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How would I go about getting a pay as you go electricity meter replaced with a normal billed meter?
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I was wondering whether we should use "uncommunicative" but at least "dumb" has the advantage that most people can spell it!
Also - just for form's sake - An Economy 7 meter can be either smart or dumb - just referring to "E7" is uninformative.
[Incidentally the preferred term for many people is 'non-speaking' because 'non-verbal' implies inability to communicate with language (words) which is wholly inaccurate for the vast majority of people who can't/don't speak. And 'non-speaking' would certainly not be appropriate to describe a non-smart meter because it would imply the other meters do speak. There is an accessible IHD being trialled that does speak, but it's still not a meter … ]
What I don't believe, for a minute, is that I'll somehow be able to avoid being ripped off by not having a smart meter.
Yes, they'll be able to charge me more for usage in peak times. But they'll be able to charge you more *all the time* to convince you to move to a smart meter. Then when you decide you'd be better off with one after all, because the evil lying companies are ripping you off by charging you 90% of the peak rate all the time, they'll tell you "sorry, you declined a smart meter when offered one, it's £500 if you want one now".
You seem perfectly happy to believe that the energy companies are going to rip off those of us with smart meters, so why do you think not having a smart meter will make you immune to that? Why do you think they're above making having a non-smart meter so punishing and expensive that you end up relenting?
(Yes, I'm using some hyperbole here to make a point - the regulator may well draw the line at charging for smart meter installation but hopefully you can see what I'm doing)
Thank you. You are entitled to your opinion and its a good one. However, as things stand and the info I am getting from some posters and the BBC a trsuted news media and the potential for a government to lie as well as big business along with the turma some face on change over - I'm more than happy, actually very happy with the meter we have the old style
I am also glad I made an offical complaint to our supplier by re-training their staff not to make it sound as though smrt meters are mandatory
Even if we were offered 500 as things stand it would be a no as its not worth the bother and I don't want to be in the first lot of victims that will have to pay higher rates during peak periods and it will come.
Governments lie as does some big business and that is a fact. If people think the suppiers are helping them to save money, look at BP blaming the war on rises, hammering everyone and making record pfofits.
Thanks
If war in Ukraine and consequent loss of Russian supply is not responsible for the price increases, do you think BP have arbitrarily put up prices on their own to increase profits? The world market dictates oil and energy prices, not single suppliers, and at present there is a shortage of both. The only way to artificially manipulate the price is by cutting or increasing production, and it's OPEC that does that, not BP.
As to will we ever have full connectivity, eventually is probably the right answer as there will be ways around meters in basements, remove locations etc. but that will take time. If you mean in general telecoms then yes we already do via satellite phones, Starlink etc. but more limited for other things.
You seem to be assuming that by not getting one you'll avoid being in the "first lot of victims" - but you should consider that the first lot of victims may well be those without smart meters, not those with them. We're past the tipping point, over 50% have smart meters, there's generally comfort and security in the majority.
Yes, governments and big businesses lie and rip you off. They're not going go "oh, DIY Starter 7 doesn't have a smart meter, lets leave them along and not rip them off"