The new energy bill

Foreverdreaming

I have been advised that the energy bill was passed through the HoCs last week, and I've heard/read the following:

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison.

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using.

I can't believe all of this is true - so would appreciate any clarifications/feedback from some of the experts here.  Having to have a heat pump seems the most bonkers considering that a number of buildings in the UK aren't suited to using this technology.

Also, if this summary is 100% true, when does it come into effect?  

GingerTim

Here's the latest version of the Energy Bill: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3311/publications

Sea_Shell

From what I've read of it...it includes the word "may" quite a lot.

So there is undoubtedly a gap between what they could do, or will do.

Depending on which way political winds are blowing.

Foreverdreaming

Do we know when this bill will come into effect?

I have been thinking of downsizing to a smaller house, but if this comes into effect, I may better off staying put rather than risk a 15k fine.  I don't want heat pumps as I don't think they will work properly in my house so would be a waste of money. 

I suppose I could use plug in oil filled radiators if I stay here. I'm not sure of the best way forward when it comes to using hot water though.

I feel really angry at this insane bill though.  Heat pumps aren't suitable for all properties!  

born_again

Foreverdreaming said:

I have been advised that the energy bill was passed through the HoCs last week, and I've heard/read the following:

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison.

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using.

I can't believe all of this is true - so would appreciate any clarifications/feedback from some of the experts here.  Having to have a heat pump seems the most bonkers considering that a number of buildings in the UK aren't suited to using this technology.

Also, if this summary is 100% true, when does it come into effect?  

Which also works in reverse, such as Intelligent Octopus where you can get cheap overnight rate 7.5p electric when they decide that there is surplus energy. Happens quite often as well in peak times (18:00 to 20:00)
So it not all doom & gloom with smart meters 👍

Foreverdreaming

What are people in flats meant to do btw?

[Deleted User]

I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using.

With respect, what you have heard is incorrect. Yes, smart meters have remote disconnection devices built into them but suppliers cannot disconnect a supply without following statutory disconnection procedures which includes getting a Court Order. Where power cuts are needed because of a lack of supply this will be achieved by DNO region with pre-notified disconnections for ALL consumers on a rota basis.

In most countries, smart meter disconnection devices are used by mutual consent. A consumer agrees to a power-limiting tariff at certain times of the day. The lower the agreed power limit, the lower the daily standing charge. For example, if I agree to a 5kW limit from 4 to 7pm each day and I turn on the kettle and the oven at the same time, I will exceed the contracted power limit. The supplier will then notify me by text; IHD message etc instructing me to reduce power (ie; turn something off). If I ignore these messages, then my supply will be disconnected. I can get reconnection by calling a National phone line. Frequent breaches will result in me being moved to a higher power tariff at a higher cost. Look at France and Spain for tariff examples.

There is no way that any supplier can track device use via a smart meter. The default profile for smart meters is now 30 minute usage. To recover this data, suppliers carryout ONE data pull every 24 hours which returns midnight index readings and an XML file which contains 30 minute usage data in kWh- not kW. This data is needed because our supply of electricity has become much more variable than was the case 20 years. To avoid us all having to pay for unnecessary standby generation, the Grid needs to have as much profiled energy use as possible to better match supply with demand.

Mandatory smart meeting is long overdue. France has already made smart meters mandatory (as have some other countries) and Germany will do so from 2025. Consumers who refuse smart meters in France are now ‘fined’ by paying a much higher standing charge: this ‘fine’ will be increased each year.

EDIT: An example of a French power-limited tariff: (for kVA read kW)

dunstonh

If that wasn't bad enough the bill also stipulates that SMART meters will become mandatory, letting slip the real reason they have been pushing them so hard.

Having a smart meter will help tenants who forget to take reading on entry/exit.

Smart meters should be mandatory.  It should open up the marketplace for a greater range of tariff options.  So, more follow the likes of Octopus.

rp1974

Foreverdreaming said:

What are people in flats meant to do btw?

Firstly sort out the insulation to as high a standard your budget will allow.
Next find better advisor(s) to make your decisions on,ideally one(s) that are a little more realistic and a little less conspiracy theory/tin foil hattery based.
Then consider asking the mods to move this to the vent/rant section,perhaps where it would be more appropriate.

[Deleted User]

(Removed by Forum Team)

Countries across the World have made smart meters mandatory because they are a vital part of what is known as a Smart Grid. Put simply, we have to find better ways of managing constantly variable supply with demand. As posted above, rather than look at what suppliers might do, look at what they are doing. Consumers are able to buy gas and electricity at prices well below the Ofgem Cap by avoiding times of the day when prices are high due to consumer demand. Yes, it might be convenient to put the dishwasher on at 6pm but if the price is 50% lower at 8pm it makes sense to do it then.

No one is controlling anything without the consumer’s knowledge. For example, an EV owner might want 20kWh of charge overnight for his/her daily commute. Octopus will now choose which 6 by 30 min periods offer the cheapest prices (which usually are periods of low demand). The EV owner gets a charged car in the morning and the lowest cost, and the Grid owner doesn’t  have to pay a constraint payment to a wind farm owner. It’s a ‘win win’ situation.

QrizB

This seems to be a lot of excitement over inaccurate reporting on a bill that isn't yet law.

So far as I can see, the bill has been sent back to the Lords with almost 400 Commons amendments for them to consider.