Smart meters

[scotzsue]

Our smart meter has not worked from day 1. John emails the readings and every so often we get a real person come to check we are not fibbing, usually after a hard autumn and been away and not used anything.

 

[AndyPK]

The only way ‘smart meters’ will save you money is when they remotely disconnect your supply, thereby meaning you won’t be able to use any electricity…….!

 

[Folkranger]

I think we are asking the wrong question. The one that should be asked is why is the electricity price still based on the gas price? So we've had lots of money taken off us to invest in renewables that we don’t get the benefit from.

I would ban standing charges whch penalise the lower users. Put all the cost onto the rate per kwh. Seems fair to me.

 

[poppycamper]

My thoughts exactly! I have a spreadsheet and can calculate the cost of my usage from that, and check that the bill I receive is correct.

When I did have a (working) smart meter I consigned the display unit to the loft.

They must be busy..... the "real person" was here couple of weeks ago..
At least I can say I am keeping them in a job..

 

[Alsatian]

Mine went like that but my energy supplier can now get readings due to changing their software.

I had the same experience, when I changed supplier they said they could read the usage from the smart meters but, after a couple of months they told me it stopped working, and I had to revert to supplying manual reads!

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[Folkranger]

Our smart meter has not worked from day 1. John emails the readings and every so often we get a real person come to check we are not fibbing, usually after a hard autumn and been away and not used anything.

Ours was like that when we changes suppiers. Then following my supplier advertising smart meters I asked for mine to be changed. they said they were rolling them out to old meters first. I pestered them and they did something to make my existing ones work smart again.

 

[kevenh]

our BT full fibre is on 4/5g

You’ve sone different G terms there.
Mobile Cellular data has the 4G & 5G (g for generation?)
Wi-Fi routers are 2.4Ghz or 5GHz (GHz for frequency).

Back on topic, our first series smart meter didn’t work with our new supplier.
After maybe 2 years, an OTA update fixed it.

In the early days of owning a smart meter you can make savings.
Only by noticing something is a high power drain.
Or you often leave something on

We need more features like tariff selections.

 

[DJL220]

I’ve held off having a smart meter installed for years until I added solar and batteries. Now I’m all over the smart meter and awaiting confirmation of my export monies
Like others previously I calculated my energy on a spreadsheet and have done for years. Have smart plugs on the high energy use appliances and switch them off an on as needed.
Another main reason for the meter is to use Octopus’s flux tariff where I can access different rates on import/export at various times of the day. There are savings to be had if you look for them and want to find them.

 

[Pausim]

I would ban standing charges whch penalise the lower users. Put all the cost onto the rate per kwh. Seems fair to me.

It cost money to maintain a supply even if you are not using it. Perhaps the standing charges have got out of proportion but a small charge seems fair.

 

[berni109]

At the end of the day no matter how they dress it up the total on the bill is what you have to pay. Low users now subsidise those power hungry consumers.
Standing charges were increased dramatically for no other reason than they could (agreed with the watchdog - what a joke).

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[MichaelT]

They can do it all remotely now, some people have been switched to pre-pay and not told.

Really do you have proof as I'm not sure you can do that?

 

[hja]

We have a smart meter. Didn’t expect it to save us money directly, but it allowed us to access Octopus tariffs that do so. I do like seeing it say we are exporting to the grid, meaning all our electricity is “free” at that point.
There was a recent debacle about putting people on to prepayment meters and some of that involved cutting people off without coming to the house because they had a smart meter. I am sure there is still lots on line.
Our water is metered, they come round and physically read the meter in the drive every so often. Seems old fashioned to me. In our previous house the water meter was under the sink and it was read remotely by the refuse collectors from their trucks. Seemed super clever to me!

 

[RayD]

For a number of years we have been hassled by Scottish Power to have a smart meter installed. Until they can convince me that they recognise our solar panel usage during the day we will not commit!!

 

[steve69]

But a pre payment meter is different and needs a different meter with a key that the user has to take to get topped up don't they or is that online now?

Yes, you can now do that online.

 

[kevenh]

Really do you have proof as I'm not sure you can do that?

it did happen but soon stopped.

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[Charlie57]

When I moved in I had smart pre pay meters installed by British Gas, I had to stay with British gas took 5 weeks for them to change bothe to monthly pay meters they did it remotely (electric was done overnight but due to Brit Gas 'efficiency' the gas took a lot longer) needless to say with Octopus now.

My meter (when its working properly) send readings every half hour, I suspect eventually prices will vary according to demand!

 

[AndyPK]

My meter (when its working properly) send readings every half hour, I suspect eventually prices will vary according to demand!

Yes, that’s the idea……

 

[VXman]

How do they save us money? How is it some people say it changes the time they use appliance?
Unless the old Economy 7 meters still exist?

Yes, they exist. We have one. Not sure the smart meter made us use it any differently though. We were already aware using electricity at night was cheaper

All they do is let you view your usage, surely you can monitor and reduce your usage without one?
I don’t get it, do you put the washing machine on less when you have a smart meter, do you boil the kettle less?
Do you switch lights on less?

Plus transmitting readings in real time to your supplier so you can see on a daily basis how much you are using. Yes you could monitor without one but this is easy, instant and does all the calculations for you. For example imwas able to see how much the fridge in the motorhome cost when plugged into EHU and convinced me it wasn't sensible to use it as a spare fridge.

In principle smart meters make sense. It's a bit like you wouldn't prefer to have an old black and white TV without a remote control now we have modern smart TV's with all the functionality benifits.

Having said that transmitting of data to the supplier doesn't work on mine as mobile signal is rubbish at my house.

 

[DelMar]

Never had a smart meter and don’t intend to. My provider emails to remind me when they will be taking my direct debit, I then provide them with readings. I receive a detailed statement from them each month. I even have an option to either increase or decrease my monthly payments. So far I am over four hundred pounds in credit which will probably increase a bit more before the winter. This is my cushion for the winter period. If I think it gets too much of a cushion, I can reduce my monthly payment to compensate.

I would like to add, my provider seems a very ethical company to deal with.

 

[MisterB]

How do they save us money? How is it some people say it changes the time they use appliance?
Unless the old Economy 7 meters still exist?

Yes it does exist, plus lots of other different times options with octopus. We're on reduced tariff between 1230 and 0430, but a higher than usual tariff the rest of the day. Hence my push to install home storage batteries so I can harvest cheap energy and use it during peak periods!
We now use washing machine, immersion heater and dishwasher off peak. Next job is to fit the immersun to make better use of The solar

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[Langtoftlad]

Really do you have proof as I'm not sure you can do that?

Ask Sandra (Irnbru)

 

[meanders]

Definitely true
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/11/smart-meter-prepayment-switched-remotely-rights/.

It happened a family I know well. The quarterly bill came in and was huge so was challenged. He paid an amount similar to what he had paid the same quarter the prior year plus an amount to take into account the different cost per unit. While British Gas were "investigating" the meter suddenly switched to prepay.

Citizens advice got involved and about six months later it changed back. There was also a stink in the press about it last winter, and I think OfGen have now outlawed the practice.

 

[Alsatian]

In principle smart meters make sense. It's a bit like you wouldn't prefer to have an old black and white TV without a remote control now we have modern smart TV's with all the functionality benifits.

Bl@@dy 'ell, you mean there's an alternative to black & white pictures and having to get up and manually change (3) channels?

What sort of electrickery is that?!

 

[The Wino]

I would ban standing charges whch penalise the lower users. Put all the cost onto the rate per kwh. Seems fair to me.

I disagree there is a cost in maintaining the network to your house. If you decide to being on that network it's only fair you pay towards it. If the cost depends on the amount of power used that should be added to the kWh charge. There could therefore be an argument for a reduction in the standing charge if it's more than the cost of maintaining a basic network but not abolishing it altogether

 

[Dramfineday]

Really do you have proof as I'm not sure you can do that?

Energy regulator outlines next steps on forced Prepayment Meter (PPM) installations

Ofgem has set out the next steps in the British Gas investigation and PPM review to support and protect energy customers.

www.ofgem.gov.uk

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[Odd-no-more]

Really do you have proof as I'm not sure you can do that?

Surge in energy firms switching people onto prepay meters remotely – your rights and how to protect yourself from a forced switch

If you're struggling to pay your energy bills and have built up a debt on your account, your supplier may want to move you onto a prepayment meter so they can collect repayments over time. We explain your rights to refuse prepay.

www.moneysavingexpert.com

From Money saving expert

 

[steve69]

By the way - did anyone know that if there is a child/children in the household, it is illegal to cut the electricity off, regardless of any debts. I know someone who never paid a £600 leccy bill for exactly this reason. (Not a friend I add).

 

[Alsatian]

By the way - did anyone know that if there is a child/children in the household, it is illegal to cut the electricity off, regardless of any debts. I know someone who never paid a £600 leccy bill for exactly this reason. (Not a friend I add).

Would this still apply if the child was 43 and I could convince her to move back in with us?

Hold on, the past has just come flooding back to me. I think I'd rather pay the energy bills!

 

[Suenliam]

A few years ago I asked for a smart meter as our lecky meter is in the spider ridden basement so would stop me being traumatised every month. I own the flat next door so had smart meters installed in both properties. I was happy to monitor my energy usage, but annoyed that the adverts seemed to imply the meters would automatically make you more energy efficient. Meters duly fitted and work well with the lecky but once he had finished the installer informed me they would never work for the gas as the meters were outside on a thick red sandstone wall and however good the wifi the signal would never work. Actually they did work initially with the gas, but that soon changed. Octopus are chasing me about the meters not working and I am reluctant to respond as, in a fit of pique, I slung one of the ruddy things in the bin. I am now aware that the meters are the property of the energy supplier.
Woe is me.
Sue

 

[Mala1951]

Abolish standing charges on energy bills, say industry bosses

It is a fixed amount people pay and does not change even if electricity and gas usage is reduced.

www.thenational.scot

it is being looked at by suppliers

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