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

[Deleted User]

Zandoni said:

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

Zandoni

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

[Deleted User]

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

Zandoni

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

[Deleted User]

Zandoni said:

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

I am actually billed on 30 minute usage and not index readings as are most Octopus time-of-use tariff customers. E.on Next also uses 30 minute usage for billing on some of its tariffs.

Let’s leave the discussion there. There are now more smart meters than dumb and I suspect that both parties will include mandatory smart metering in their forthcoming manifestos. 

Zandoni

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

[Deleted User] said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

I am actually billed on 30 minute usage and not index readings as are most Octopus time-of-use tariff customers. E.on Next also uses 30 minute usage for billing on some of its tariffs.

Let’s leave the discussion there. There are now more smart meters than dumb and I suspect that both parties will include mandatory smart metering in their forthcoming manifestos. 

I haven’t got a smart meter yet, but I accept I’ll have to get them soon. It will be comforting to know I’ll make a billionaire even richer.

ArbitraryRandom

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

I'd also suggest that measuring demand is only PART of it - the bigger issue is actually matching use to supply. 

There's two options for that: changing the supply side of that equation is harder than changing demand (wind/solar are depending on the environment, and coal/gas/nuclear can't be turned on or off in a minute) but lots of people are happy to shift when they put their washing on or eat dinner if they can save money/you pay them. 

Hence smart meters at the domestic level. 

If you see that as a saving for being flexible or a premium for using what you want when you want... YMMV

Zandoni

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

I'd also suggest that measuring demand is only PART of it - the bigger issue is actually matching use to supply. 

There's two options for that: changing the supply side of that equation is harder than changing demand (wind/solar are depending on the environment, and coal/gas/nuclear can't be turned on or off in a minute) but lots of people are happy to shift when they put their washing on or eat dinner if they can save money/you pay them. 

Hence smart meters at the domestic level. 

If you see that as a saving for being flexible or a premium for using what you want when you want... YMMV

Even that I don't see, the rewards for using less at a particular time are far too small to make people bother.

[Deleted User]

Even that I don't see, the rewards for using less at a particular time are far too small to make people bother.

Trust me, you have got this so wrong. These were the 30 minute usage prices earlier this week:

If you look at the graph you can see that peak prices were well below the capped price for most of the time. Even if a consumer did no load shifting, they woolly pay less than of there were on a capped tariff.

MattMattMattUK

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Dolor said:

Zandoni said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Zandoni said:

I think smart meters are a complete and utter waste of money, scrapping perfectly good working meters is scandalous. Unfortunately though when a meter meets it's ficticious end of life they will be fitted.

Is that scandalous in the same way the weights and measures acts states shop scales and petrol pumps  etc that measure commodities for sale (via devices with moving parts provided by the vendor) must be kept accurate, or some other definition of scandalous???

I can tell you as a fact that the diaphragm meters that were replaced are far more accurate than the electronic meters that are now fitted. I know we have to move with the times but they brought in smart meters far too early and cost the bill payer so much more money.

Again if you bothered to do any research you would see that the NAO has concluded that the cost of the smart meter programme will be higher than the anticipated £12.6Bn; however, given recent increases in the cost of energy, the savings will also be significantly higher. You need to think ‘future’ not the ‘present’.  The savings are based on what we would have paid for energy in future years without smart meters compared to what we might be paying with smart meters.

The whole concept a Smart Grid is better visibility of consumer demand against constantly renewable supply. If the Grid doesn’t have access to profiled usage then it has to have expensive standby generation on call. This has to be paid for even if it is not used/needed.

I don't believe having smart meters will give them anymore help to predict usage than they already know. It will cost the consumers billions and it will never pay for itself.

Yet again, you are choosing to state what you think you know without spending anytime doing a little bit of research.

A large number of consumers are now on Octopus' Agile tariff which has 30 minute changing unit prices. The information that they can obtain from their 30 minute usage graphs enables them to move some usage from periods of low supply and high prices to periods of high supply and low prices. As a result they are saving a lot of money compared to a consumer on a non smart metered tariff.

Thirty minute smart meter usage data not only helps consumers save money but it also helps Grid managers. 

As far as gas meters are concerned, all gas meter types have to meet the same certification criteria.

With the smart grid idea that you like so much, why do they need to know consumer demand at house level? Surely demand in larger areas are all thats needed.

Unlike electricity generated from coal and gas, renewable energy is constantly variable. For example, this time yesterday morning my solar panels were outputting 350W. Looking now, the panels are outputting 3.5kW.  The same applies to wind and the generation from wind turbines.

The greater the visibility that Grid managers have of a consumer’s usage profile the more accurate the forecast is for total electricity demand at all times of the day. As electricity has to be used or stored, Grid managers have, for example,  to make strategic decisions on whether or not to pay wind farm operators to feather the blades on their turbines. Take 5 minutes to look at the links that I provided.

Smart meters also make time-of-use tariffs possible. Canada, for example, has tariffs with 3 periods and 3 unit rates. France and a number of other countries offer power-limited tariffs (max kW not kWh) at a reduced standing charge. 

I’m no convinced at all that measuring demand at individual meters is necessary, they can monitor areas whatever size they need, but individual homes is overkill.

I'd also suggest that measuring demand is only PART of it - the bigger issue is actually matching use to supply. 

There's two options for that: changing the supply side of that equation is harder than changing demand (wind/solar are depending on the environment, and coal/gas/nuclear can't be turned on or off in a minute) but lots of people are happy to shift when they put their washing on or eat dinner if they can save money/you pay them. 

Hence smart meters at the domestic level. 

If you see that as a saving for being flexible or a premium for using what you want when you want... YMMV

Even that I don't see, the rewards for using less at a particular time are far too small to make people bother.

With the demand reduction scheme many people got £5-10 for reducing their demand at particular times. In general based on the ability to run the washing machine and/or dishwasher for almost free at a certain time, or paying at another time many people choose almost free, most people with EVs charge them at night due to significantly cheaper rates (7.5p per kWh vs 30p), those with storage heaters charge them at night due to significantly cheaper rates if they use E7, people taking advantage of cheap weekend or free Sunday usage etc. many people are already bothering and many more will once the differential widens further.