Can the smart bit of a smart meter be turned off?

MikeJXE

SAC2334 said:

Smart meters have built in security sensors which are fed by battery and capacitor power .This is present whether it's feeding data or not and it can t be turned off .There's more to smart meters than just being able to record readings .

Are you implying there are back doors (like the post office scandal) where they can alter the meter 

No never that can never happen can it ?

Brie

Nebbit said:

If you have a smart meter it makes it much easier for utility suppliers to disconnect you. I am staying with the traditional meters as long as possible

Not really - they still need to have proof that you haven't engaged if you are in debt and there needs to be court sign off no matter what.  

You will very likely need to have your meters changed in the next few years no matter what you want as the utility companies are obliged to install them.  

EssexHebridean

MikeJXE said:

SAC2334 said:

Smart meters have built in security sensors which are fed by battery and capacitor power .This is present whether it's feeding data or not and it can t be turned off .There's more to smart meters than just being able to record readings .

Are you implying there are back doors (like the post office scandal) where they can alter the meter 

No never that can never happen can it ?

I suspect that the "security sensors" are the bits that will tip off the supplier if someone is on the fiddle! 

Scot_39

How many such remote permanent supply smart meter disconnections have been done in UK (*) ?

How does that compare with conventional meter disconnections ?

Do you normally plan on not paying your bills and then having done so,  plan not to engage with suppliers to discuss debt plans with them ?.

Over £3bn estimated bad debt was owed to suppliers by end of last year.  Most, many in even quite large debt (£1000s not £100s in some cases) still being supplied.


Read the true process not the anti smart conspiracy site headline version - e.g.  

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-supply/if-youve-been-told-your-energy-supply-will-be-disconnected/



(*) Not to be confused with temporary prepay disconnections when folk havent credited their prepay meters  - that in reality is nothing new. 
Prepay smart are actually if anything more flexible  in many instances - in terms of payment options and emergency credits.  
Unlike old coin meters of parents era - iirc over 1m homes had them - digital and smart do generally if not always come with emergency overnight and even full weekend temporary credit facilities in one large UK suppliers cases. 
So better not worse than old tech.

mr_stripey

disconnections must be very rare these days. Growing up in a not very financially savvy house in the 70's/80's we periodically had gas, electricity and water disconnected as well as the phone.

Can remember brushing my teeth with a bottle of water in the dark before school. Was just the way things were. 

I'm pretty sure if this was happening on a regular basis these days it would be all over the local facebook groups!

MikeJXE

Malchester said:

Being pestered by Outfox the Market to have a smart meter installed but they say it cannot be turned off from being a smart meter. I thought smart meters could be so they run like an old fashioned meter. 

Anyone know 

I suspect you got that information from the energy threads on here where some were saying they don’t want a smart meter as they would rather send readings in every month 

They were told to switch off the smart meter prt  and use it as a dumb meter and send your own readings in if thats what you want 

Looking at this thread that advice seems to be not true 

FreeBear

Gerry1 said:

mr_stripey said:

Nebbit said:

If you have a smart meter it makes it much easier for utility suppliers to disconnect you. I am staying with the traditional meters as long as possible

people keep pedaling this rubbish. Yes, in theory it can be disconnected but only under strict circumstances and only after length non payment when all other avenues have failed. There are further safeguards in place to protect vulnerable customers. Safe to say it is never going to be a problem if your bills are paid - exactly as it has always been

I trust you have studied the Smart Meter specifications, notably about Time of Use tariffs (Surge Pricing),  Block Tariffs (Usage Surcharges), Load Limiting and Load Shedding?

I'm on a ToU tariff and currently enjoy paying a much lower rate (on average) than most.

I'm already load limited by the size of the main incoming fuse (60A rating) and cable sizes. Load shedding will only apply to heavy industrial users, and they will have agreements in place with their suppliers for such an event. Switching off a handful of domestic customers is not going to shed enough load to be worthwhile - Much easier to switch off an entire neigbourhood at a substation (no need for smart meters).

Ildhund

The supplier wouldn't disconnect you for non-payment until at the end of a process lasting months - perhaps even years - during which they would repeatedly have had to demand payment. If you still didn't pay, the next step would be to install a (smart!) prepayment meter, with help from the courts if necessary. Another possible reason is tampering with the meter, which could lead to disconnection and/or prosecution for theft once proved beyond any doubt. 

Any meter, traditional or smart, can be disconnected by the electricity distributor at the flick of a switch, for their own purposes and also if the supplier requests it.

Which of these scenarios applies to you?

Gerry1

Ildhund said:

Any meter, traditional or smart, can be disconnected by the electricity distributor at the flick of a switch

How would you do that for a mechanical (spinning disc) meter, without also disconnecting the neighbours?🤔

EssexHebridean

MikeJXE said:

Malchester said:

Being pestered by Outfox the Market to have a smart meter installed but they say it cannot be turned off from being a smart meter. I thought smart meters could be so they run like an old fashioned meter. 

Anyone know 

I suspect you got that information from the energy threads on here where some were saying they don’t want a smart meter as they would rather send readings in every month 

They were told to switch off the smart meter prt  and use it as a dumb meter and send your own readings in if thats what you want 

Looking at this thread that advice seems to be not true 

Mike, I can't recall of any situation on here where anyone suggested to an OP that they could just "turn off the smart meter" - because you just can't do that. There is no reason why people can't simple take readings if that is what they want to do, and there may be some suppliers who are happy for people to submit though - although I could see it could cause confusion. I'm not sure what you're referring to, but if you can find the relevant thread I'd certainly be interested to see it!