British gas won't provide home display unit.

Spoonie_Turtle

debitcardmayhem said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

badmemory said:

Honestly if you need an IHD to know what energy you are consuming well.  I have known since well before smart meters were a thing, just what I was using when.  Like getting rid of those old CRT screens would save me a fortune.

I've found it extremely useful to find out in real time how much wired-in appliances are using. 

But of course you can’t work out how much your gch costs in real time, it seems to me that someone thought ihds would help save energy but didn’t take into account how people are supposed to turn off their ch until it’s too late/too cold/too expensive

Oh I meant how much energy things were using, not the IHD showing me the cost (which is wrong anyway).  We don't have gas and it is interesting to see how much the heat pump is drawing.

ArbitraryRandom

Gerry1 said:
 But if you explain everything about Christmas you won't get many turkeys voting for it.

I think you can take a cynical, optimistic, or pragmatic view of the situation... the old fossil fuel generators were never going to be replaced - so we will always have had to move to a different model. Most people aren't interested in the big picture (it's not like the info isn't out there) and the doom and gloom worst case scenario is hardly realistic given politicians quite like to keep being elected. 

It's also worth remembering that residential use makes up a portion of demand, but industrial/commercial use is significantly higher and there's only so much of that which can be practically 'shifted'.

To my mind, in the next 10 years it's very likely that we'll build more nuclear capability (RR said they could have their micro-reactors generating by the early 2030's), which will provide 24/7 power (you can't easily turn them off when they're going) - meaning I see there's going to continue to be a need to encourage use of the 'excess' during off peak. 

So it's up to the individual if they see that as higher peak prices or discounted off peak... as someone who can be flexible about when I use energy, I'm quite happy with how things look going forward. 

Chrysalis

ArbitraryRandom said:

Chrysalis said:

Gerry1 said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

I think the value for consumers is there of course, as you get a live wattage read out for the entire home, as well as data coming in for the "current" day.  Since getting the mini I havent touched the IHD it just feels very obsolete in comparison. I do make use of this as I am sure other people do as well.

Obviously Octopus are using this data for their own purposes as well, so luckily they seen value in it so us customers could benefit from the Mini.

I always considered the IHD a pointless toy that added an unnecessary cost to the rollout of smart meters (in that they're issued to everyone and add to the install time regardless of if the person is going to use it or immediately throw it away - IMO, they should have been issued on request). 

Since switching to the squidly one, I've heard about the mini and wonder if it's worth putting my name down for?

I have several plug monitors for if I'm curious re the use of individual devices, and I use the bright app (occasionally for a spot check) on my phone. As the only thing I'd be vaguely interested in is gas use, and nothing seems to give a 'live' reading for that (thanks to the way the meter works), I'm not sure it would be for me... 

The mini doesnt offer live gas usage, not sure if the actual meter itself can output that info, but it will still present gas usage for the current day at short intervals.

IHD I think in line with your thinking make it an optional extra, and redesign it so its like the mini, money saved alongside have a superior technology.

Chrysalis

Gerry1 said:

Chrysalis said:

Gerry1 said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

You are probably right from the suppliers point of view, I know when I was getting my IHD fixed, Octopus seemed really disinterested.

Chrysalis said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Well for the consumer it helps you learn about what is consuming what so does offer help in controlling your energy, I think Gerry's point is right from the supplier's point of view, but not necessarily the consumer.

I'm writing exclusively from the consumers' point of view.  Well, this consumer anyway.

If becoming aware of your usage was the main aim of the smart meter programme that's costing over £400 per household, the IHD wouldn't just be a 12-month disposable trinket.

Smart meters will change the balance between suppliers and consumers.  It's always been the case that it was the suppliers' responsibility to meet the peak demand, the consumer was in control. You switch things on when it suits you, and the supply / distribution network has to accommodate the demand accordingly.

However, if and when the rollout is completed, it'll be the other way around.  Supply capability will fall as existing power stations close and are not replaced, and how will substations and the ageing street cables cope when heat pumps and pure EVs will cause the demand to triple?

It may be almost inevitable, hence the need for smart meters to control your usage patterns. It's known as Demand Side Response.  It's why there's such enormous pressure on suppliers to fit smart meters, with heavy fines if they don't; contrary to numerous pledges, smart meters are effectively becoming compulsory because they have to be fitted in new builds and when existing meters become life expired.

Yes, it maybe unavoidable, but I object to the unpublicised and underhand way it's being marketed and operated.  But if you explain everything about Christmas you won't get many turkeys voting for it.

Oh, I never said it was the main aim of the program, but rather my comment was referencing your point that the suppliers dont really care about the IHD's, I agreed with your point that they there so the consumer has a fancy gadget to look at and say I want one of those.

I also respect you as a individual consumer has no use for an IHD type device, but obviously us consumers also have no input on whether they support them for 1 year, for the life of the meter, and on whether issues with them are treated seriously, this decision is made by the industry. That decision doesnt necessarily represent what consumers as a mass think.

I think the IHD should be optional as not every consumer will be bothered about having one, and also redesigned with no screen, with access done via a smart app instead.  The screen version could perhaps still be available at a charge given it costs more to produce.