Smart meters - what's the current thinking?
Discussion
triple5 said:
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.......
I'm not familiar with your tariff or the way they have set the meter up, but if you're saying that your IHD is showing 0 usage, then one of two things are happening-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.......
1) Your meter is broken and recording no usage, so it will send a figure of 0 to the utility company, who should realise there's something amiss
2) Your IHD is not working properly, and the meter is actually fine. In which case the off peak register will record your usage on the on peak and off peak register and submit that to the utility.
Interestingly, your meter is actually logging 30 minute data, it's just not sending it anywhere. It will save up to a month of 30 minutes and (I think) two years of daily reads. All stored locally in the home of course.
Blue Oval84 said:
I'm not familiar with your tariff or the way they have set the meter up, but if you're saying that your IHD is showing 0 usage, then one of two things are happening-
1) Your meter is broken and recording no usage, so it will send a figure of 0 to the utility company, who should realise there's something amiss
2) Your IHD is not working properly, and the meter is actually fine. In which case the off peak register will record your usage on the on peak and off peak register and submit that to the utility.
Interestingly, your meter is actually logging 30 minute data, it's just not sending it anywhere. It will save up to a month of 30 minutes and (I think) two years of daily reads. All stored locally in the home of course.
Winding back to my original comment 1) Your meter is broken and recording no usage, so it will send a figure of 0 to the utility company, who should realise there's something amiss
2) Your IHD is not working properly, and the meter is actually fine. In which case the off peak register will record your usage on the on peak and off peak register and submit that to the utility.
Interestingly, your meter is actually logging 30 minute data, it's just not sending it anywhere. It will save up to a month of 30 minutes and (I think) two years of daily reads. All stored locally in the home of course.
I already had a smart meter but have recently signed up to BG 1 day (9-5) free electric per week. During 9-5 on my free day (Sunday in my case), my smart read out is correctly showing Zero electricity consumption. A previous poster commented that BG will still know how much electric I've used during my free period, I'm asking how?
You're correct on the 30min data, I've just chosen not to enable it.
triple5 said:
Winding back to my original comment
I already had a smart meter but have recently signed up to BG 1 day (9-5) free electric per week. During 9-5 on my free day (Sunday in my case), my smart read out is correctly showing Zero electricity consumption. A previous poster commented that BG will still know how much electric I've used during my free period, I'm asking how?
You're correct on the 30min data, I've just chosen not to enable it.
Oh I see what you mean. Weird, they're going to get in trouble if the meter is configured to simply not record the usage. It needs to be recorded and billed for, even if the charge to you is 0p, BG still need to pay for it!I already had a smart meter but have recently signed up to BG 1 day (9-5) free electric per week. During 9-5 on my free day (Sunday in my case), my smart read out is correctly showing Zero electricity consumption. A previous poster commented that BG will still know how much electric I've used during my free period, I'm asking how?
You're correct on the 30min data, I've just chosen not to enable it.
RicksAlfas said:
13m said:
Sorry if this has already been covered, but can all suppliers accommodate the same smart meter? Or does the presence of one limit choice?
No they can't. This was something that put me off having one. Their is work in progress to allow current generation of SMETS1 meters to talk to the central database (known as the DCC) - but it's not a priority.
RicksAlfas said:
13m said:
Sorry if this has already been covered, but can all suppliers accommodate the same smart meter? Or does the presence of one limit choice?
No they can't. This was something that put me off having one. All meters fitted from 2018 or so should be interoperable.
dickymint said:
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!
Megaflow said:
The key word in there is currently. When enough people have them the costs will go up, probably not for a every hour of the day, but for the peak ones. These are not going to reduce costs for consumers in the long term.
If, by smoothing out the demand a little, we can avoid spending money on upgraded transmission networks or power stations then costs will be lower than if we don't do smooth out those peaks. With the advent of things like electric cars it will be essential to do something like this.If peak hours increase then off peak will have to decrease. The best parallel I can demonstrate is Economy 7, where the night time rates are discounted, as a consequence the day rate is a little more expensive. Same thing would just happen in reverse in the scenario you describe.
Blue Oval84 said:
Megaflow said:
The key word in there is currently. When enough people have them the costs will go up, probably not for a every hour of the day, but for the peak ones. These are not going to reduce costs for consumers in the long term.
If, by smoothing out the demand a little, we can avoid spending money on upgraded transmission networks or power stations then costs will be lower than if we don't do smooth out those peaks. With the advent of things like electric cars it will be essential to do something like this.If peak hours increase then off peak will have to decrease. The best parallel I can demonstrate is Economy 7, where the night time rates are discounted, as a consequence the day rate is a little more expensive. Same thing would just happen in reverse in the scenario you describe.
triple5 said:
Winding back to my original comment
I already had a smart meter but have recently signed up to BG 1 day (9-5) free electric per week. During 9-5 on my free day (Sunday in my case), my smart read out is correctly showing Zero electricity consumption. A previous poster commented that BG will still know how much electric I've used during my free period, I'm asking how?
You're correct on the 30min data, I've just chosen not to enable it.
Does the KWh register on the IHD read as zero too? Or just the cost one? I already had a smart meter but have recently signed up to BG 1 day (9-5) free electric per week. During 9-5 on my free day (Sunday in my case), my smart read out is correctly showing Zero electricity consumption. A previous poster commented that BG will still know how much electric I've used during my free period, I'm asking how?
You're correct on the 30min data, I've just chosen not to enable it.
triple5 said:
Hmmm not sure, will check on Sunday.
I'm also wondering if the actual smart meter itself would show the consumption? Can't see anything obvious.
Whilst I'm not familiar with the BG version, all meters have a visual indicator on them, usually a red flashing LED. Even if all the Smart side of things is buggered, that will flash at a given rate per KWh which will be printed on the meter near the LED. So if you look at the front of the meter, the faster it flashes, the more you use. Just don't confuse it with any of the signal LEDs, as there's usually one or two of those present and flashing too, although they might be on the aerial on the BG kit, as I can't remember.I'm also wondering if the actual smart meter itself would show the consumption? Can't see anything obvious.
OVO gave me a little touch screen gizmo that shows me consumption/cost/every other states you could wish.
It's great.
I can see what I'm using hiur to hour and it has a cool little rev counter type display that jumps when I put something else on.
I never use it. It was pretty cool to look at originally but novelty wore off.
It's great.
I can see what I'm using hiur to hour and it has a cool little rev counter type display that jumps when I put something else on.
I never use it. It was pretty cool to look at originally but novelty wore off.
Roscco said:
OVO gave me a little touch screen gizmo that shows me consumption/cost/every other states you could wish.
It's great.
I can see what I'm using hiur to hour and it has a cool little rev counter type display that jumps when I put something else on.
I never use it. It was pretty cool to look at originally but novelty wore off.
And yet the electricity supply companies will find it 'pretty cool' for all time It's great.
I can see what I'm using hiur to hour and it has a cool little rev counter type display that jumps when I put something else on.
I never use it. It was pretty cool to look at originally but novelty wore off.
Snake the Sniper said:
Whilst I'm not familiar with the BG version, all meters have a visual indicator on them, usually a red flashing LED. Even if all the Smart side of things is buggered, that will flash at a given rate per KWh which will be printed on the meter near the LED. So if you look at the front of the meter, the faster it flashes, the more you use. Just don't confuse it with any of the signal LEDs, as there's usually one or two of those present and flashing too, although they might be on the aerial on the BG kit, as I can't remember.
Yes can see the LED on the main unit, so I guess on my free Sunday we would expect to still see the LED flashing. I'll also check the units used on the meter and see if they advance.Hi Guys, don't want to trawl back...
EDF Energy have been pushing for a date to change one of our electric meters to a smart meter. Only benefit seems to be remote readings - so no more dirty boots in the hall I suppose. Question is, at this point in time, do I need to comply or can I refuse?
Also, one of our meters is an old Economy 7 - dual rate. As the provider doesn't seem to offer dual rates, am I right in assuming they just add the two readings together to calculate my bill?
Cheers
EDF Energy have been pushing for a date to change one of our electric meters to a smart meter. Only benefit seems to be remote readings - so no more dirty boots in the hall I suppose. Question is, at this point in time, do I need to comply or can I refuse?
Also, one of our meters is an old Economy 7 - dual rate. As the provider doesn't seem to offer dual rates, am I right in assuming they just add the two readings together to calculate my bill?
Cheers
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