Am I obliged to allow Octopus to fit a smart meter?

[Hereward]

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Me! I have a monthly ritual. Got a spreadsheet with charts and everything.

(I do have a smart meter at another property so I am not a total luddite).

[number2]

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Tbh, not having to read meters is a pretty weak argument for getting a smart meter . Before I got mine I only read it a few times a year anyway.

I got a smart meter as we now have an EV. It was a complete no-brainer to get a smart meter and get on the Octopus EV tariff even as high non-EV electricity users.

Without an EV some of these tariffs aren't available and without battery storage there's only so much you can shift your demand with a washing machine and dishwasher .

[Road2Ruin]

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Yes. Mine's outside, can never find the key and the old one didn't have a back light. So hated it.

[dickymint]

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Compared to putting out the bins it's an absolute joy

[Killboy]

Hereward said:

Me! I have a monthly ritual. Got a spreadsheet with charts and everything.

(I do have a smart meter at another property so I am not a total luddite).

What do the charts tell you? When you read the meter?

[Killboy]

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Yeah, me. And then the inevitable fight with the electric company when you move tenancy.

[dickymint]

Road2Ruin said:

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Yes. Mine's outside, can never find the key and the old one didn't have a back light. So hated it.

I'd kill for an outside meter/s in fact I'd accept smart meters if they'd move them there

[Griffith4ever]

Road2Ruin said:

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Yes. Mine's outside, can never find the key and the old one didn't have a back light. So hated it.

Bit strong don't you think?. "Hated" taking meter readings?

exaggerate much ?

:-p

fyi - one of mine is 2 stories up, in a room where you need a ladder to see it, the other, through a building on the other side, in the garden. "Hate" is never an emotion I've associated with getting off my arse once a month and taking a stroll for 5 mins.

[Griffith4ever]

number2 said:

Griffith4ever said:

Killboy said:

Do people enjoy reading meters or something?

Do people hate reading meters or something?

Tbh, not having to read meters is a pretty weak argument for getting a smart meter .

"pretty weak" ? its laughable.

[Terminator X]

And so it begins



TX.

[Douglas Quaid]

Louis Balfour said:

James6112 said:

Louis Balfour said:

They can force you onto pre-pay. Which is reason enough. Pre-Ukraine the energy companies were RELATIVELY benign. Post, they have turned into absolute gangsters who I would not want at the controls of smart meters in our properties*

• We have lots of residential energy supplies and deal with the energy companies daily.

What is it that you find amusing?

I don’t think he’s going to reply. Too busy rolling around laughing, for some reason.

[KAgantua]

Douglas Quaid said:

Louis Balfour said:

James6112 said:

Louis Balfour said:

They can force you onto pre-pay. Which is reason enough. Pre-Ukraine the energy companies were RELATIVELY benign. Post, they have turned into absolute gangsters who I would not want at the controls of smart meters in our properties*

• We have lots of residential energy supplies and deal with the energy companies daily.

What is it that you find amusing?

I don’t think he’s going to reply. Too busy rolling around laughing, for some reason.

Sounds like the guy has a lot of experience in this field "We have lots of ... energy supplies and deal with (them) daily"
But mr. sarky emoji knows better right?

[lizardbrain]

my gas meter just isn't turning on, unsure if it's smart or not but has digital reading normally

gas company hsa scheduled smart meter installation but the meter isn't near any electrics? are they battery powered, or ar they likely to just look and leave?

[Griffith4ever]

Terminator X said:

And so it begins



TX.

lol - from OFGEM:

"Do I have to have a smart meter?
Unless there is a good reason not to, suppliers must install a smart meter if they are:

replacing a meter
installing a meter for the first time, such as in a new property.
You can choose not to accept an offer to have a smart meter fitted. You can also request to have one at a later date without being charged. Choosing not to have a smart meter might mean you have a limited choice of energy tariffs. Some smart tariffs could be cheaper."

[FMOB]

Well they have got mine booked for July as the existing one is out of its certification period.

Personally not seeing the benefits as I can already monitor my energy usage but at least the existing meter hasn't become E-Waste earlier than necessary having lasted 2 years longer than the 20 year certification period.

You check this online.

Q: As these are remotely read, do I need to let them connect to my WiFi if they can't get it to connect over their networks?

[SpidersWeb]

lizardbrain said:

my gas meter just isn't turning on, unsure if it's smart or not but has digital reading normally

gas company hsa scheduled smart meter installation but the meter isn't near any electrics? are they battery powered, or ar they likely to just look and leave?

Smart gas meters are battery powered and transmit their readings to your electricity smart meter and are sent by that on to your supplier.

- If you don't have an electricity smart meter you can't have a gas smart meter.
- If the smart electricity meter isn't near the gas meter the meters won't talk to each other, although they are testing solutions.
- The battery is non-replaceable and is designed to last the 10 year (iirc) life of the meter.

[Terminator X]

Griffith4ever said:

Terminator X said:

And so it begins



TX.

lol - from OFGEM:

"Do I have to have a smart meter?
Unless there is a good reason not to, suppliers must install a smart meter if they are:

replacing a meter
installing a meter for the first time, such as in a new property.
You can choose not to accept an offer to have a smart meter fitted. You can also request to have one at a later date without being charged. Choosing not to have a smart meter might mean you have a limited choice of energy tariffs. Some smart tariffs could be cheaper."

The law was changed^ so now you are obligated to have a smart meter as per that email, it's only a matter of time. They can force entry too if you refuse for long enough.

^Energy Act 2023

TX.

[SpidersWeb]

FMOB said:

Q: As these are remotely read, do I need to let them connect to my WiFi if they can't get it to connect over their networks?

No.

The meters in the south of England use the O2 network to send the data, and the meters in the north of England and Scotland use a long range radio connection due to the lack of mobile network coverage.

Octopus do offer an optional (beta) hub, the Mini, which connects to your WiFi and the meter and allows you to see the data from the meter live on your phone (or to extract for systems such as Home Assistant).

[Simpo Two]

The simplest way to force everybody onto smart meters is by tariff. Take 30% off the smart tariff and add 30% to the normal tariff - and wait for the stampede. I hope such a thing is illegal; it's certainly immoral.

Energy supply used to be simple, now it's a way of life for so many people.

[Griffith4ever]

Terminator X said:

Griffith4ever said:

Terminator X said:

And so it begins



TX.

lol - from OFGEM:

"Do I have to have a smart meter?
Unless there is a good reason not to, suppliers must install a smart meter if they are:

replacing a meter
installing a meter for the first time, such as in a new property.
You can choose not to accept an offer to have a smart meter fitted. You can also request to have one at a later date without being charged. Choosing not to have a smart meter might mean you have a limited choice of energy tariffs. Some smart tariffs could be cheaper."

The law was changed^ so now you are obligated to have a smart meter as per that email, it's only a matter of time. They can force entry too if you refuse for long enough.

^Energy Act 2023

TX.

You find me where the Energy Act 2023 actually says that. I've just done several pages of searching and all I can find is the act has been extended, and that is the same act that gives energy companies TARGETS to achieve in terms of smart meter roll out. It does not make it the law that they MUST install one.

This, again, from Feb thsi year:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/can-i-...

"Smart meters are NOT mandatory... unless yours is faulty or at the end of its life"