To Smart meter or not?

wwally

I recently moved to a SM after 6 years of assuming it was a bad idea.

My observations:

1. It has been a fully positive experience for me. Efficiently fitted. Worked instantly. Allows me to access half hourly data to fully understand my usage and FIT PV export profile.

2. The PR associated with SMs is appalling. Ignorance, confusion, outdated views, cranky views abound. I think this is the major problem. The industry is pushed by targets and isn't majoring on selling the real benefits. The initial roll out experiences were poor. Hopefully now there are many more happy installations. There was not enough guidance available to persuade me with my slightly unusual set up so I just delayed.

3. Suppliers don't seem (limited sample) to be exploiting the data available to give excellent usage feedback to their customers. 3rd party apps are quite good, but the richness of the data available is great if only someone would analyse it! My supplier (Eon Next) just takes a reading on the 28th of the month, even though the data is there for every 30 minute period of the month.

4. The market needs to move forward with tariffs that exploit the data to the benefit of the user.

5. Fears about suppliers being able to cut off remotely or switch to prepayment meters are understandable. But there are still protections around that which I had no idea about until I researched it. Again - needs better education.

[Deleted User]

Grotdog said:

We've looked at this in detail. Smart meters are a way for energy suppliers to control you. If you dont pay all your bill, or get behind, they can switch it to pre-payment mode - even if you werent on pre payment before. I can see very little benefit -  you're better off getting your own meter fitted and telling them to stick the daily charge as you are supplying your own meter.

Your research hasn’t been that detailed. Yes, you have the legal right to fit your own meter; however, you may have to provide evidence to the supplier of certification etc. Fitting your own meter doesn’t get you out of paying the standing charge: this relates to the cost of getting electricity and gas to your home plus other costs added to your bill by Ofgem (green levies; social costs; the cost of  supplier failures etc…)

CostaRica18

I am having significant issues with the smart meter from Scottish Power that was installed 9 months ago. My annual recorded usage was 13,00Kwh / year until it was installed. In the first 25 days after they installed it, they claimed I used over 10,200Kwh (over 400Kwh per day). Their meter says we now use around 70,000Kwh per year. They have not yet admitted this seems to be an issue.