Lets talk SMART meters . . .

TheBanker

Petriix said:

Aside from that, I'm personally very happy with my own smart meter because it gives me access to very cheap electricity, ultimately saving me hundreds of pounds every year. 

Same here. I drive an electric car so slightly different to most people, but due to my smart tariff my average unit of electricity costs me about 13p which is less than half of the current OFGEM price cap. To benefit from that tariff, I also have to allow the electricity company to control my car charger. 

Everything comes at a cost and personally I would rather benefit from lower prices than worry about someone spying on my electricity usage.

You can say the same about many other things. I assume people who don't want smart meters also don't have Tesco Clubcards, public transport smartcards, mobile phones or even bank accounts as these all allow organisations to 'spy' on you. 

Qyburn

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

MikeJXE

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

What would that lead to ?

Compulsory electric car ?

Compulsory 2 bed home 

Where would it stop ? 

GingerTim

I think the point was that having a smart meter is not really voluntary now as it stands - when the certification on anyone's mechanical meter expires, it will be replaced with a smart meter.

MattMattMattUK

MikeJXE said:

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

What would that lead to ?

Compulsory electric car ?

Compulsory 2 bed home 

Where would it stop ? 

Yes, smart meters should be compulsory. Electric cars will also need to become compulsory in time, climate change as well as local air pollution make it a necessity. Both apply in the same way as we as a society ban drink driving, smoking in indoor public places, current vehicles having emissions requirements, the MOT, the restrictions placed on weapons etc. The example of compulsory two bed homes is puerile. 

Where is stops is where it is sensible to stop. In the case of the energy grid it needs modernisation so we can decarbonnise it, smart meters are part of that. Those who block that modernisation happening are part of the problem and they need to be brought into compliance, or disconnected. 

QrizB

MikeJXE said:

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

If you want an electricity supply, you are legally compelled to allow your supplier to fit a meter. You have no choice regarding what sort of meter they fit.

The suppliers are being strongly encouraged to fit smart meters to the >95% of properties where they are suitable.

So in effect it's already compulsory.

MikeJXE said:

What would that lead to?

Ah, the "slippery slope" argument. Enough said.

MikeJXE

MattMattMattUK said:

MikeJXE said:

Qyburn said:

spendthrift33 said:

. having a (notso) SMART meter is voluntary! 

That's one idea that really needs knocking on the head.

You mean it should be compulsory ?

What would that lead to ?

Compulsory electric car ?

Compulsory 2 bed home 

Where would it stop ? 

Yes, smart meters should be compulsory. Electric cars will also need to become compulsory in time, climate change as well as local air pollution make it a necessity. Both apply in the same way as we as a society ban drink driving, smoking in indoor public places, current vehicles having emissions requirements, the MOT, the restrictions placed on weapons etc. The example of compulsory two bed homes is puerile. 

Where is stops is where it is sensible to stop. In the case of the energy grid it needs modernisation so we can decarbonnise it, smart meters are part of that. Those who block that modernisation happening are part of the problem and they need to be brought into compliance, or disconnected. 

I don't think so 

If we are going to demand everyone to save the planet 

Why should a couple be allowed to live in an old 4/5 bedroom Victorian home wasting energy on heating 

Who do you suggest in government is sensible enough to make the right decisions ? 

MattMattMattUK

MikeJXE said:

If we are going to demand everyone to save the planet 

Why should a couple be allowed to live in an old 4/5 bedroom Victorian home wasting energy on heating 

Ultimately because they might be "wasting" energy heating their home, but they will be incentivised by cost to improve the insulation and energy efficiency and energy will also be carbon neutral, so their energy usage will not be contributing to climate change.

MikeJXE said:

Who do you suggest in government is sensible enough to make the right decisions ? 

If the government is not competent then the electorate should select a new one at the next available opportunity, although the electorate have as a whole demonstrated themselves almost entirely unable to make sensible decisions. It will come down to an element of technocrats making decisions, the methods to decarbonise are limited so that path will one we can follow (from a rational and logical perspective nuclear as a backbone with renewables added in is the way to go), with other modernisation and changes required along the way. 

QrizB

MikeJXE said:

Why should a couple be allowed to live in an old 4/5 bedroom Victorian home wasting energy on heating

The UK has some of the oldest and least energy-efficient housing stock in Europe.

Why? I would suggest part of it is that the UK avoided most of the depradations of WWII. You don't find many unreconstructed pre-1945 homes in Warsaw or Dresden, for example.

Living in Victorian homes might seem quaint but it's a terrible idea. Doubly terrible if it's a "conservation area" and you're stuck with sash windows etc. They're only one step away from compelling tin baths, outdoor lavs and rickets.

(The UK does seem inexplicably keen to turn itself into some sort of pre-1900 theme park, but that's a rant for a different thread.)

brewerdave

IMHO, rather than the Utility Cos. just having smart meter install targets ,they should have targets based on the % of smart meters actually working as smarts.
Another tale in my village this week ,of an install carried out but not commissioned correctly so the Utility Company concerned ,are requesting the householder to provide meter readings until ?? whenever they can be bothered !