Energy Meter not Smart Meter

GoldenOldy

Good Morning
I was wondering if there is a device which measures household energy use, which is not dependent on a smart meter? I am wary of having a smart meter, but would like to see overall energy usage (not by plugging in each item, which are the only ones i can find via the internet)
Thankyou

QrizB

These were quite common a decade ago, often being given away by energy companies, but are relatively rare now. You can usually find a small selection of them for sale on eBay. Search for "energy monitor" and similar terms.

I have a couple here that I use to monitor my solar generation.

EssexHebridean

There were things like the Owl monitors - with a clip that you attach to the cable from the meter which allowed you to monitor use - not sure if those are still sold but an appeal on freecycle might be worth a try as I bet lots of folk have them lurking in cupboards. 

For individual appliances there are things like the Tapo P110 energy monitoring smart plugs which a lot of us on here have and use but I realise that's not what you want in this instance. 

Probably the bigger question here though is what are your reasons for being wary of smart meters? We recently had a case where someone said that they didn't want SMs - on asking them to clarify what their reasons were it turned out that they were working on the basis of (as I recall) out of date information and we were able to reassure them. we've often seen people who believe that the meters will only stay smart until they change supplier, for example - and this is not the case with the current SMETS2 meters that are being fitted. 

Having used a clip on monitor for years in our old home, and now having moved to somewhere with smart meters, an IHD and the use of several apps, you can get far more detail from the SMs than you will from a clip on monitor, and without the need to be constantly noting everything down yourself in order to keep records! 

QrizB

There's a photo of my Scottish Gas-branded Humm Minim here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78255936/#Comment_78255936

EssexHebridean

British Gas used to do the same ones Qriz - or at least pretty much the same - that was the one we had, only in black. It did a sterling job for years although the screen was starting to die by the time we moved last year.   

molerat

NPower one here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305360263873?hash=item4718e3dac1:g:-SIAAOSwp0BlqVgl

I use an Eon one, currently going for £75 on Ebay   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334752598193?hash=item4df0cf48b1:g:N94AAOSw8D1j78vN

GoldenOldy

Thankyou so much everyone for both the advice and the links. Marvellous. In reply to Essex Hebridean, the reason for my hesitation around smart meters is the amount of bad publicity they received. I believe it may have been Which who reported 1 in 3 were reported as incorrect , and I dont think I would want to take the potential stress of sorting out a problem, should one occur.

MultiFuelBurner

GoldenOldy said:

Thankyou so much everyone for both the advice and the links. Marvellous. In reply to Essex Hebridean, the reason for my hesitation around smart meters is the amount of bad publicity they received. I believe it may have been Which who reported 1 in 3 were reported as incorrect , and I dont think I would want to take the potential stress of sorting out a problem, should one occur.

Have you read this

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-meters/article/smart-meters-explained/smart-meter-problems-and-solutions-a32nQ4f3LKV8#my-energy-supplier-isnt-getting-meter-readings-from-my-smart-meter

And this

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/smart-meters/

Two sources that can be trusted 

dunstonh

Thankyou so much everyone for both the advice and the links. Marvellous. In reply to Essex Hebridean, the reason for my hesitation around smart meters is the amount of bad publicity they received

SMETS1 was flawed.  SMETS2, the current generation, are perfectly fine.

Most of what you read about them is out-of-date negativity not support by the facts.  

 I believe it may have been Which who reported 1 in 3 were reported as incorrect , and I dont think I would want to take the potential stress of sorting out a problem, should one occur.

Not supported by facts.  The Which report relies on individuals and not actual data and many people get the IHD and the smart meter mixed up.

Smart meters are fantastic as you get money back periods if you use less energy but no penalty if you don't.   Some. like Octopus, have free hours where you can use electricity at no cost.    The data is transparent and allows better reporting on your use to help you understand your use more.

Basically, an IHD linked to a smart meter would give you what you need.    Although some IHDs are pretty poor quality, you can buy third party ones that give more data (which is what I did).

EssexHebridean

A lot of the reports about smart meters not working properly come from the issues around huge numbers of people thinking that the IHD - In Home Display - or the little gadget that sits on the kitchen worktop or wherever, is the "smart meter". So if their IHD has stopped working they will respond to a survey question about smart meters as though theirs isn't functioning, regardless of the fact that the meter itself is working away quite cheerfully behind the scenes! 

Other "bad news stories" include the one I mentioned earlier about meters not staying smart through switches - again no longer generally the case - there are still some non-smart SMETS1 meters but you wouldn't get one of those fitted now in any event. 

Any meter can develop a problem, and if that happens, unfortunately there will always be tress in trying to sort it. I don't think it's more likely with a smart meter though, to be honest! 

The_Green_Hornet

Channel 5 have a programme about smart meters next week.

Smart Meters: Should You Get One? | Radio Times

Summary

Alexis Conran uncovers the truth behind the promised benefits of smart energy meters, investigating their mental health impact, whether data gathered is being monetised and hearing horror stories of wildly inaccurate bills and invasions of privacy. Do smart meters live up to the claims made for them, or should consumers listen to the alarming tales that are coming to light?

Should be fun