Smart meters. Wish you hadn't?

[Condi]

NDA said:

No more rights perhaps, but more abilities - suppliers do make mistakes.

I'm no tin-foil-hatter, but I'd rather not have a meter that can be controlled remotely. I can see no benefit at all.

The benefits are wide, as already discussed you have access to time of use tariffs and suppliers can significantly speed up billing runs which is a big saving on admin costs, (not that customers will be billed faster, but suppliers can bill their suppliers faster).

It wouldn't surprise me if smart meters were forced on customers unless the suppliers can maintain the uptake speed, because of the Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement drive from Ofgem. Basically in a few years time every customer is going to be billed half hourly, which will mean as close to 100% of customers as possible having a smart meter. The only way to achieve that might be to not give customers a choice.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulat...

[richhead]

Ian Geary said:

Are there not preferential tariffs for EVs, that power companies will only provide you if you have a meter?

(Don't know though - I'm a newcomer too)

My parents have economy seven - they've been repeatedly told it will be turned off "soon" as the radio transmitter that switches it over apparently has one spare valve left in the world?

Your tariff being linked to your physical meter type is not a new concept, but there would be nothing stopping an EV owner charging their car on a "normal" meter afaik.

I have econ 7 in my flat, no gas, They emailed me this, telling me i would die etc, checked my meter, it doesnt even have radio bit, it still works off a clock thing to switch rates, always wandered why the water heater would come on earlyer in the winter, never put two and two together, by my googling its one of the first e7 timers, has a mordern meter net to it, not smart.
It all works fine, so leaving it, never use the storage heaters anyway, its just for water, and have an electric power shower anyway, so dont really need hot water, can easy use the kettle to wash up..
They are so keen for me to get a smart meter, its funny, i check my meter every month, give them a reading, they give me a bill, i pay it. works for me fine.

[OutInTheShed]

Condi said:

The benefits are wide, as already discussed you have access to time of use tariffs and suppliers can significantly speed up billing runs which is a big saving on admin costs, (not that customers will be billed faster, but suppliers can bill their suppliers faster).

It wouldn't surprise me if smart meters were forced on customers unless the suppliers can maintain the uptake speed, because of the Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement drive from Ofgem. Basically in a few years time every customer is going to be billed half hourly, which will mean as close to 100% of customers as possible having a smart meter. The only way to achieve that might be to not give customers a choice.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulat...

The problem is, the technology is a total shambles.
It has no hope of covering some homes.
4 million meters out there not working properly.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/26/s...

I doubt the 'admin savings' look very shiny against the cost of sorting 4 million problems and complaints.

We're already in a position where the majority of meters are smart, yet we're not seeing much i nthe way of prices being smoothed out.
That's because not many people have the need for electricity which they can choose when to use it.
Most people who've got smart meters are not interested in complex tariffs which penalise them for keeping standard hours.
EV drivers and powerwall tech-heads don't exist in sufficient numbers to make a difference.

[dickymint]

OutInTheShed said:

Condi said:

The benefits are wide, as already discussed you have access to time of use tariffs and suppliers can significantly speed up billing runs which is a big saving on admin costs, (not that customers will be billed faster, but suppliers can bill their suppliers faster).

It wouldn't surprise me if smart meters were forced on customers unless the suppliers can maintain the uptake speed, because of the Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement drive from Ofgem. Basically in a few years time every customer is going to be billed half hourly, which will mean as close to 100% of customers as possible having a smart meter. The only way to achieve that might be to not give customers a choice.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulat...

The problem is, the technology is a total shambles.
It has no hope of covering some homes.
4 million meters out there not working properly.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/26/s...

I doubt the 'admin savings' look very shiny against the cost of sorting 4 million problems and complaints.

We're already in a position where the majority of meters are smart, yet we're not seeing much i nthe way of prices being smoothed out.
That's because not many people have the need for electricity which they can choose when to use it.
Most people who've got smart meters are not interested in complex tariffs which penalise them for keeping standard hours.
EV drivers and powerwall tech-heads don't exist in sufficient numbers to make a difference.

They don't give a toss apart from meeting the number of meters they have to fit by law! Suppliers will always make their profits even if your meter was run by a mouse running in a wheel with weekly checks by the 'meter man' to make sure he's got food and water

As an aside how is it said meter man has come to read my gas meter four times in the last 12 months (only since Bulb switched to Octopus) even though I religiously submit my readings online

[OutInTheShed]

dickymint said:

They don't give a toss apart from meeting the number of meters they have to fit by law! Suppliers will always make their profits even if your meter was run by a mouse running in a wheel with weekly checks by the 'meter man' to make sure he's got food and water

As an aside how is it said meter man has come to read my gas meter four times in the last 12 months (only since Bulb switched to Octopus) even though I religiously submit my readings online

Either the meter man has an ulterior motive for visiting your house, or they don't trust you!

[dickymint]

OutInTheShed said:

dickymint said:

They don't give a toss apart from meeting the number of meters they have to fit by law! Suppliers will always make their profits even if your meter was run by a mouse running in a wheel with weekly checks by the 'meter man' to make sure he's got food and water

As an aside how is it said meter man has come to read my gas meter four times in the last 12 months (only since Bulb switched to Octopus) even though I religiously submit my readings online

Either the meter man has an ulterior motive for visiting your house, or they don't trust you!

What I do know it's the same guy every time (must be at least 6 times now) we had a chat about smart meters and he wont be having one until he's forced to.

PS. I've always been on dual fuel, this is only since Octopus took over, Bulb never read them and it's only gas being read now. I don't care just find it odd.

[8.4L 154]

dickymint said:

What I do know it's the same guy every time (must be at least 6 times now) we had a chat about smart meters and he wont be having one until he's forced to.

PS. I've always been on dual fuel, this is only since Octopus took over, Bulb never read them and it's only gas being read now. I don't care just find it odd.

A man who's job depends on people not having smart meters won't get a smart meter and a company which never read a meter goes bust. Hmmm

[OutInTheShed]

8.4L 154 said:

A man who's job depends on people not having smart meters won't get a smart meter and a company which never read a meter goes bust. Hmmm

I would think duff smart meters create plenty of work for meter readers.
I'm with Octopus and haven't seen a meter reader since covid, they can't read the meter without me knowing.

[Chris Type R]

I had gas and leccy smart meters fitted at our residence yesterday. I think the gas meter which was removed dated back to the 80s, and the electricity meter dated back to the 90s.

Anyway - something that I find annoying - now having a total of 4 smart meters - is how awkward it can be to read the meter reading, should you ever need to. The old meters had big numbers, black background, white font. The new stuff is all LCD and awkward to read with age compromised eyesight, in less than ideal light conditions.

[BigBen]

Chris Type R said:

I had gas and leccy smart meters fitted at our residence yesterday. I think the gas meter which was removed dated back to the 80s, and the electricity meter dated back to the 90s.

Anyway - something that I find annoying - now having a total of 4 smart meters - is how awkward it can be to read the meter reading, should you ever need to. The old meters had big numbers, black background, white font. The new stuff is all LCD and awkward to read with age compromised eyesight, in less than ideal light conditions.

New dumb meters are the same

[alscar]

richhead said:

I have econ 7 in my flat, no gas, They emailed me this, telling me i would die etc, checked my meter, it doesnt even have radio bit, it still works off a clock thing to switch rates, always wandered why the water heater would come on earlyer in the winter, never put two and two together, by my googling its one of the first e7 timers, has a mordern meter net to it, not smart.
It all works fine, so leaving it, never use the storage heaters anyway, its just for water, and have an electric power shower anyway, so dont really need hot water, can easy use the kettle to wash up..
They are so keen for me to get a smart meter, its funny, i check my meter every month, give them a reading, they give me a bill, i pay it. works for me fine.

Eon regularly email me and say the same about the radio clock being turned off and hence their want to fit a smart meter ,occasionally they mix it up and text.
I managed to get an email address for customer service and told them a) we don't have said radio clock ,b) the wifi signal in the village is somewhat variable so a smart meter may not work all of the time, c) we don't actually want a smart meter etc.
They replied and said ok although the emails and texts continue.
I send them the reading monthly, they bill me and I pay -works pretty well.

[borcy]

I think I read somewhere that there's a shortage of electricians to fit smart meters in quite a few areas. Anyone in the industry heard that?1

[OutInTheShed]

borcy said:

I think I read somewhere that there's a shortage of electricians to fit smart meters in quite a few areas. Anyone in the industry heard that?1

Chronic shortage of managerial competence in the industry.

[borcy]

OutInTheShed said:

borcy said:

I think I read somewhere that there's a shortage of electricians to fit smart meters in quite a few areas. Anyone in the industry heard that?1

Chronic shortage of managerial competence in the industry.

Being private sector I'm sure they're binned asap.


Why is the management so poor?

[Somebody]

Chris Type R said:

Anyway - something that I find annoying - now having a total of 4 smart meters - is how awkward it can be to read the meter reading, should you ever need to. The old meters had big numbers, black background, white font. The new stuff is all LCD and awkward to read with age compromised eyesight, in less than ideal light conditions.

Are you talking about taking the readings on the actual meters? You know you can see the meter readings on the IHD?

[The Three D Mucketeer]

dickymint said:

(only since Bulb switched to Octopus)

I thought Bulb went tits up and Octopus bailed out their customers like you

[Actual]

Somebody said:

Are you talking about taking the readings on the actual meters? You know you can see the meter readings on the IHD?

I have a smart meter and I am a fan boy but...

I have moved house a few times and I also look after multiple relatives houses and the functionality of all smart meters is appalling.

For one smart meter model I had to google to find out that the meter reading could be obtained by pressing 9. Others are really bad for having to scroll though screens to get simple information. Rubbish

The IHD in house displays are even worse. Every model has completely different functionality and capability. I usually want to see the real time kWh but I have never fathomed what combinations of press this button gets the information I want. Rubbish.

[Road2Ruin]

Actual said:

I have a smart meter and I am a fan boy but...

I have moved house a few times and I also look after multiple relatives houses and the functionality of all smart meters is appalling.

For one smart meter model I had to google to find out that the meter reading could be obtained by pressing 9. Others are really bad for having to scroll though screens to get simple information. Rubbish

The IHD in house displays are even worse. Every model has completely different functionality and capability. I usually want to see the real time kWh but I have never fathomed what combinations of press this button gets the information I want. Rubbish.

The Octopus one is simple and easy. The main screen cycles through current, daily, weekly monthly and yearly usage. Press the menu button and meter, then it shows the meter readings. Not sure how much easier they could make it.

[number2]

Road2Ruin said:

The Octopus one is simple and easy. The main screen cycles through current, daily, weekly monthly and yearly usage. Press the menu button and meter, then it shows the meter readings. Not sure how much easier they could make it.

I've smart meters being installed next week. Really poor mobile signal but I'm told they can mesh (houses are c. 20 metres apart...) or use a tall aerial... hmm. Having a smart elec meter to take advantage of a dynamic tariff for an EV... if it can't do that it'll be pointless.

[Road2Ruin]

number2 said:

I've smart meters being installed next week. Really poor mobile signal but I'm told they can mesh (houses are c. 20 metres apart...) or use a tall aerial... hmm. Having a smart elec meter to take advantage of a dynamic tariff for an EV... if it can't do that it'll be pointless.

They don't use a mobile signal anymore. They use a proprietary signal, that does indeed mesh I believe.