SMART METERS

[cryrst]

So not that smart really as all they do is make people paranoid and cause arguments. It doesn’t give you cheaper fuel. I have a key and card meter for gas and leccy. My own little smart meters which I check once a week and top up as I need it. Also I do suspect that if power in the grid was limited load shedding would come into play. Especially with all the heat pumps drawing a lot of power.

 

[Badger11]

So not that smart really as all they do is make people paranoid and cause arguments. It doesn’t give you cheaper fuel. I have a key and card meter for gas and leccy. My own little smart meters which I check once a week and top up as I need it. Also I do suspect that if power in the grid was limited load shedding would come into play. Especially with all the heat pumps drawing a lot of power.

Agreed. I live in a block of flats where are meters are some distant from the flats. We have had all sorts of problems with SM's due to the distance.

The only reason I want one is that our electric meter is in a tiny cupboard under the stairs and kills my back having to read it.

Other than that I see no benefit for me but plenty for the energy companies as they don't need to employ staff.

 

[ASCPFC]

I have a smart meter but stay on the non smart plans. Which are cheaper.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

I’ve refrained so far, our bills are reasonable and we know what uses the most electric anyway………..it was my daughter, and she’s left home now!!🤣

 

[rob1969]

Had one for couple of years now. Works fine. Saves me having to check meter or let some bod in to do it !

 

[BromleyMonkey]

Had one for couple of years now. Works fine. Saves me having to check meter or let some bod in to do it !

I haven’t got a smart meter and no one’s been in to check my meter for years, I just send the readings in online, I didn’t even know there was still meter readers, I thought they’d gone the same way as the Coal man and the milkman🤣

 

[Stirlingsays]

I refused one.....they weren't happy.

It just gives them more direct power over your supply than they deserve, and the incentives they suggest are just mostly crap.....and it's also like having a mobile cell tower in your property.

 

[ASCPFC]

I refused one.....they weren't happy.

It just gives them more direct power over your supply than they deserve, and the incentives they suggest are just mostly crap.....and it's also like having a mobile cell tower in your property.

To replicate 5G I just took the front off of the microwave and leave it on permanently. Great signal but the cat's not happy.

 

[Forest Hillbilly]

I had an unfortunate experience with Scottish Power a couple of years ago. Their meter in our house was allegedly sending wrong information. We got bills every week, and it was about to go legal , when a 2 hour telephone conversation proved them wrong.
We changed supplier to Octopus, and they've had no problems using the same smart meter.

 

[beak]

I haven’t got a smart meter and no one’s been in to check my meter for years, I just send the readings in online, I didn’t even know there was still meter readers, I thought they’d gone the same way as the Coal man and the milkman🤣

Benny Hill heaven the meter maids, the coal man and the milkman that should be worth a few sequels!

 

[Badger11]

I haven’t got a smart meter and no one’s been in to check my meter for years, I just send the readings in online, I didn’t even know there was still meter readers, I thought they’d gone the same way as the Coal man and the milkman🤣

And there's the rub.

In my block we have very elderly people and as I mentioned before Smart Meters don't work in some of the flats due to distance. Anyway how do you expect a blind 90yo to crawl under the stairs to read the meter.

The utilities all have a vulnerable people's list which is supposed to mean they send a meter reader. Once a year if you are lucky. My blind neighbour was paying way over the odds as they kept estimating her bill rather than reading it. I ended up getting involved and gave British Gas a piece of my mind.

Another elderly neighbour received a somewhat threatening letter about her meters. I wrote back on her behalf and pointed out that as the meter belong to them so they should damn well read it or find technology that actually worked.

NB I had a conversation with a guy who was an engineer his job was remote monitoring technology. Oh like smart meters I said, no more like nuclear power stations. Anyway he explained that the utilities and the government had picked the wrong technology for smart meters which is why they're several million not working.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

I had an unfortunate experience with Scottish Power a couple of years ago. Their meter in our house was allegedly sending wrong information. We got bills every week, and it was about to go legal , when a 2 hour telephone conversation proved them wrong.
We changed supplier to Octopus, and they've had no problems using the same smart meter.

Maybe I should move supplier from BG to Octopus - I just don't trust an energy company named after sea creature. My daughter is a big fan and they certainly have a growing customer base. Oh, what a dilemma.

Our home is fitted with a meter that is not compatible with smart meters so I continue to read my own and submit readings online.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Maybe I should move supplier from BG to Octopus - I just don't trust an energy company named after sea creature. My daughter is a big fan and they certainly have a growing customer base. Oh, what a dilemma.

Our home is fitted with a meter that is not compatible with smart meters so I continue to read my own and submit readings online.

Do they cost a few squid?

 

[Fatherken]

I have a SM . It was installed many years ago .
Not sure where it is now .
I have a small kitchen and it got in the way so I put it away somewhere .
British Gas came around a few years ago and asked if they could put a SM in .
We agreed a time and date ( being told if I wasn't in I would be charged £40 ) they still have not turned up .
Just to say I have milk delivered by a milkman/woman twice a week .

 

[beak]

And there's the rub.

In my block we have very elderly people and as I mentioned before Smart Meters don't work in some of the flats due to distance. Anyway how do you expect a blind 90yo to crawl under the stairs to read the meter.

The utilities all have a vulnerable people's list which is supposed to mean they send a meter reader. Once a year if you are lucky. My blind neighbour was paying way over the odds as they kept estimating her bill rather than reading it. I ended up getting involved and gave British Gas a piece of my mind.

Another elderly neighbour received a somewhat threatening letter about her meters. I wrote back on her behalf and pointed out that as the meter belong to them so they should damn well read it or find technology that actually worked.

NB I had a conversation with a guy who was an engineer his job was remote monitoring technology. Oh like smart meters I said, no more like nuclear power stations. Anyway he explained that the utilities and the government had picked the wrong technology for smart meters which is why they're several million not working.

I must say that you regularly post well informed,useful items on here. Thank you. 👍

 

[Midlands Eagle]

NB I had a conversation with a guy who was an engineer his job was remote monitoring technology. Oh like smart meters I said, no more like nuclear power stations. Anyway he explained that the utilities and the government had picked the wrong technology for smart meters which is why they're several million not working.

Including mine. I had mine installed by Scottish Power then shortly afterwards changed supplier to SO Energy who have been round several times to look at it and ended each visit by saying that they needed to get the codes from Scottish Power (whatever that means). This has been going on for a year now and I still don't have a smart meter that works

 

[McAhuna]

Quite a lot of evidence of them producing unacceptable levels of EMF radiation causing health problems.
Anything they are pushing that hard is rarely for our benefit.
Avoid.

 

[Uphill]

Octopus Energy (highly rated by Which?) have shot themselves in the foot on this!

I had a smart meter for many years which worked perfectly sending readings direct.
Last August they decided to 'upgrade' the meter. A replacement was fitted but technician couldn't get it to work. After much correspondence another technician came, with the same result.

The reason? This marvellous example of modern technology is programmed to work only off the O2 signal, whereas the previous one can pick up any of the main phone signals. Progress?

If Octopus had told me their new meter only worked off the O2 signal I could have saved them and me months of aggravation as the O2 signal here is non existant.

In fairness they have sent me £300 in compensation but I now have to take readings manually.

 

[Runningman]

Octopus Energy (highly rated by Which?) have shot themselves in the foot on this!

I had a smart meter for many years which worked perfectly sending readings direct.
Last August they decided to 'upgrade' the meter. A replacement was fitted but technician couldn't get it to work. After much correspondence another technician came, with the same result.

The reason? This marvellous example of modern technology is programmed to work only off the O2 signal, whereas the previous one can pick up any of the main phone signals. Progress?

If Octopus had told me their new meter only worked off the O2 signal I could have saved them and me months of aggravation as the O2 signal here is non existant.

In fairness they have sent me £300 in compensation but I now have to take readings manually.

Ours don’t work, never have, for the same reason. I told the technician when he came to install them that it was a waste of time, but he’d been commanded to fit them anyway as there was a quota to meet !

 

[beak]

Octopus Energy (highly rated by Which?) have shot themselves in the foot on this!

I had a smart meter for many years which worked perfectly sending readings direct.
Last August they decided to 'upgrade' the meter. A replacement was fitted but technician couldn't get it to work. After much correspondence another technician came, with the same result.

The reason? This marvellous example of modern technology is programmed to work only off the O2 signal, whereas the previous one can pick up any of the main phone signals. Progress?

If Octopus had told me their new meter only worked off the O2 signal I could have saved them and me months of aggravation as the O2 signal here is non existant.

In fairness they have sent me £300 in compensation but I now have to take readings manually.