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To smart meter or not to smart meter?

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  • YoungBlueEyes
    YoungBlueEyes Posts: 4,862 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    I don't have a smart meter so I can't comment on advantages.  I did read a lot of the posts on the energy board about them though and made notes in my phone of the questions/issues to raise if my supplier starts telling me I now must have one.  It hasn't happened yet so I don't know anything further (not really helpful I spose!)


    Smart meter Q's - 
     - Load limiting
     - Load shedding
     - Surge pricing
     - Individual property pricing

    Sometimes a different perspective can be useful.
    I oppose genocide. I support freedom of speech. I support freedom of assembly.
  • Floss
    Floss Posts: 8,998 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have smart meters, fitted 2 years ago by British Gas, I switched to Shell in May 21 and they've been working perfectly since being fitted. The display unit is fab, obviously it has the BG tariffs which are only pennies different so it gives me a reasonably accurate cost.
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  • MazzieD
    MazzieD Posts: 376 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    I also have smart meters and have found it so useful to be able to see the display unit.  A couple of days ago I noticed that the electricity cost was 20p higher than I would have expected as only the Fridge/Freezer was on so I had a quick check.  Turned out I had left one of the freezer drawers slightly ajar after a meat delivery so the door hadn't closed properly.  Thankfully I noticed fairly quickly so although I wasted 20p it would have been much worse with a standard meter as I tend to take several items out at a time and don't always open the freezer door on a regular basis.
  • maryb
    maryb Posts: 4,712 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I've just had an email from Shell saying my meter is old and needs to be replaced

    With - guess what- a smart meter.

    Looks like they are going to use that trick to compel us to have one.  I don't object in principle but I know it won't work - our meters are in big Victorian coal cellars under the concrete of the ground floor.  There is no mobile signal or wifi signal down there.  I read my meters most days and keep a spreadsheet so I know how much I am using
    It doesn't matter if you are a glass half full or half empty sort of person. Keep it topped up! Cheers!
  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 17,615 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It will be interesting to see what happens when they see where the meters are @maryb!

  • maryb
    maryb Posts: 4,712 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If it just mean I had to submit meter readings as I do now because it only operated in dumb mode that would be one thing but the smart meters I have seen are much more difficult to see the display
    It doesn't matter if you are a glass half full or half empty sort of person. Keep it topped up! Cheers!
  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 17,615 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I can't see the display at all on my smart meter!  It's only the fact I've got the In Home Display so can see how much we are using.  It's easier for me as both the gas and electric meters were difficult to read.  The electric one is almost at ceiling height and the gam one down on the floor!

  • tooldle
    tooldle Posts: 1,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 10 August 2022 at 5:41PM
    Do they all look he same? Asking as ours are very clear. The screen lights up when the button is pressed to take a reading. Both are at eye level.
  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 17,615 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    No idea as never seen other smart meters!  But I would struggle to press any buttons on either of the meters!
  • Got an email from Scottish Power, that they need to upgrade the meter because its over 15 years old.
    Of course, it needs to be a smart meter.
    (they have been pushing for me to upgrade for ages, but think its disingenuous to use this excuse)

    Also, according to the MSE articles, it is not mandatory to accept a smart meter.
    Could they use the excuse that a smart meter is all they have?

    Do you get a choice where its installed?
    Are they more convenient than physical meters? (I dont mind sending a meter reading every 3 months)

    My biggest fear is that the readings might get scrambled somehow, and I am charged 1,000s when I clearly havent used that much.
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