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Advice On Whether To Use A Smart Meter
39 Answers
We've always been against having a Smart Meter fitted in the house, but recently with the escalating gas and electric prices, we're having second thoughts.
We're worried how accurate estimated readings will be in the future, especially if we're attempting to reduce our power usage. Also problems, such as the those when attempting to give meter readings before an energy price, like we had the other day.
Any thoughts please.
We're worried how accurate estimated readings will be in the future, especially if we're attempting to reduce our power usage. Also problems, such as the those when attempting to give meter readings before an energy price, like we had the other day.
Any thoughts please.
Answers
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// Or are you worried about conspiracy theories?//
One of the "conspiracy theories" that are actually under consideration is the principle of "dynamic pricing" which three energy companies are trialling. This will enable them to charge a higher price when demand is high (e.g. when it's cold or dark) and/or supply is low (e.g. when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't strong). They can only do this via Smart meters. This may seem attractive. But whereas the consumer at present has some control over his bill because he can vary his usage, he will lose control in another aspect because he will have no control over the unit price. My energy consumption varies by no more than +/- 5% over a year and I can forecast with some accuracy what my energy bills will be. I will have no chance of doing that if differential pricing is introduced.
One of the "conspiracy theories" that are actually under consideration is the principle of "dynamic pricing" which three energy companies are trialling. This will enable them to charge a higher price when demand is high (e.g. when it's cold or dark) and/or supply is low (e.g. when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't strong). They can only do this via Smart meters. This may seem attractive. But whereas the consumer at present has some control over his bill because he can vary his usage, he will lose control in another aspect because he will have no control over the unit price. My energy consumption varies by no more than +/- 5% over a year and I can forecast with some accuracy what my energy bills will be. I will have no chance of doing that if differential pricing is introduced.
People seem to confuse a smart meter with an in-home display.
You can't turn the smart meter off, it will keep sending the readings to the supplier, but you can turn the IHD off.
I have a smart meter and am happy enough with it, but it won't reduce your usage. The only way to do that is to use less gas and electricity and you don't need a new meter to do that
You can't turn the smart meter off, it will keep sending the readings to the supplier, but you can turn the IHD off.
I have a smart meter and am happy enough with it, but it won't reduce your usage. The only way to do that is to use less gas and electricity and you don't need a new meter to do that
Apart from our smart meter sending readings automatically, I don't see the point of them.
If you need a smart meter to tell you that you've left half of the electrical appliances in your house switched on, there's something seriously wrong.
When I switch the kettle or toaster on, the smart meter changes from green to amber and to red, informing me that I'm using a lot of energy ..... well I've just switched on an energy guzzling device, so thanks for informing me of the blatantly obvious !!!!
If you need a smart meter to tell you that you've left half of the electrical appliances in your house switched on, there's something seriously wrong.
When I switch the kettle or toaster on, the smart meter changes from green to amber and to red, informing me that I'm using a lot of energy ..... well I've just switched on an energy guzzling device, so thanks for informing me of the blatantly obvious !!!!
//One of the "conspiracy theories" that are actually under consideration is the principle of "dynamic pricing" which three energy companies are trialling.//
I would think they could only do this if everyone had a smart meter which is probably several years away & would require legislation to make them compulsory.
I would think they could only do this if everyone had a smart meter which is probably several years away & would require legislation to make them compulsory.
Smart meters were designed for non-smart customers.... [i]
That's why I've had one for years.
Mine are both Utilita PAYG and find them handy no more quarterly bills etc... I can see what I'm using.
Most Importantly for me though was escaping British Gas and Yorkshire Electricity funny though they were suppling each others utilities. [i] I'm never going back I tell ya, I'm never going back ]
That's why I've had one for years.
Mine are both Utilita PAYG and find them handy no more quarterly bills etc... I can see what I'm using.
Most Importantly for me though was escaping British Gas and Yorkshire Electricity funny though they were suppling each others utilities. [i] I'm never going back I tell ya, I'm never going back ]
dave, not necessarily. Customers are already on different tariffs, it would be easy to charge smart meter customers a dynamic pricing scheme whilst having the rest on a standard tariff. It would have to be done in such a way that the smart meter customers never pay more for using x amount of units than the standard tariff customers using the same amount. They may pay more per unit at certain times but less at others, encouraging off peak use.
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