What are the pros/cons of getting a smart meter installed?

t0rt0ise

WibbleBaaaaaa said:

Biggest con for a smart meter is when they fail, because that is when you will have to jump though what seems like unending hoops to get anything down about it.....in my own case i have had 2 smart meters installed, one failed after 6 weks, took another 5 months to replace it, so for me i have had a 50/50 fail rate from SM installs, wheras my old dumb meter had zero issues for over almost 20 years from the day it was installed to the day i replaced it with a smart meter.

Oh and the small IHD has never worked from day 1, and in that case no one really cared to do anything.

When you say they fail, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that they don't send readings automatically or do you mean that they don't record usage at all? 

FreeBear

dllive said:

Fantastic - thanks guys.
Yes, woudl certainly be nice to see what Im using in almost-realtime using an app.
cheers!

If you go with Octopus, they may well send you a Home Mini. Coupled with their app, you'd get realtime usage and a finer grained usage chart (I think the app will update at a rate 10 seconds for today's usage).

https://octopus.energy/blog/octopus-home-mini/

Scot_39

Yes to 1/2 hourly.

Ofgem now allow it as default for supplier or even iirc meter upgrades so surprised they even asked.

Tariffs say like Cosy don't use old register style daily readings - they use 1/2 hourly to bill you at different rates at different times of day.

Gerry1

Ildhund said:

dllive said:

I presume I would like a Variable DD (so I only pay for the energy used, and dont build up a big credit with the energy supplier... which has happened in previous years). 

Check carefully. Ofgem allow for unit rates and standing charges for those who pay in arrears to be higher than for those who pay by constant Direct Debit, to the tune of £60 a year for the typical household.

That's certainly true if you pay on receipt of bill (cash or cheque).  But AFAIK a DD is a DD, it doesn't matter which flavour.

Ildhund said:

dllive said:

I presume I would like a Variable DD (so I only pay for the energy used, and dont build up a big credit with the energy supplier... which has happened in previous years). 

Check carefully. Ofgem allow for unit rates and standing charges for those who pay in arrears to be higher than for those who pay by constant Direct Debit, to the tune of £60 a year for the typical household. Some suppliers take advantage of this if payment is by variable Direct Debit, others don't (currently).

I've never experienced this, I think it's an urban myth.  Does anyone know of any supplier that does this?

TroubledTarts

dllive said:

Hi all,

I want to change to a cheaper tariff (electric only. I dont have gas. I have an air source heat pump). The tariff I want means that Ill have to get a smart meter installed.

I dont nessecarily mind having a smart meter, but I dont like the 'big brother' aspect of it. I know Im probably being irrational/archaic, so Im happy to get one installed unless others can voice genuine reasons why I might not want one?

The convenience of not having to submit meter readings is a mild plus, but Ive heard a few people say they have problems with theirs not working etc...

Thanks

I will give you two examples if that will help.

We also have a heat pump and do have a smart meter. We don't have any solar or batteries

Last year we used approx 8000kwh as we have a large house and outbuildings and all electric.

1) With a smart meter we were able to make use of a smart meter only tariff and averaged 13.4pkwh so the whole year was £1072 excluding standing charge

2) Without a smart meter for our region and taking into account the best fix available a year ago for us at 22p kwh without needing a smart meter our total would have been £1760

So the saving on having a smart meter was £700

I don't care who can see that and the data of our usage and I also know the nonsense of switching people off has so many hoops that have to be jumped through it is not someone flicking a switch.

It's your choice if you want to pay more?

bob2302

The only good reason for not getting one IMO is if you are on E10 and don't want to risk losing it - some people have ended-up on E7. 

Chrysalis

I dont think there is an actual practicality con.
A very small amount of smart meters have communication issues, which basically makes it like a legacy dumb meter, so at worst it works the same as your existing meter. 
In terms of big brother comments, all it will do is share your consumption data with your provider, which you should be doing anyway manually on a legacy meter, so unless you are someone who wants to steal energy by bypassing your meter and not telling your supplier about it, or perhaps providing fake lower readings, there isnt an issue.
When people talk about failing meters, its typically just the communications module, the metering parts will still be functioning. 

ic

I've had smart meters for a couple of years.

Pros

No need to read meter readings
Meter readings officially updated once per day automatically with supplier - I can see real usage
My provider Octopus provides a little device that means I can see live electric usage, and gas usage up to the last half hour in their app.
Access to time of use tariffs - I saved a fortune (towards a grand) in the last year by using Octopus's Tracker tariff.

Cons

None

GrahamLM52

We had both our electricity and gas meters done at the same time. The only issue we had was with the gas (so not applicable to you).

When the installers had finished they had a heck of a job re-lighting our ancient gas boiler (the old type with a pilot light you view through a window).

In the end they gave up and stuck a "do not use until examined by a gas-safe qualified engineer" notice on it.

Next day our usual gas service guy turned up, tested the installation and fired up the boiler straight away. Cost me £50.

There are very rare instances of electricity meter installers making mistakes when installing new meters, so I'd suggest that you check all your electrical devices are working as normal after the new meter is installed.