FabSwingers.com forum: Smart meters

By *ackformore100 OP Man
34 weeks ago

Tin town

What's the point? In the unlikely event that they work in near real time. They tell you to have a light on... Which you can tell as your light is on to allow you to see your smart meter and it tell you... You have a light on?

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By *929Man
34 weeks ago

newcastle

Their main purpose was to make it harder to steal electric fuck all to do with saving energy/money

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By (user no longer on site)
34 weeks ago

My wee box thing started playing up and eventually died on me so it got binned, havent bothered asking for another i dont need to know how much im using because id still use it anyway

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

I keep fighting them off as not interested in one but apparently I have to have one by law as the certification of last meter has expired. Nobody replaces old meters with anything other than smart ones except in very rare cases. I will have to concede to it eventually,though have agreed that they will set it to 'dumb' mode and disabling all smart features meaning I wi still have to submit readings as it will work pretty similar to old meters

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By *ackformore100 OP Man
34 weeks ago

Tin town

"My wee box thing started playing up and eventually died on me so it got binned, havent bothered asking for another i dont need to know how much im using because id still use it anyway

Well that's my thinking. Nobody uses electricity for the sake of it. And if you do... You pay for it anyway so don't understand the concept at all... Even if they did work.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

Smart meters aren't the display you see though.

It's the actual meter itself. The only difference between a smart meter and a normal one is that it automatically sends readings to your supplier, saving anyone reading it.

My gas and electric are with the same company but my gas meter, although smart, doesn't communicate with the electricity one (which sends the readings) due to its location, so I still have to send manual readings online for that.

And the display they sent me doesn't get a signal from either meter.

Not that smart.

But makes no difference to my usage anyway. Not having a screen telling me what it is isn't an issue.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

East Sussex

Their main purpose is to do away with meter readers. They only save money because people get so worried when they see the cost of power that they start turning things off. All those adverts are disingenuous and deliberately misleading

I've disuaded my dad from having one because he'd spend hours watching it and live in a freezing house eating raw food and drinking tap water.

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By *ncutgemMan
34 weeks ago

Bath ish

Keep hearing horror stories and reject the free offers but wonder if we will ever be forced to accept a smart meter BUT have to pay for it to be installed

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

"Keep hearing horror stories and reject the free offers but wonder if we will ever be forced to accept a smart meter BUT have to pay for it to be installed "

If the certication of your meter has expired or about to, you can't avoid it. Only delay it for a while as I have done

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By *reasyontheeyesMan
34 weeks ago

out in the sticks

I have 3 out of 4 smart meters in my business.

3/4 don't work and are less than 2 years old.

Cause massive issues with billing to the stage i have 3 complaints in with the energy regulator.

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By *hinstrapMan
34 weeks ago

Barnsley

All they do is make people aware and probay,more paranoid about the energy they are using. People have to use what they use.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

East Sussex

My friend had one installed recently. She sent me a string of texts telling me how much various things were costing her, and eventually consigned the darn display thing to the bread bin.

Turns out she'd been so worried about her bills that if she switched the washing machine on she turned the heating off. She's £900 in credit with her energy supplier after living all winter in a house heated to a balmy 10°. I guess her smart meter is a good thing

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By *ereforfun200Man
34 weeks ago

North West

There are various reasons and here are a couple,(please feel free to check yourselves) if for some reason you fall into arrears, they can, if required, flick a switch and it becomes a "pay as you go" or "prepayment" meter or,in times of national crisis, they can also switch your power off ...gas AND electricity unless you're on a priority register for health reasons or with children or elderly. These are from generation 2 meters onwards. I'm not trying to scare people, I didn't belive myself until I read up on it on the Ombudsman website.

Peace and love to all.

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By *amie2020Man
34 weeks ago

Huddersfield

First of all, these smart meters ( my opinions) are for the benefits of the energy suppliers. No longer need any meter readers or need to ask users to send actual readings. They can control and manage your account and payments if paying by direct debits. On the flip side, you can check the amount of electricity you used and consciously use it sparingly if necessary but worry the shit out of my wife in my case. Eventually they will insist their customers to install a unit without a choice.

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

"First of all, these smart meters ( my opinions) are for the benefits of the energy suppliers. No longer need any meter readers or need to ask users to send actual readings. They can control and manage your account and payments if paying by direct debits. On the flip side, you can check the amount of electricity you used and consciously use it sparingly if necessary but worry the shit out of my wife in my case. Eventually they will insist their customers to install a unit without a choice. "

Like mentioned above, you already have no choice if certification of your meter has expired ( they usually last 20 years)

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

East Sussex

^^ we still get asked for readings periodically and our display unit sometimes doesn't show any gas usage at all despite the heating chugging away in the background.

I agree the main benefit is to the supplier

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By *lack Orchid 0204Man
34 weeks ago

Leeds

My general rule anything with the word smart and advertised as a benefit to you isn't in either case

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

East Sussex

"My general rule anything with the word smart and advertised as a benefit to you isn't in either case

Yeah but Einstein uses one so they must be good...right?

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By *ackformore100 OP Man
34 weeks ago

Tin town

"Smart meters aren't the display you see though.

It's the actual meter itself. The only difference between a smart meter and a normal one is that it automatically sends readings to your supplier, saving anyone reading it.

And the display they sent me doesn't get a signal from either meter.

Not that smart.

But makes no difference to my usage anyway. Not having a screen telling me what it is isn't an issue. "

Unless you change supplier, then most stop working

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By (user no longer on site)
34 weeks ago

The idea was great, but the reality intervened. There are problems with them, but the energy suppliers refuse to admit the issues exist (e.g. boxes not being able to communicate with each other). The solution would be to install dumb meters, but they are generally being phased out and if you insist on one you will be charged a fee, so quite a few smart meters operate in "dumb" mode, pretty much like before--someone has to read the meter and send the reading to the supplier.

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By *aomilatteCouple
34 weeks ago

Midlands

Like mentioned above, you already have no choice if certification of your meter has expired ( they usually last 20 years) "

Our meters are 34 years old, they'll be staying for many years to come.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

I had no choice as moved into a new build.

But if it saves me a job reading meters it's all good.

My bills are all online, so I can log on whenever tonsee what's been used and what I owe.

I've already dropped my direct debit twice since moving in late last year, as they can already see the estimates they used were way out.

There's pros and cons to them, but I have no issue with them.

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

Like mentioned above, you already have no choice if certification of your meter has expired ( they usually last 20 years)

Our meters are 34 years old, they'll be staying for many years to come."

Have they not been in touch re certification?

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By *enk15Man
34 weeks ago

Evesham

I don't like any of my technology to be "smart"

No smart phones.

No smart TV's.

No smart meters.

I'm happy sitting here playing snake on my Nokia 3210 sending my meter readings via carrier pigeon.

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

"I don't like any of my technology to be "smart"

No smart phones.

No smart TV's.

No smart meters.

I'm happy sitting here playing snake on my Nokia 3210 sending my meter readings via carrier pigeon. "

And that is how it should be if that is what you like. Nobody at all should be forced into into just because 'the world moves on' or for the convenience or profit of others. I always think about others myself who can't or there are reasons not to be embrassing new tech. Jyst because I may like it, find it convenient or I am savvy with it, is irrelevant.

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By *UGGYBEAR2015Man
34 weeks ago

BRIDPORT

I don’t have any and am not looking to change, some friends of mine have seen a benefit with theirs, their supplier has a scheme whereby if yo sign up to use less electricity between 4 and 7 ( I think) in the evening you get money back, it’s not a problem for them as they just eat later and do other things, like go round their neighbours

It wouldn’t work for all but they are seeing a financial benefit from it and I assume it’s just a winter time thing.

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By *aomilatteCouple
34 weeks ago

Midlands

Like mentioned above, you already have no choice if certification of your meter has expired ( they usually last 20 years)

Our meters are 34 years old, they'll be staying for many years to come.

Have they not been in touch re certification? "

We've been getting letters off Eon for 10 years saying they need to fit new smart meters. The truth is they "want" to, not "need" to. There's no law that says you have to have new meters.

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By *elvet RopeMan
34 weeks ago

by the big field

I noticed this week that they've now started the talk about 'variable tariffs'- which was always the long goal for these.

Basically, charging you more in the times when you need power, but making a big fuss about how cheap there rate is at 3.25am, when you need next to bugger all.

I plan on being one of the last in the country to have one- even then, i'll be looking at a calibrated meter of my own in the system as i have zero trust in any of these units they've always been so keen to give away for nothing

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By *agneto.Man
34 weeks ago

Bham

They have been bugging me for years. I just ignore them. Oh you've missed your chance of a meter installation... Yeah don't care. They'll miraculously be another slot available next week if I wanted one anyway.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

I'm more pissed off about standing charges tbh.

They make up more of my bill than actual usage, and it's the same cost for a 1 bed flat as a 10 bed house.

Of course it's been all over the news about gas and electricity unit prices going down, but when the standing charge has gone up that knocks out any cost benefit to me. Single occupancy households probably won't see any savings.

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By *ario1972Man
34 weeks ago

Guildford

"They have been bugging me for years. I just ignore them. Oh you've missed your chance of a meter installation... Yeah don't care. They'll miraculously be another slot available next week if I wanted one anyway. "

The correct answer.

They're a total waste of time. What's even more infuriating is that twice a year some goon still knocks on the door to get the meter reading, er so what's the point.

If i could rip mine out and go back to a conventional I would.

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By *uddy laneMan
34 weeks ago

dudley

Smart meters they can turn off your supply from their end at any time, no need to enter premises for none payment.

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By *ldgeezermeMan
34 weeks ago

Newcastle

BBC News - Smart meter figures: Nearly four million not working properly - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9zqn77ezno

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By *ools and the brainCouple
34 weeks ago

couple, us we him her.

Getting hassle from octopussy energy to change mine due to dreaded certification.

But fuck them I'm gonna stock up in food and barricade myself into the house hook up the electric to a push bike and peddle for lights.

They'll never take me alive god damnit!

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By *uddy laneMan
34 weeks ago

dudley

"Getting hassle from octopussy energy to change mine due to dreaded certification.

But fuck them I'm gonna stock up in food and barricade myself into the house hook up the electric to a push bike and peddle for lights.

They'll never take me alive god damnit!"

I like it, as citizen Smith said, power to the people.

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By *rHotNottsMan
34 weeks ago

Dubai & Nottingham

More accurate bills, no manual reads.

As usual the UK take decades to roll out tech that’s pretty standard now in most of the developed world and half the population still don’t understand what it is.

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By *ldgeezermeMan
34 weeks ago

Newcastle

"More accurate bills, no manual reads.

As usual the UK take decades to roll out tech that’s pretty standard now in most of the developed world and half the population still don’t understand what it is."

4 million know it fucked them up

BBC News - Smart meter figures: Nearly four million not working properly - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9zqn77ezno

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By *ACOLCouple
34 weeks ago

limerick

Also worth to note that the meters don't belong to you as per say, but you are just renting it and if they believe you are better of with a SM they are cover by law to installed the meter, you ofcourse as the occupant of the premise can refuse, but soon enough it will be pushed for everyone.

Lina.

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By *ackformore100 OP Man
34 weeks ago

Tin town

"More accurate bills, no manual reads.

As usual the UK take decades to roll out tech that’s pretty standard now in most of the developed world and half the population still don’t understand what it is."

Well let's see... The tech doesn't work or is unreliable. If you change supplier they stop working. And they are misrepresented as contributing to reduced Carbon emissions and bills. Apart from that yes they are a superb idea. Be interested to see how many people have noticed their environment has improved as a consequence or their bills have reduced.

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By *ackformore100 OP Man
34 weeks ago

Tin town

"I don’t have any and am not looking to change, some friends of mine have seen a benefit with theirs, their supplier has a scheme whereby if yo sign up to use less electricity between 4 and 7 ( I think) in the evening you get money back, it’s not a problem for them as they just eat later and do other things, like go round their neighbours

It wouldn’t work for all but they are seeing a financial benefit from it and I assume it’s just a winter time thing. "

Used to be called economy 7 but they removed that, and improved it!

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By *obilebottomMan
34 weeks ago

All over

Like mentioned above, you already have no choice if certification of your meter has expired ( they usually last 20 years)

Our meters are 34 years old, they'll be staying for many years to come.

Have they not been in touch re certification?

We've been getting letters off Eon for 10 years saying they need to fit new smart meters. The truth is they "want" to, not "need" to. There's no law that says you have to have new meters."

That is true but if certification has lapsed on any of the meter, according to ofgem is the law that that meter has to be replaced. I am fighting them for last two years but not sure for how long

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
34 weeks ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

"More accurate bills, no manual reads.

As usual the UK take decades to roll out tech that’s pretty standard now in most of the developed world and half the population still don’t understand what it is.

4 million know it fucked them up

BBC News - Smart meter figures: Nearly four million not working properly - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9zqn77ezno"

The problem is that people just take it as said that they work. I read the article and the woman in question had massively overpaid due to estimated readings. It would have said 'estimated reading' on any bills sent out - mine does every month for my gas as it doesn't talk to the electric meter.

So I just send a reading through once a month, a si used to at the old place which had no smart meters.

No massive changes to bills and no risk of over/under paying.

If people leave things for months before checking the accuracy of any readings then that's half the problem. Of course it would be great if everything new worked properly.

But hey. This is the UK we're talking about........

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