matone Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Anyone got any views on the pros & cons of Smart meters? My electricity supplier wants to fit one but I`m reading lots of negatives in the press !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 I had one fitted last week and like it. It's really surprising how much you use and how much things cost to use. My heating has gone down a degree and thats a saving if £1 a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) 59 minutes ago, matone said: Anyone got any views on the pros & cons of Smart meters? My electricity supplier wants to fit one but I`m reading lots of negatives in the press !!! Sadly, I do? If you need a device that tells you to turn something off or down you may be in trouble anyway? It's reported they are not interchangeable between suppliers any way and could provide a hackers route into your system? A big nope from me. Just another officially sponsored scam? Edited February 19, 2018 by old man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, old man said: Sadly, I do? If you need a device that tells you to turn something off or down you may be in trouble anyway? It's reported they are not interchangeable between suppliers any way and could provide a hackers route into your system? A big nope from me. Just another officially sponsored scam? Mmmm,sort of thing I`ve been reading ..... As far as I can see ,I`m already in control of consumption with things called switches. Edited February 19, 2018 by matone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 My supplier doesn't offer them in my area yet, but I have a number of concerns; Interchangeability between suppliers. The original smart meters weren't all interchangeable between all suppliers. More modern ones (mostly) are (so I'm told). Risk of hacking. They use mobile phone technology, so in theory can be hacked. However - other than possibly showing someone when the premises are unoccuplied (and so increasing the risk of burglary) the risks are that the readings will be lost/corrupted. The suppliers should notice this - just as they in theory notice when the old type meter goes wrong (which they rarely do) from the change in readings/usage. Usefulness. I know how much energy I'm using and how much individual appliances use - and if I want more detail, I can easily read the present 'non smart' meter and put in in a free app on a phone, or a simple spreadsheet. I did in fact do this for a period when I had a new heating system so I could assess it's effectiveness in saving gas - and get an idea all was running about right against my predicted usage. Flats/old houses/wireless difficulties. In old houses the meter is sometimes in a separate location (mine (water, gas and electricity) are in an externally accessed plant room with the boiler) - I don't know whether an inside display would work through the thick walls. In flats, meters are sometimes arranged in banks in a communal meter cupboard - that may be some distance from the flat concerned. Having said all that, I suspect I will accept one when offered. One key fact is that you DO NOT have to accept one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Had mine for at least 5yrs Gas and Electric bill is down they read the meters every month.. have a little mini type computer screen that sits on top of my microwave in the kitchen shows how much electric and gas you are using at anyone time have noticed when you switch the kettle on it doesn't half jump the cost up on the electric meter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnythefox70 Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Ive read they are dangerous from the signals they give out, can catch fire and even deaths have occurred. They are also banned in several countries so i wont be getting one soon thats for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Just now, hawkeye said: have noticed when you switch the kettle on it doesn't half jump the cost up on the electric meter... Well - it would - most kettles are 2 or 3 KW. Simple rules of electricity; Heat uses a lot and is expensive. Light (cool running lights like low energy, LED etc.) is cheap. The areas to watch are the 'always on' type things like fridge freezers, where a good modern fridge freezer A+ will save compared to older ones with lower efficiency. Some examples here https://www.carbonfootprint.com/energyconsumption.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) 59 minutes ago, hawkeye said: Had mine for at least 5yrs Gas and Electric bill is down they read the meters every month.. have a little mini type computer screen that sits on top of my microwave in the kitchen shows how much electric and gas you are using at anyone time have noticed when you switch the kettle on it doesn't half jump the cost up on the electric meter... Thanks,5 yrs is a pretty good period to get an insight and find out any problems ! Edited February 19, 2018 by matone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 I had a guy came to the door offering a smart meter. He gave the impression that he was from my supplier but in fact he was touting for a different firm, sent him on his way. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Mmm,our core industries are now a scammers dream ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Eon told me that although im refusing one at the moment.I wont have an option once they are compusary.They got right snotty,when i said i dont give a snot about the enviroment and savimg energy.You will still find away to screw the last penny out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Compulsion is some years away from what I`ve read.TheGovernment have watered it all down & it`s the suppliers who are pushing ! Hence my reticence ,they`ve done SO much for us already ,hav`n`t they ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 1 minute ago, Davyo said: I wont have an option once they are compusary if they ever become compulsory, then you won't (by definition) have an option. But at present they are not going to be compulsory. 2 minutes ago, Davyo said: enviroment and savimg energy They don't save the environment, or energy either. In fact - all the effort and cost of replacing all the old style meters before they reach 'end of life' costs the environment - because we are scrapping loads of perfectly good meters. They don't save energy because ALL they do is meter it. IF you choose to turn something off - then energy is saved, but NOT BY THE METER. The whole thing is a con (as you might expect from a government scheme). What potentially might happen in the longer term is that energy will be charged by supply and demand, so there will be incentives to use energy when plentiful (and so cheap) (presumably when the wind is blowing, or the sun is out?) and save it when it is in short supply (and so more expensive). A sort of much enhanced 'economy 7', but based on grid demand, not just time of day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Common sense makes them pointless and scammers /hacking worries make them a dodgy looking item.We have energy saving bubs in every lamp/light .Heating turned down to comfortable <dumb*** son used to walk around in shorts till his first gas bill arrived with a thud> and no standbye off with the TV and dvd player . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 1 hour ago, JohnfromUK said: if they ever become compulsory, then you won't (by definition) have an option. But at present they are not going to be compulsory. They don't save the environment, or energy either. In fact - all the effort and cost of replacing all the old style meters before they reach 'end of life' costs the environment - because we are scrapping loads of perfectly good meters. They don't save energy because ALL they do is meter it. IF you choose to turn something off - then energy is saved, but NOT BY THE METER. The whole thing is a con (as you might expect from a government scheme). What potentially might happen in the longer term is that energy will be charged by supply and demand, so there will be incentives to use energy when plentiful (and so cheap) (presumably when the wind is blowing, or the sun is out?) and save it when it is in short supply (and so more expensive). A sort of much enhanced 'economy 7', but based on grid demand, not just time of day. ...and will they be able to switch you off remotely with them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 49 minutes ago, matone said: ...and will they be able to switch you off remotely with them ? No - or at least highly unlikely. They don't contain any physical switching (at least in any present proposals), but can record usage against time - and apply different cost bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john deere Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Had to unplug mine was costing to much to run ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Don't forget you can switch on the central heating from anywhere in the globe with mobile service, wowee! Just the same carp as HS 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 Had one from British Gas for about 5 months now. Lots of colour and info BUT I found exactly how much energy we were using and what it was costing. Our bill has now dropped due to I don't leave lights on anymore when not needed, I find we are still comfortable with the thermostat a little lower.well recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) i wont have one, i know what cost money in my house, dont need a smart meter. Edited February 19, 2018 by mossy835 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) As a meter fitter for over 10 years now the main thing I've found is quite simply smart meters suit some people better than others. Somebody who sends in their own readings will not benefit as much as someone who is away for days or even weeks at a time, the SED (Smart Energy Display) has its plus points but generally the older generation are already quite energy savvy, one lovely old guy was using 10watts so I was honest and said he can't really save a lot when he's not using a lot to begin with. Another customer had a simple use for his, as he leaves his house he glances at it to see if he's left anything on. Believe this or not but it's truly amazing just how many people out there have complained to me about their bills being high but a quick demo with the SED has always revealed what is causing the problem, one time the monitor was showing a consumption of 3KW, customer insisted nothing was on but turned out the thermostat was faulty on his immersion heater bringing it on when not required. Another one that springs to mind was when I discovered a fridgefreezer on in a garage, nothing wrong with that except it had no food in it and the customer had forgotten about it! Although anything with a heating element in it can be pricey to run its most often lighting where a lot of money can go, 8 50watt spotlights in a kitchen are obviously more expensive to have on compared to an old 100watt strip light yet a lot of people seem to be oblivious to this fact, I was going to recommend LED lighting but there's conspiracy theories about those as well now.... Edited February 19, 2018 by Ttfjlc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 6 hours ago, johnnythefox70 said: Ive read they are dangerous from the signals they give out, can catch fire and even deaths have occurred. They are also banned in several countries so i wont be getting one soon thats for sure! same as mobile phones, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 3 minutes ago, Ttfjlc said: ..... LED lighting but there's conspiracy theories about those as well now.... I'm curious about this. I have (almost) all LED lighting - probably over 100 individual units in a large house. They have been superb. Before, incandescents were energy heavy, and when I went to the (various types) of low energy (flourescent type) bulbs, the light was poor and about 30% suffer early life failures. So far, since fully refitting the whole house 2 years ago - only one LED unit has failed (and that was in the first few hours and replaced under warranty). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted February 19, 2018 Report Share Posted February 19, 2018 2 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: No - or at least highly unlikely. They don't contain any physical switching (at least in any present proposals), but can record usage against time - and apply different cost bands. I had a look through the installers manual and settings whilst the engineer was installing one in my old property and pointed out the capacity to remotely switch off, and he admitted it was present, but not currently being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.