Upgrading old electricity meter to a smart one

EssexHebridean

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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!  

And so often, the argument against seems to be “I don’t need one, therefore they must be a bad idea to be decried at every opportunity” - how about all the people who can’t read their own meters, or do have to go outside to do so, or whatever?

Right now, and for a huge number of people, it’s possible to get cheaper energy via a smart meter. That is a simple fact.  And as for that “silly little display” - there have been plenty of cases where it has warned people that something has been left switched on which could prove dangerous, that an appliance isn’t working as expected, or even that the freezer door has been left open a crack - and I would say that’s not so silly after all! 

I’m sure we’re all delighted that “you’re all right, Jack” - but smart meters can be a real bonus for plenty of people who are NOT so “all right” as you are. 

EssexHebridean

t0rt0ise said:

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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! 

ArbitraryRandom

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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. 

For you...

If you won't see any advantage and don't want one, then that's your choice (until you're required to have a replacement because your meter is too old or faulty, or you want to access a tariff which requires you to have one).

But that doesn't mean those benefits don't exist for others and people are wrong to talk about them. 

MeteredOut

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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!  

Do you know the difference between a smart meter and its In Home Display?

dunstonh

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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!  

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.

Cashmygiro

MeteredOut said:

Cashmygiro said:

matelodave 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!  

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.

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