Smart meters - good or bad.

[crankedup5]

We like to give our self read gas and leccy readings every month to our energy provider. Our problem is the location of the meters which make it a difficult physical job to get in to read the meters, a new kitchen was built around the meters.
Would it be a wise thing to now request a smart meter or are these things still considered to be a pain? Thanks

[xx99xx]

A device that automatically reads your meters for you isn't a pain surely?

[anonymous-user]

Are they still quite a bit larger than existing meters?

If you’ve had the kitchen built around them, do you have space for the smart ones?

I don’t want a smart meter but if accessing the meter is a pain then it seems a sensible move.

[LocoBlade]

Massive thread on the topic last year, ranging from love them to work of the devil, so take your pick
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[crankedup5]

xx99xx said:

A device that automatically reads your meters for you isn't a pain surely?

Thanks for reply, of course it would make the reading of our meters redundant and that’s the whole purpose of our considering having a smart meter installed. However I do recall that earlier smart meters proved to be unreliable and gave problems when trying to switch energy suppliers. I was hoping people could offer real life experiences of use.

[crankedup5]

LocoBlade said:

Massive thread on the topic last year, ranging from love them to work of the devil, so take your pick
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks for that and link.

[anonymous-user]

Bit of both, good because they make energy use more visible to consumers and bad because they have a remote cut-off switch in them.

As for the automatic readings, great when/if it works.

[Uncle boshy]

New ones use the latest standard and allow switching between suppliers.

Size wise not much different, to legacy.

Can be an issue if you live in an area of poor mobile coverage since they rely on mobile networks for connectivity.

Enable smart tariffs which are useful if you are considering an ev at some point

But from my perspective a sensible evolution and really not much to be worried about

[Wacky Racer]

Having one fitted next Tuesday.

[mike74]

Not good if you want to provide slightly exaggerated readings prior to price hikes.

[Condi]

gottans said:

and bad because they have a remote cut-off switch in them.

They don't offer any more legal options for energy companies or DNO's that what they already have. Yes they can disconnect remotely as opposed to sending a man out to disconnect you, but legally, the 2 situations are the same. Nothing to be worried about unless you're planning to not pay the bill or want to put a grow in your loft.

[kambites]

Ours has been... fine. It just works, the only difference from the old meter is that I don't have to bother reading it.

[Big_Dog]

I had smart gas and electric meters fitted over a year ago. Had to modify the cupboards they fit it.
I am really looking forward to seeing them work properly. I have been told "next month" seven times now. I have to take the cupboard apart to read the gas meter.
Might be worth asking the odds of them working properly before you have them fitted.
Mine are SMETS2 as well.

[skilly1]

Struggle to see any issue with therm.

You get exact readings, can see live data, and can take advantage of low cost power from around 12.30-4.30 am if you want to.

I have the 1st generation and still managed to move supplier and keep it working.

[Arnold Cunningham]

We had them fitted at the beginning of the month.

By using the hour by hour view, I’ve managed to reduce summer gas consumption by 25% through turning the hw temp down and reducing the hours. Pre-meter, I thought I had it as good as I could get it.

So right there is a good reason to have a smart meter.

[Biggus thingus]

Current utility co pushing us to accept smart meter but i've heard horror stories that you are then tied in to that utility co, meters not working accurately etc etc

[anonymous-user]

Condi said:

gottans said:

and bad because they have a remote cut-off switch in them.

They don't offer any more legal options for energy companies or DNO's that what they already have. Yes they can disconnect remotely as opposed to sending a man out to disconnect you, but legally, the 2 situations are the same. Nothing to be worried about unless you're planning to not pay the bill or want to put a grow in your loft.

And Energy companies never mess anything up ever....

[Condi]

gottans said:

And Energy companies never mess anything up ever....

How many people can you point to who have been incorrectly disconnected via a smart-meter? I've never heard of 1.

[Condi]

Biggus thingus said:

Current utility co pushing us to accept smart meter but i've heard horror stories that you are then tied in to that utility co, meters not working accurately etc etc

They've never tied you into an energy supplier. The first generation didn't work "smartly" if you moved supplier, but still worked as a "dumb" meter. The second generation (almost anything over the last 4 years, maybe more) work fine moving around between suppliers and a lot of the first generation are being given software updates.

As for not working accurately, they are as accurate as a normal meter, there is very little reason not to get one.

[James6112]

Ordered mine today through EDF
Being installed early July