Smart meter rollout

muffins2

I'm being badgered about installing a smart meter to the point of harassment. I don't want one. (The reasons why are a separate issue.) I know the providers have targets. But does anyone know if the government has any plans to force consumers to accept smart meters any time in the future?

Qyburn

I'm sure they do, and it's long overdue. In any case the meter is the supplier's responsibility and if they want to replace it then they have the right to do so.

la531983

What I suspect would be more likely is the providers essentially forcing people onto them by making people with non-smart meters have uncompetitive tarriffs. Its amazing how you may change you mind if you had to pay 50p per unit rather than the 20p everyone else would be paying, and thats the angle they will go down imo.

GingerTim

No-one here will know what the plans are to complete the smart meter rollout. But by definition a rollout will be completed at some point. It should have been compulsory from the outset, but that ship has sailes.

My supposition: as the rollout slows and most people have a smart meter, there won't be an immediate resort to a stick approach, with refuseniks (not those who can't have one because of signal coverage) finding themselves on a punitive standing charge - think at least £1 a day and a higher unit rate. And of course, as they now, they will be locked out of TOU tariffs that offer savings.

If that doesn't work, only then would I expect warrants to be issued to install them in the properties of the real holdouts.

But as I said, only supposition and no-one here will know (and if they do know and work in the industry are unlikely to say if they did!)

Keep_pedalling

If your current meter has passed its certification date then it needs changing, and at some point it will be whether you want it or not.

mmmmikey

muffins2 said:

I'm being badgered about installing a smart meter to the point of harassment. I don't want one. (The reasons why are a separate issue.) I know the providers have targets. But does anyone know if the government has any plans to force consumers to accept smart meters any time in the future?

As of today you'll be forced to have a smart meter when your current one passes it's certification date. Other than that is anyone's guess but there's a clear direction of travel and the day is going to come when holding out simply isn't an option, whether that's because of rates that make old meters look silly or a drop dead must be changed by date.

flaneurs_lobster

Don't worry too much about smart meters. I'm on my second pair of the things and they quickly turn into dumb meters soon after installation.

Would I like the things sorted properly? Yes, but that would mean I would be responsible for coordinating a date and time between EDF and 5 households (and their utility companies) for a slot where all power would be off for up to 8 hours. 

Nah.

If EDF want the things working then they can sort out the scheduling. In the meantime I'll just carry on sending them readings every month.

BlueonBlue

Keep_pedalling
Do you have a cost effective tariff with EDF without a smart meter or are you not concerned at the moment ?

I choose a EDF tariff and booked a smart meter installation but have blocked of the gas meter upstairs in the junk room as had to empty a van .
So I have just been rebooking .....meaning kicking the can down the road until I have a big clear out .
The gas meter is inside a made to size wooden box thats accessable but very tight for room but I dont really want to dismantle it for easier access .
So I have just been rebooking the date again and again .

These days paying the bills is priority so stopping work isnt .
I read on MSE in general all this being forced to do this and that ......naughty naughty naughty...its alot of scare mongering bolly olly .
My meters been out of date for years and works fine .

flaneurs_lobster

BlueonBlue said:

Do you have a cost effective tariff with EDF without a smart meter or are you not concerned at the moment ?

Yes I have a tariff that is only available if I have a smart meter. 

And indeed I do have a smart meter (in fact 2), it just doesn't work.

BlueonBlue

Well I have the EDF tariff and no smart meter ..not just yet anyway but need a new gas meter sometime in the near future and the smart meter of course .

I have noticed the school master "we must do as we are told mentality posts on MSE  or doom and gloom will beset you".
Soon as you hear all that you know to wait out ,ask around and take a reality check .
No one is going to force anything at present....EDF couldnt cope even if they wanted too

Edf cant just pop round this week its booked months in advance and is a moving target 

Qyburn

BlueonBlue said:

I have noticed the school master "we must do as we are told mentality posts on MSE  or doom and gloom will beset you".

Don't know what your point is there. Thanks to our smart meter we earn hundreds of pounds a year in electricity export, and when we need to import it averages under 10p/kWh. I wouldn't be in a hurry to give that up just to make some sort of point.