Smart meters - what's the current thinking?
Discussion
dickymint said:
Didn't realise that the obligation to inspect the meter had been dropped!Although my question was primarily aimed at the topic of obtaining rights of entry warrants and the obligation to recertify meters, as the poster I was quoting seemed to suggest that these powers have changed regularly.
zarjaz1991 said:
The rest of you...good luck with your "smart meters", you'll bloody need it. Enjoy your free days of electricity, or whatever other blackmail they have used on you, because if you abuse that little privilege they'll simply use your "smart meter" to restrict your supply.
If my display is showing Zero consumption during my free usage period, how do they know how much free Electric I'm using?triple5 said:
If my display is showing Zero consumption during my free usage period, how do they know how much free Electric I'm using?
Can you set it to show in KWh, rather than pounds and pence? I know the Eon version can be set this way, so that even if the tariff was 0.0p/KWH, the energy consumption will still show just as normal.Snake the Sniper said:
Can you set it to show in KWh, rather than pounds and pence? I know the Eon version can be set this way, so that even if the tariff was 0.0p/KWH, the energy consumption will still show just as normal.
Yes you can, but I'll have to wait to next Sunday to try that out.Can't see how it would make any difference though, when I look online it still shows my reduced consumption in both KWh and actual cost.
Blue Oval84 said:
triple5 said:
If my display is showing Zero consumption during my free usage period, how do they know how much free Electric I'm using?
The meter itself has 48 registers to record energy use each day in half hourly chunks. They know exactly how much you're using and when 
triple5 said:
Yes you can, but I'll have to wait to next Sunday to try that out.
Can't see how it would make any difference though, when I look online it still shows my reduced consumption in both KWh and actual cost.
Well they'll still know, as you asked how they'd find out. Best have everything running on a Sunday!Can't see how it would make any difference though, when I look online it still shows my reduced consumption in both KWh and actual cost.
I won't be having one fitted until forced to by law.
It will be costing a lot of money to fit smart meters to all these properties, probably even hundreds of millions. Who is paying for that? It won't be the energy companies, it might be in the short term, but they *will* make it back somehow. People can claim tin foil hat brigade and all that, but the fact is energy companies are here to make money, they don't spend a lot of money on something unless there is something in it for them.
I don't know how they intend to cover the costs and make a profit, but I do know the only ones that win in the long term are the energy providers.
It will be costing a lot of money to fit smart meters to all these properties, probably even hundreds of millions. Who is paying for that? It won't be the energy companies, it might be in the short term, but they *will* make it back somehow. People can claim tin foil hat brigade and all that, but the fact is energy companies are here to make money, they don't spend a lot of money on something unless there is something in it for them.
I don't know how they intend to cover the costs and make a profit, but I do know the only ones that win in the long term are the energy providers.
Megaflow said:
I don't know how they intend to cover the costs and make a profit, but I do know the only ones that win in the long term are the energy providers.
Erm, they will make some efficiency savings but nowhere near enough to cover the costs of the rollout, so we'll be putting that on energy bills. It's not a secret. It's stated policy. How else would we recover the costs other than bill increases?Megaflow said:
I won't be having one fitted until forced to by law.
It will be costing a lot of money to fit smart meters to all these properties, probably even hundreds of millions. Who is paying for that? It won't be the energy companies, it might be in the short term, but they *will* make it back somehow. People can claim tin foil hat brigade and all that, but the fact is energy companies are here to make money, they don't spend a lot of money on something unless there is something in it for them.
I don't know how they intend to cover the costs and make a profit, but I do know the only ones that win in the long term are the energy providers.
From the horses mouth ...........It will be costing a lot of money to fit smart meters to all these properties, probably even hundreds of millions. Who is paying for that? It won't be the energy companies, it might be in the short term, but they *will* make it back somehow. People can claim tin foil hat brigade and all that, but the fact is energy companies are here to make money, they don't spend a lot of money on something unless there is something in it for them.
I don't know how they intend to cover the costs and make a profit, but I do know the only ones that win in the long term are the energy providers.
"You will not be charged separately for a smart meter or for the in-home display. Under current arrangements you pay for the cost of your meter and its maintenance through your energy bills, and this will be the same for smart meters."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/smart-meters-how-they-...
It's already included in your bill whether you have one or not!
Blue Oval84 said:
The meter itself has 48 registers to record energy use each day in half hourly chunks. They know exactly how much you're using and when
I've not signed up to 30min data. I'm interest in the technical explanation of how they can still record what I'm using when the consumption being transmitted is Zero. Unless maybe the meter transmits two lots of data.......
dickymint said:
From the horses mouth ...........
"You will not be charged separately for a smart meter or for the in-home display. Under current arrangements you pay for the cost of your meter and its maintenance through your energy bills, and this will be the same for smart meters."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/smart-meters-how-they-...
It's already included in your bill whether you have one or not!
... unless you're with one of the energy companies who are refusing to take part "You will not be charged separately for a smart meter or for the in-home display. Under current arrangements you pay for the cost of your meter and its maintenance through your energy bills, and this will be the same for smart meters."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/smart-meters-how-they-...
It's already included in your bill whether you have one or not!
>smug<
I don't see how an electricity company knowing when you use electricity is of any concern!?
Your mobile phone provider does the same with calls. Your broadband supplier will do it for broadband. Your bank can track where you shop and how much you spend. Facebook can see what you're searching for or looking at and give you targeted advertising.
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
Your mobile phone provider does the same with calls. Your broadband supplier will do it for broadband. Your bank can track where you shop and how much you spend. Facebook can see what you're searching for or looking at and give you targeted advertising.
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
ashleyman said:
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
'Old-fashioned' meters are unable to facilitate charging you in multiple segments throughout the day. So whilst everyone knows when domestic peak demand is, there's no way of throttling demand (by way of revised charging regimes) at those times, to differentiate from 11am or 2pm.If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
ashleyman said:
I don't see how an electricity company knowing when you use electricity is of any concern!?
Your mobile phone provider does the same with calls. Your broadband supplier will do it for broadband. Your bank can track where you shop and how much you spend. Facebook can see what you're searching for or looking at and give you targeted advertising.
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
TBF, they'll probably introduce smart meterering by making the cost of a dumb metered supply much higher for the average user, as with metered/unmetered water, to incentivise uptake and punish those who dont. While i can understand some frustration at letting the supply/distro -like so much today- degrade to the state where this becomes necessary i cant see what anyone here "holding out against the man" really hopes to achieve.Your mobile phone provider does the same with calls. Your broadband supplier will do it for broadband. Your bank can track where you shop and how much you spend. Facebook can see what you're searching for or looking at and give you targeted advertising.
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
V8mate said:
ashleyman said:
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
'Old-fashioned' meters are unable to facilitate charging you in multiple segments throughout the day. So whilst everyone knows when domestic peak demand is, there's no way of throttling demand (by way of revised charging regimes) at those times, to differentiate from 11am or 2pm.If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
ashleyman said:
V8mate said:
ashleyman said:
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
'Old-fashioned' meters are unable to facilitate charging you in multiple segments throughout the day. So whilst everyone knows when domestic peak demand is, there's no way of throttling demand (by way of revised charging regimes) at those times, to differentiate from 11am or 2pm.If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
The kind of behaviours they will want to promote will be things like encouraging electric car users not to plug their car in as soon as they get home from work, but to wait until bedtime.
V8mate said:
ashleyman said:
V8mate said:
ashleyman said:
Plus, it's kinda obvious when electricity will be used. Mostly evenings and weekends the same as 99% of the population with the same circumstances as you!
If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
'Old-fashioned' meters are unable to facilitate charging you in multiple segments throughout the day. So whilst everyone knows when domestic peak demand is, there's no way of throttling demand (by way of revised charging regimes) at those times, to differentiate from 11am or 2pm.If thats the only concern with these smart meters then that's really a non-issue for me. I've still not heard a good enough reason not to get one amongst all the dross in this thread.
The kind of behaviours they will want to promote will be things like encouraging electric car users not to plug their car in as soon as they get home from work, but to wait until bedtime.
I doubt they'll ever do off peak / peak tariffs for energy usage. I still don't see how having a smart meter is a bad thing though.
ashleyman said:
But if I don't have an electric car why would that affect me? I'll go to a garage like normal.
I doubt they'll ever do off peak / peak tariffs for energy usage. I still don't see how having a smart meter is a bad thing though.
They'll have to, if they want people in electric cars; there simply isnt generation or distribution capacity otherwise.I doubt they'll ever do off peak / peak tariffs for energy usage. I still don't see how having a smart meter is a bad thing though.
One of the many features touted in the long discussion about what smart meters should be and do would be a way to trigger off peak systems to charge but I think it all got lost along the way.
Ironically a number of the saving-the-ecosystem tesla car owners have high power polyphase supplies in their homes so they can charge whenever and quickly!
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff