Can smart meter be fitted without my permission and when not present at the property?

[Deleted User]

Lots of people are missing a point here I'm afraid! I do not own any money and pay my direct debit on time! They have no reason to replace them!

With respect, it is you that is missing the point. Renewable energy brings with it challenges for Grid managers. Why - because it is constantly variable. Grid managers need to have more visibility of how much energy you and I use but, more importantly, when the energy is used. Analogue meters do not provide this visibility. This is why Governments around the World are building a Smart Grid which includes mandatory smart meters.

Let me give you one example of the challenges that Grid managers face. Today is a windy day in many parts of the Country. Wind farms are producing energy in an amount that the Grid cannot cope with. Grid managers have 2 options: one, pay wind farm operators to turn off their turbines until the wind speed drops, or two, reduce the price of electricity to increase consumer demand by giving consumers the option to shift some their usage. These are the Octopus Agile prices for my region today:

I would also caution against reading too much into the few tales of woe about smart meters on this forum. There are now 10s of millions of smart meters deployed in this Country and the vast majority are doing what they were designed to do. I suspect that the next Government will make smart meters mandatory. 

la531983

Yes, I am enjoying my 14p all day rate today, those pesky smart meters eh?

mongoose2009

smart meters are to be able to turn you off remotely

same for  EVs

the drive for "net zero" means unreliable power

so at some point in winter at max demand and a  nice blocking High pressure (no wind)

"load shedding" will be necessary

so you'll be able to enjoy that smug feeling of being zero carbon to keep you warm as you pray to

Saint Greta of Thunberg

as your heat pump stops and you chomp down on your cold McBug  Burger which are 

extremely tasty and good for the plant

la531983

You make it sound like people on normal old meters are never able to be cut off.

Well I have a shocking revelation for you....

[Deleted User]

mongoose2009 said:

smart meters are to be able to turn you off remotely

same for  EVs

the drive for "net zero" means unreliable power

so at some point in winter at max demand and a  nice blocking High pressure (no wind)

"load shedding" will be necessary

so you'll be able to enjoy that smug feeling of being zero carbon to keep you warm as you pray to

Saint Greta of Thunberg

as your heat pump stops and you chomp down on your cold McBug  Burger which are 

extremely tasty and good for the plant

No supplier in the country can disconnect any domestic meter (smart or analogue) without a Court Order. If a supplier decides to go down this route, it will come as no surprise to the consumer. 

That said, in some countries, by contractual agreement with the consumer, suppliers can remotely turn off a supply when the power draw (kW) exceeds an agreed tariff limit. The lower the agreed maximum power limit, the lower the tariff standing charge. 

I have an EV and the supplier offers me 6 hours of cheap energy every night. I tell the supplier how much battery charge I need, and the supplier controls when the charging takes place. This is managed via my EV car App not my smart meter.  It is a ‘win win’ situation.

In the event of energy rationing, any disconnections (smart and analogue) will be pre-notified and they will be done on a regional basis as suggested above. If you are confused, then do a web search for ‘3 Day Week’.

Gerry1

la531983 said:

You make it sound like people on normal old meters are never able to be cut off.
Well I have a shocking revelation for you....

Only if it's an area-wide power cut, i.e. at substation level.

[Deleted User]

Gerry1 said:

la531983 said:

You make it sound like people on normal old meters are never able to be cut off.
Well I have a shocking revelation for you....

Only if it's an area-wide power cut, i.e. at substation level.

https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/what-happens-in-an-energy-shortage

EssexHebridean

lokyt82 said:

Lots of people are missing a point here I'm afraid! I do not own any money and pay my direct debit on time! They have no reason to replace them!

And for working in this sector, There is a lot going behind scenes that people don't see and understand. There are plans to introduce various tariffs such as peek or night hours etc. Also, there is many issues with connectivity etc. Many people complained about switching suppliers having one already fitted as it was compatible with the new supplier.   

If the meter is out of certification, that is a reason for it to be replaced for a start, and a legitimate one at that.

As for time of use tariffs - I've spent the last 20 years on one, they are nothing new. As others have said, many on here are saving themselves a fortune by judicious use of TOU tariffs. 

As for the difficulties in switching, even the majority of older SMETS1 meters (the ones that originally went "dumb" when you switched) are now fully smart again, so no need of any scaremongering around that aspect either. 

[Deleted User]

And another cheap night for those on Octopus Agile:

A demonstrable benefit of having a smart meter.

FWiW, we are now in the twilight SMETS1 meter phase. In the event that a SMETS1 meter cannot be updated to enable it to correct to the National network it will be replaced with a SMETS2 meter.

PennineAcute

[Deleted User] said:

And another cheap night for those on Octopus Agile:

A demonstrable benefit of having a smart meter.

FWiW, we are now in the twilight SMETS1 meter phase. In the event that a SMETS1 meter cannot be updated to enable it to correct to the National network it will be replaced with a SMETS2 meter.

Shame about the cost though