Smart meters - what's the current thinking?

[eliot]

Had an email from ovo wanting to swap my meeter for a smart meter - presumably if I ignore it they will go away?
I'd rather wait till the 2nd gen meters are in widespread use and supplyer swapping is sorted out.

[8-P]

Had mine in about 3 months from SSE. I have never used the device they gave me with it, battery life and reception terrible. But, I do like being able to log into the website and see my useage to the day. Other than that its no more meter readings and no agro. Not sure what happens when I move supplier though..........

[Gren]

2 things don't add up for me....

- I never get an estimated bill. I read my meters every quarter and submit them and get a proper bill. Every now and then the supplier sends a bloke around but as they come 9-5 then there is never anyone in. Never been a problem

- I like the idea of monitoring use to help me reduce it. But why does the supplier need to be party to this? Why does the smart meter need to be linked to anything or if possible to a private account?

So I don't really see any advantages for me at the moment. It's all about demand management for the suppliers.

[andy43]

eybic said:

softtop said:

eybic said:

Is that actually the case? I had a water meter fitted and saved around £200 a year.

A water meter is not a smart meter.

But surely being charged for exactly what you use is better than their "estimate"?

Genuine

[andy43]

eliot said:

wolfracesonic said:

Is there any credence to the idea, I think I saw posted on here a while back, that as well as the energy companies knowing how much energy is used, smart meters will tell them when it's used, allowing them in the future to charge more at peak times?

Yes that will happen - it was discussed in the other smartmeter thread. I found a specification document that talked about variable rate charging from memory.
Basically 5 to 6 pm, middle of winter , cold still evening with no wind is a problem - if they can shift that load by an hour, they avoid firing up all the diesel and heavy oil gennys etc.
Through smart metering they would be able to offer you a slightly lower rate most of the time, but will increase significantly around tea time to discourage usage. Or hopefully only impose a high tarrif occasionally when there is exceptional demand - which wouldn't be too unreasonable.

That's the reason for the tv ads. Variable pricing, eventually, same as industrial customers. No thanks.

[richatnort]

So I got a smart meter fitted, admittedly I didn't really read into it too much because I needed the current electricity meter moving in my cupboard to fit a new fuse box that wouldn't fit in it's current position, so it was either pay £120 to british gas to come out and move it or get a smart meter and get a isolation switch fitted and the meter moved for free so no brainer for me.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/post.asp?h=0&am...
I just can't believe how they are all not standard, i'm a business analyst for work and it just sickens me to think someone didn't think oh what if they change suppliers maybe we should get all the energy supplies to fit a standard unit to make it easier to move suppliers.

[Craikeybaby]

eliot said:

Had an email from ovo wanting to swap my meeter for a smart meter - presumably if I ignore it they will go away?
I'd rather wait till the 2nd gen meters are in widespread use and supplyer swapping is sorted out.

That's what I'm hoping for. I had the email a while back and haven't heard anything since.

[davek_964]

Craikeybaby said:

eliot said:

Had an email from ovo wanting to swap my meeter for a smart meter - presumably if I ignore it they will go away?
I'd rather wait till the 2nd gen meters are in widespread use and supplyer swapping is sorted out.

That's what I'm hoping for. I had the email a while back and haven't heard anything since.

I had a letter at the end of May telling me that mine needed replacing due to age, and that unless I told them otherwise it would be a smart meter (First Utility). I called them to make an appointment, and they offered me one within a few days, but since I had already booked a week off later in June, I suggested one of those days - assuming that since it was a few weeks in advance, that should work. Apparently not - I was told that was not convenient for them.
Sadly, that was the only time convenient for me in the forseeable future - so they (Siemens) said that they would inform First Utility that we "could not find a mutually convenient time". I haven't heard back so far, but assume I will at some point - if it's really got to be replaced due to age, I guess it needs to be done. However, since I am basically their meter reader every month I don't see a smart meter achieves much - and given that they are not universal, I can't see much point.

[2lefthands]

richatnort said:

I just can't believe how they are all not standard, i'm a business analyst for work and it just sickens me to think someone didn't think oh what if they change suppliers maybe we should get all the energy supplies to fit a standard unit to make it easier to move suppliers.

You're a business analyst, yet cannot see the reasoning behind a supplier using unique equipment tied to their supply, which makes it more of a faff to change to another supplier?

[Watchman]

If the 2nd gen smart meters provide output to a phone app, I'd consider it. I can already see what my heating and lighting is up to in my house from anywhere I can get internet connection. If I could do the same with my energy supply, that genuinely would he useful to me.

And are these smart meters for electricity only or do they issue them for gas consumption too?

[richatnort]

2lefthands said:

richatnort said:

I just can't believe how they are all not standard, i'm a business analyst for work and it just sickens me to think someone didn't think oh what if they change suppliers maybe we should get all the energy supplies to fit a standard unit to make it easier to move suppliers.

You're a business analyst, yet cannot see the reasoning behind a supplier using unique equipment tied to their supply, which makes it more of a faff to change to another supplier?

More that the government allowed it to happen. The government are the ones pushing for it so why allow them to have more then one model?

[2lefthands]

richatnort said:

2lefthands said:

richatnort said:

I just can't believe how they are all not standard, i'm a business analyst for work and it just sickens me to think someone didn't think oh what if they change suppliers maybe we should get all the energy supplies to fit a standard unit to make it easier to move suppliers.

You're a business analyst, yet cannot see the reasoning behind a supplier using unique equipment tied to their supply, which makes it more of a faff to change to another supplier?

More that the government allowed it to happen. The government are the ones pushing for it so why allow them to have more then one model?

The government are about 25 years too late to start dictating what service providers use. If it is safe and accurate, they cannot get involved.

[MrOrange]

Watchman said:

And are these smart meters for electricity only or do they issue them for gas consumption too?

Both. I'm with OVO.

[eliot]

I'm with ovo, here's their own view on them:
https://www.ovoenergy.com/about-ovo/media-centre/c...

Essentially it all seems a big mess with nothing being interoperable between vendors:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-answers/topics/smart...

SMETS2 specification is supposed to address that, but they seem to pour cold water on that too and confirms they are not out yet.

[PRTVR]

eliot said:

I'm with ovo, here's their own view on them:
https://www.ovoenergy.com/about-ovo/media-centre/c...

Essentially it all seems a big mess with nothing being interoperable between vendors:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-answers/topics/smart...

SMETS2 specification is supposed to address that, but they seem to pour cold water on that too and confirms they are not out yet.

Interestingly if you switch suppliers they may rip out your old smart meters and fit their own, as they say it's all a big mess, I wonder who got this so badly wrong ?

[Zoon]

Just to add to the "not worth it" argument.
I have just had an estimated bill!
Completely useless.
This is with Eon.

So much for not needing meter readings.

[dickymint]

Zoon said:

Just to add to the "not worth it" argument.
I have just had an estimated bill!
Completely useless.
This is with Eon.

So much for not needing meter readings.

I'm with SWALEC (Scottish Power). I can enter a reading for gas and electric online anytime I choose (and as many times as i like) and my "balance" is updated immediately. I Know exactly what my next bill will be at all times including how much they owe me.
Customer Services have been excellent as they usually send me a check and adjust down my direct debit when I get to around £200 in credit!

As regards Smart Meters.....no thanks I don't need one!

[Zoon]

dickymint said:

I'm with SWALEC (Scottish Power). I can enter a reading for gas and electric online anytime I choose (and as many times as i like) and my "balance" is updated immediately. I Know exactly what my next bill will be at all times including how much they owe me.
Customer Services have been excellent as they usually send me a check and adjust down my direct debit when I get to around £200 in credit!

As regards Smart Meters.....no thanks I don't need one!

This has also proved I don't need one seeing as it doesn't work properly.
Back to submitting readings online so I know it's getting done.

[V8mate]

dickymint said:

Zoon said:

Just to add to the "not worth it" argument.
I have just had an estimated bill!
Completely useless.
This is with Eon.

So much for not needing meter readings.

I'm with SWALEC (Scottish Power). I can enter a reading for gas and electric online anytime I choose (and as many times as i like) and my "balance" is updated immediately. I Know exactly what my next bill will be at all times including how much they owe me.
Customer Services have been excellent as they usually send me a check and adjust down my direct debit when I get to around £200 in credit!

As regards Smart Meters.....no thanks I don't need one!

Your post is baffling. The whole point of paying by DD is to smooth the peaks and troughs of usage over a year. The 'next bill' is irrelevant unless you're actually paying quarterly bills, i.e. no DD.

My meter has just been read... puts me £450 in credit... and by the end of March, I'll be all square. So I'd understand that you might be concerned at being £200 in credit as spring breaks towards summer, but otherwise, by design, you build up the war chest for winter.

Your smart meter does nothing that a cursory look at your online account can't provide at any time. The public have been sold a massive pup on this and will only feel pain as meters reach a critical mass and power suppliers start devising charging regimes which the meters can respond to by the second.

[HTP99]

I'm quite liking the British Gas smart meter and app; at any time I can check on the display which sits in the lounge, exactly what gas or electric I have used up to that point and compare it with previous days and the app will tell me exactly what I've used daily and I can compare months and years to previous month and years too.