Octopus: Action: Your meter is approaching its use-by date

aaiiee

On the question of saving money with smart meters, the last time I considered a fixed energy deal, probably August 2021, the Terms and Conditions included a requirement to accept having a smart meter installed. This is with Octopus. I don't know whether other suppliers have similar conditions.

As things have turned out, most people are now on the SVT, and I believe Ofgem (or the government) don't allow similar conditions for the SVT. However, when fixes become available again, this may be worth looking out for if someone is determined not to have a smart meter.

FWIW, we had smart meters installed last year, by a friendly (?Italian) chap called Marco, and the process took about an hour and a half and was problem-free.

Gerry1

TheElectricCow said:

greenhill said:

No, you don't save money with smart meters so please don't bother saying that.

At the more extreme end of the scale you even have things like the Demand Flexibility Service currently being tested/ran which can allow for some significant gains if you go about it right.

AKA Surge Pricing.

Don't worry, electricity will only be prohibitively expensive at the times when you want to use it...

Ayr_Rage

@Deleted_User 11 pages of opinions and information, you've certainly had plenty of feedback.

I am an advocate of anything that helps and having smart meters has certainly made my life a little easier.

No more going outside to open meter boxes in inclement weather.

Being able to access my online account when away from home for a while in the winter to check that the gas boiler has actually kicked into life when the temperature has fallen.

The IHD has had its moments though, worked perfectly for a year, then after a software update insisted I had used £2230 of electricity in a day.

That was a one-off day.

Then for 2 years it could not multiple kWh by pence/kWh for electricity so the running daily cost was wrong although the kWh usage was correct.

Miraculously a further firmware drop has resolved that and it is now back in perfect working order.

It has saved me a few pence, I always check how may watts are being used before retiring for the evening and one day it was a puzzling 60 watts more than normal, I then remembered I had been in the garage so checked and found I had left the light on.

EDF have been running a cashback scheme for using less at certain times and having a smart meter has enabled participation although my rewards have been minimal as I am such a low user.

At the end of the day, they are just meters with benefits.

matt_drummer

EssexHebridean said:

Aside for general information: Wikipedia has an excellent explainer on mansplaining. It originated from the habit of “some” men (obviously, “not all men” though 😉) in feeling that they needed to explain the simplest things to those who quite clearly already know them - coincidentally often women. 
Second aside for general information : “She/her” in a signature is a pretty good indicator that a person may regard themselves as female. 

@Max68 There is a link further back in the thread where you can check the certification period on your electricity meter. I checked mine last night and it transpires that it is a 20 year one although if we were planning on staying here longer I would be considering booking a SM install anyway due to the possibilities for TOU tariffs other than our current E7. 

I have learnt something, thank you.

I didn't really see any need to know what gender another forum member might be, I regard everybody as equal with equally valid opinions.

You don't have to read many posts on here, or other forums, to realise that some people (whatever their gender) do need help with even the simplest of things, not really my fault!

My posts were not entirely directed at any one person, they were just general comments and observations about the subject of smart meters.

Everybody will do what they want and that's fine with me.

ariarnia

aaiiee said:

On the question of saving money with smart meters, the last time I considered a fixed energy deal, probably August 2021, the Terms and Conditions included a requirement to accept having a smart meter installed. This is with Octopus. I don't know whether other suppliers have similar conditions.

when we moved to ovo a few years ago the fix we got was dependent on us having smart meters installed. 

they came and did the electric but couldnt do the gas as we need some pipe work doing (which we've done since). that seemed enough for them as they havent contacted us about the gas replacement and we havent seen the need to get it done as we can get on the time of use tarrifs if we want to with just the smart electric one. 

no problems getting it done if they contact us but also no problem with the existing metres (and it means i dont need to clear out the stuff that always gets dumped in that cuboard!) 

MWT

Gerry1 said:

TheElectricCow said:

greenhill said:

No, you don't save money with smart meters so please don't bother saying that.

At the more extreme end of the scale you even have things like the Demand Flexibility Service currently being tested/ran which can allow for some significant gains if you go about it right.

AKA Surge Pricing.

Don't worry, electricity will only be prohibitively expensive at the times when you want to use it...

The exact opposite in this case, people are being paid to use less energy in a specified time period to reduce the demand...

Gerry1

MWT said:

Gerry1 said:

TheElectricCow said:

greenhill said:

No, you don't save money with smart meters so please don't bother saying that.

At the more extreme end of the scale you even have things like the Demand Flexibility Service currently being tested/ran which can allow for some significant gains if you go about it right.

AKA Surge Pricing.

Don't worry, electricity will only be prohibitively expensive at the times when you want to use it...

The exact opposite in this case, people are being paid to use less energy in a specified time period to reduce the demand...

And how long do you think that this Shangri-La La Land will last?

pearl123

Deleted_User said:

I am a very satisfied Octopus Energy customer and I have always been extremely pleased with the service they provide.  I really don't want Smart Meters unless, as a last resort, they become essential.  I'll be grateful for any help in doing my best not to have Smart Meters fitted. 

I was very resistant in having a smart meter, but I had one fitted in January.
I now love it. I can see exactly my expediture. They're great.

matt_drummer

pearl123 said:

Deleted_User said:

I am a very satisfied Octopus Energy customer and I have always been extremely pleased with the service they provide.  I really don't want Smart Meters unless, as a last resort, they become essential.  I'll be grateful for any help in doing my best not to have Smart Meters fitted. 

I was very resistant in having a smart meter, but I had one fitted in January.
I now love it. I can see exactly my expediture. They're great.

I am pleased to hear something positive.

You don't have to answer but I am genuinely interested in why you were resistant to having one fitted?

ariarnia

Gerry1 said:

MWT said:

Gerry1 said:

TheElectricCow said:

greenhill said:

No, you don't save money with smart meters so please don't bother saying that.

At the more extreme end of the scale you even have things like the Demand Flexibility Service currently being tested/ran which can allow for some significant gains if you go about it right.

AKA Surge Pricing.

Don't worry, electricity will only be prohibitively expensive at the times when you want to use it...

The exact opposite in this case, people are being paid to use less energy in a specified time period to reduce the demand...

And how long do you think that this Shangri-La La Land will last?

i dunno. maybe until just before everyone being put out of work by robots and living on the moon? or by then do you think someone will have invented the perpetual motion machine or cracked cold fusion?