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Upgrading old electricity meter to a smart one

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  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    t0rt0ise said:

    For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

    The argument for smart meters is never substantial. I don't get estimates as I upload my own readings therefore I get accurate bills. I don't have to go out in the cold to read my meters as they are indoors. It only takes a minute to read and submit the reading via the app. I can do that in less than the time it takes the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Oh wait, I need a silly little display to warn me in red that I'm using too much leccy why the kettle is boiling... click... kettle boiled... back in the green again. phew!  
    I agree the arguments we are given for having a smart meter are silly and easy to argue against. I don't understand why they don't tell about the cheaper tariffs available with a smart meter. They will never persuade people otherwise. What the companies need to do is follow Octopus's lead and all bring in new smart tariffs, that would maybe do it.
    Mostly I suspect the anti smart meter brigade have sufficient financial privilege that they don’t need to worry too much about the cost of their bills. In some cases, as a result it probably doesn’t even occur to them that others genuinely DO have concerns about affordability - they just think it is something the media makes up for effect! 
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  • MeteredOut
    MeteredOut Posts: 3,045 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper

    For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

    The argument for smart meters is never substantial. I don't get estimates as I upload my own readings therefore I get accurate bills. I don't have to go out in the cold to read my meters as they are indoors. It only takes a minute to read and submit the reading via the app. I can do that in less than the time it takes the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Oh wait, I need a silly little display to warn me in red that I'm using too much leccy why the kettle is boiling... click... kettle boiled... back in the green again. phew!  
    Do you know the difference between a smart meter and its In Home Display?
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker

    For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

    The argument for smart meters is never substantial. I don't get estimates as I upload my own readings therefore I get accurate bills. I don't have to go out in the cold to read my meters as they are indoors. It only takes a minute to read and submit the reading via the app. I can do that in less than the time it takes the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Oh wait, I need a silly little display to warn me in red that I'm using too much leccy why the kettle is boiling... click... kettle boiled... back in the green again. phew!  
    All your points are relative to your scenario and not other people.  Plus, you seem to be mixing up the IHD with the meter.  

    My scenario is not too different to yours (inside meter,  did my own readings and submitted them).   I still log them in my software despite the smart meter we now have so I can monitor trends.

    However, unlike you, the IHD, which I repeat is not the smart meter, has actually helped us.   We spotted high using during peak that shouldn't have been happening.   A device that should only have been drawing at off peak rate was kicking in too early.  Without the IHD, it may have been a month before I spotted it (or maybe never spotted it if I wasn't aware of our usage pattern).    

    Also, we have taken advantage of the beat the peak periods which you cannot do without a smart meter.

    We also reduced our idle draw thanks to the IHD and several TAPO plugs.

    That "silly little display", whilst not being a smart meter and you don't actually need it to have a smart meter, can actually be beneficial.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • Cashmygiro
    Cashmygiro Posts: 101 Forumite
    10 Posts

    For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

    The argument for smart meters is never substantial. I don't get estimates as I upload my own readings therefore I get accurate bills. I don't have to go out in the cold to read my meters as they are indoors. It only takes a minute to read and submit the reading via the app. I can do that in less than the time it takes the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Oh wait, I need a silly little display to warn me in red that I'm using too much leccy why the kettle is boiling... click... kettle boiled... back in the green again. phew!  
    Do you know the difference between a smart meter and its In Home Display?
    Yes. But seeing as smart meters are touted because of the home display being of "use" to help you save energy then I think it qualifies as a big part of the argument.
  • For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

    The argument for smart meters is never substantial. I don't get estimates as I upload my own readings therefore I get accurate bills. I don't have to go out in the cold to read my meters as they are indoors. It only takes a minute to read and submit the reading via the app. I can do that in less than the time it takes the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Oh wait, I need a silly little display to warn me in red that I'm using too much leccy why the kettle is boiling... click... kettle boiled... back in the green again. phew!  
    Do you know the difference between a smart meter and its In Home Display?
    Yes. But seeing as smart meters are touted because of the home display being of "use" to help you save energy then I think it qualifies as a big part of the argument.

    For some yes, others no.
    The meter is a meter at the end of the day.
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