How would I go about getting a pay as you go electricity meter replaced with a normal billed meter? 30 January at 11:04PM in Energy 71 replies 1.8K views

Emily_Joy

Dolor said:

Exactly that. Octopus Agile Incoming prices are based on 30minute wholesale costs which suppliers have no control over.

Does this picture mean that one has use the kettle only between 12:00 and 12:30 when it is the cheapest?.. but the next day it might be different.

My landlord tends to do washing between midnight and 3am claiming that the energy is cheapest at this time. The difficulty is that the washing machine is directly under my bedroom and it wakes me up during the spinning cycle. The lack of sleep ultimately is going to affect me more than slightly higher electricity bill.

I do not believe that such fine-tuning is suitable and is likely to lead to more anxiety.

Spoonie_Turtle

Emily_Joy said:

Dolor said:

Exactly that. Octopus Agile Incoming prices are based on 30minute wholesale costs which suppliers have no control over.

Does this picture mean that one has use the kettle only between 12:00 and 12:30 when it is the cheapest?.. but the next day it might be different.

My landlord tends to do washing between midnight and 3am claiming that the energy is cheapest at this time. The difficulty is that the washing machine is directly under my bedroom and it wakes me up during the spinning cycle. The lack of sleep ultimately is going to affect me more than slightly higher electricity bill.

I do not believe that such fine-tuning is suitable and is likely to lead to more anxiety.

No because a kettle draws a lot of power but only for a very short time.  I don't think even the most devout penny conservers on here time their hot drinks according to Agile rates!

If your landlord is on Economy 7 then they are correct.  If they are on a single-rate tariff then they are wrong and there is no difference in costs whatever time they use electricity.

macman

Emily_Joy said:

Dolor said:

Exactly that. Octopus Agile Incoming prices are based on 30minute wholesale costs which suppliers have no control over.

Does this picture mean that one has use the kettle only between 12:00 and 12:30 when it is the cheapest?.. but the next day it might be different.

My landlord tends to do washing between midnight and 3am claiming that the energy is cheapest at this time. The difficulty is that the washing machine is directly under my bedroom and it wakes me up during the spinning cycle. The lack of sleep ultimately is going to affect me more than slightly higher electricity bill.

I do not believe that such fine-tuning is suitable and is likely to lead to more anxiety.

On a TOU tariff you can boil the kettle when you want, but you will pay more at certain times, and less at others. Just like your LL's (possible) E7, but with more highs and lows.
In practice, the peaks are very predictable, because they're in the morning, when people get the kettle and toaster on for breakfast, and have a shower, and in the evening, when they come home and cook their tea. Obviously the weather also has an impact, as electric heating load will soar in cold weather.
The anxiety induced by the prospect of prices rising at peak time is going to be much less than the anxiety induced by the prospect of load-shedding being a regular feature of life once the grid cannot match demand. We came close to that only last week.
That's why TOU and smart meters are not just a gimmick, but essential in the future when there is no surplus generating capacity available.

EssexHebridean

Even on E7, it would be hoped that most reasonable folk would give some consideration to the effect that using appliances during the off peak hours might have on others in the house plus neighbours etc. I’m fortunate that the construction of our property means that although we have neighbours to both sides, and above, noise doesn’t travel either sideways or up - and in fact our centrally positioned kitchen also has sufficient very solid walls between it, and our bedroom, that even WE don’t hear the washing machine or dishwasher. 

Leeroy909

Keep_pedalling said:

You have two choices stay as you are with a crappy PAYG meter or replace it with a more convenient smart meter.

Why the strong objection to a SM?

EssexHebridean said:

Hi OP - if you can let us know why you are unhappy about having a smart meter fitted there is a very good chance that some of the well informed and knowledgeable folk on here will be able to set your mind at rest on what is concerning you. There is a lot written and said about smart meters which simply isn't true, or contains a very small element of fact padded out with much fearmongering - and unfortunately that sort of "fake news" has a habit of gaining traction and putting people like yourself, who would really benefit from a meter change - off taking that path. 

@EssexHebridean @Keep_pedalling Thanks, I'm just a bit worried that the 5G signal will be able to get through my tin foil hat and activate the microchip in my vaccine.

Also, my parents had an issue a few months ago with their smart meter where they were getting overcharged due to SSE's mistake and they were essentially threatened with having their electricity cut off remotely if they didn't hand over whatever was demanded.

This did not involve needing to go through the courts and allowing them to demonstrate that SSE were completely in the wrong, as would be the case with a traditional credit meter. I've found other people online who have had similar things happen to them.

Thanks to the other posters on this thread as well

EssexHebridean

Leeroy909 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

You have two choices stay as you are with a crappy PAYG meter or replace it with a more convenient smart meter.

Why the strong objection to a SM?

EssexHebridean said:

Hi OP - if you can let us know why you are unhappy about having a smart meter fitted there is a very good chance that some of the well informed and knowledgeable folk on here will be able to set your mind at rest on what is concerning you. There is a lot written and said about smart meters which simply isn't true, or contains a very small element of fact padded out with much fearmongering - and unfortunately that sort of "fake news" has a habit of gaining traction and putting people like yourself, who would really benefit from a meter change - off taking that path. 

@EssexHebridean @Keep_pedalling Thanks, I'm just a bit worried that the 5G signal will be able to get through my tin foil hat and activate the microchip in my vaccine.

Also, my parents had an issue a few months ago with their smart meter where they were getting overcharged due to SSE's mistake and they were essentially threatened with having their electricity cut off remotely if they didn't hand over whatever was demanded.

This did not involve needing to go through the courts and allowing them to demonstrate that SSE were completely in the wrong, as would be the case with a traditional credit meter. I've found other people online who have had similar things happen to them.

Thanks to the other posters on this thread as well

Your paragraph one I’ve bolded gave me a much needed chuckle - thank you!

There have always been issues with meters giving false readings - those occasional issues won’t  go away with smart meters sadly because nothing is infallible. They are very rare though. Ultimately the same checks can be carried out on SM’s as on traditional meters too - and if the meter is recording incorrectly this should be established by the testing. I’m afraid this situation is always going to be an utter pain to try to deal with regardless of meter type involved. I do understand your reticence however in the circumstances. 

Emily_Joy

macman said: The anxiety induced by the prospect of prices rising at peak time is going to be much less than the anxiety induced by the prospect of load-shedding being a regular feature of life once the grid cannot match demand. We came close to that only last week.

The way to tackle this would be to look at office buildings first. I know for a fact that many facilities that keep light on all night when nobody is around.

macman

Emily_Joy said:

macman said: The anxiety induced by the prospect of prices rising at peak time is going to be much less than the anxiety induced by the prospect of load-shedding being a regular feature of life once the grid cannot match demand. We came close to that only last week.

The way to tackle this would be to look at office buildings first. I know for a fact that many facilities that keep light on all night when nobody is around.

Agreed, but around 80% of energy is used for heating and hot water. Switching off unwanted lights should of course be done, but it's not going to contribute much to preventing load shedding. 

EssexHebridean

In some cases for commercial premises insurance demands that a certain level of lighting is maintained, too. It's a good idea, but as macman says it really will make a tiny difference in the grand scheme of things. Of course, if businesses are still using non low energy lighting then I'd suggest that a push to ensure that they all have to change to LE would be a good way forwards - that in itself could make a difference. 

Emily_Joy

macman said:

Emily_Joy said:

macman said: The anxiety induced by the prospect of prices rising at peak time is going to be much less than the anxiety induced by the prospect of load-shedding being a regular feature of life once the grid cannot match demand. We came close to that only last week.

The way to tackle this would be to look at office buildings first. I know for a fact that many facilities that keep light on all night when nobody is around.

Agreed, but around 80% of energy is used for heating and hot water. Switching off unwanted lights should of course be done, but it's not going to contribute much to preventing load shedding. 

They also keep heating on all night