the heating on every day as a smart meter reads in M3 whereas an analogue meter reads in either ft.3 or M3, ft.3 readings means a reading of one unit = 31.6586 kWh and metric = 11.1868.