Smart meters.

Insider

Insider

Well-known member
My energy supplier has just invited me to have one fitted. I declined and said I would need to consult this messageboard first.
I know the hard sell message is this will save me money but for the life of me I can't see that. I use the energy I need and that won't change if the smart meter next to the TV is spinning at double speed.
So who has one and if I agree will it inhibit it me if I want to change my supplier, which I do frequently?
 
It won't stop you changing supplier but most suppliers use different smart meters which aren't compatible with each other so if you change, your meter becomes dumb, I declined by the way
 
We’ve got a smart meter , and as far as I know it hasn’t saved us any money, unless her who must be obeyed is hiding something from me!
 
Unlike a water-meter, a smart meter won’t save you anything per-se. The only potential savings are by you being made more aware of what you’re using & thus maybe cutting down.

On the other hand, the utility companies like them as they save them time/money on meter-reading staff and/or temporary revenue loss as a result of sending out estimated bills, which may be less than actual usage.

As per usual - they’re pushing ‘em because it’s more in their interest than yours.
 
As blue said... the only way it'll save you money is if you invest time and effort looking in to where you're using electricity and work on cutting down your usage.
 
I googled smart meters for my energy company and found loads of comments about problems people had experienced with them, although more recent versions are supposed to be slightly more reliable. I was also phoned by my company about arranging for one to be fitted and when I declined they did ask me why. I explained I had read plenty of negative feedback on their meters and that they didn't work if you changed companies - they didn't disagree. The real reason they are doing this is to save them money so they don't have to send anyone out to read the meter. If i want to monitor my energy usage I can check the meter regularly myself and don't need a smart meter to do that. If they were serious about reducing energy usage they would provide much better subsidies for boiler and radiator replacement, not wasting billions on stupid smart meters
 
How they get away with giving the impression a smart meter can save you money i’ve no idea....i refuse to have one and have actually complained to British Gas for continually trying to book my meter appointment time, assuming I want one...🤬...
It’s all a bit big brother watching you 2 me, plus the smart meter is using your power and internet to take meter readings...🤣
 
I've got one. It does tell you how much you are using and can make you think about cutting down on usage. However, I don't use it, in fact I couldn't tell you where I've put the monitor for it.

The prime advantage for me is not having some idiot meter reader ring the door bell for 30s constant whilst simultaneously banging the knocker and then thumping the door and my subsequent question of 'wtf are you doing?'. I reserve that for Amazon drivers only.
 
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bfcpete said:
I googled smart meters for my energy company and found loads of comments about problems people had experienced with them, although more recent versions are supposed to be slightly more reliable. I was also phoned by my company about arranging for one to be fitted and when I declined they did ask me why. I explained I had read plenty of negative feedback on their meters and that they didn't work if you changed companies - they didn't disagree. The real reason they are doing this is to save them money so they don't have to send anyone out to read the meter. If i want to monitor my energy usage I can check the meter regularly myself and don't need a smart meter to do that. If they were serious about reducing energy usage they would provide much better subsidies for boiler and radiator replacement, not wasting billions on stupid smart meters
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Pete. Uncanny that is virtually the same conversation I had other than less sentence.
 
Don’t do it! Even my late father in law who loved trying to save a few bob on his utilities thought it was a complete waste of time, and he wasted quite a lot of time finding that out.
 
I’ve had mine for about 3 years now and never expected it to save me money, but don’t need to read the meters anymore. The cost data it displays doesn’t include VAT and other costs but gives a baseline indication. I’m always wary of these Energy providers who say they can save you money by switching when no 2 years are the same.
 
Insider said:
My energy supplier has just invited me to have one fitted. I declined and said I would need to consult this messageboard first.
I know the hard sell message is this will save me money but for the life of me I can't see that. I use the energy I need and that won't change if the smart meter next to the TV is spinning at double speed.
So who has one and if I agree will it inhibit it me if I want to change my supplier, which I do frequently?
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No benefit to you whatsoever. All the benefit lies with them
 
My son has one. I got up first at his house and the meter was showing £1.10.
He explained the standing charge goes on overnight which for no apparent reason I decided I didn't want one.
 
Had one fitted at my previous address in March because my supplier (SSE) insisted that it was a condition of the cheaper tariff I had selected. I didn't bother plugging in the monitor for the reasons already mentioned, and it wouldn't have saved money anyway.

When I swapped suppliers, they said the smart meter wouldn't work for them because a different supplier installed it - so a waste of time in my opinion. I still had to send them readings. Meter readers (actual people) cost the suppliers a lot, so they will try anything other than employing people. They were doing it in the 80's when I worked for a utility supplier
 
Do not have a smart meter. As an electrical engineer I have had to attend three instances of smart meters catching fire. There is no law that says you have to have one and you can not be forced into having one. I will not entertain having one and have even refused to buy property fitted with them.
 
I worked for a Housing Association and had loads of problems with them. The second generation are supposed to be a lot better.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Get them fitted.

Won’t save you any money granted but you can see at a glance where all the big eaters of power/gas are.
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I had one installed and the main power usage category was appliances and white goods I don't even have. They work off guess work from wattage power consumption... which might work for the "average" user but are otherwise completely useless.
 
Had mine fitted after constant problems with the old style meters . Very happy with them and the information that they provide. Good bits of kit .
 
Had one fitted about a year ago and it stopped working a month later. When I enquired I was told it would cost me money for an "engineer" to come out to see what the problem was... I declined and it still doesn't work and the World hasn't stopped spinning.
 
My electrician said he wouldnt have one until they were 'smarter' and worked across different suppliers. There was a lot of problems with the earlier ones and poor fitting but i think this has largely been sorted.
As said they make you aware of what you are using and costs. If you are sensible & switch things off when not in use its the same thing.
With the advent of modern more energy efficient appliances TVS, Fridges, Light bulbs etc Im not sure they are that important nowadays tbh.
I have refused constantly for years to have one installed. Its a personal choice
They save the provider money though.
 
We have a second generation smart metre installed with Bulb as the supplier. Handy for determining how often the wife puts the heating on! Seriously no problems and we were told it would work if we change supplier. No intention of presently doing so.
 
Nobody has mentioned that, with a smart meter installed, the utility can remotely switch off your electricity supply if they are having supply issues in your area to ensure the grid remains stable. While that might be a good thing for a very short time for the benefit of all in not losing the grid completely, it does open the possibility that they can switch you off for as long as they like. The utility cannot do that with an old fashioned meter.
 
Archibald Knox said:
Nobody has mentioned that, with a smart meter installed, the utility can remotely switch off your electricity supply if they are having supply issues in your area to ensure the grid remains stable. While that might be a good thing for a very short time for the benefit of all in not losing the grid completely, it does open the possibility that they can switch you off for as long as they like. The utility cannot do that with an old fashioned meter.
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Good point
 
They have offered me a second generation meter.
I think I will be saying no for the time being.
 
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