Smart Meters

[HawkEye244]

With an estimate bill you do not know what is costing you a lot and what is not. Being able to see daily what you spend helps change habits easily. I have gone back and compared usage before and after my smart meter and I now use a lot less.

People who start swearing at me for no reason other than a problem with themselves I ignore. Bye

I think most people prefer an estimated bill because it means they pay a fixed direct debit amount allowing them to budget for the month.

You're implying as though what they actually use will be less than what they pay for, which is not necessarily the case. It may be more.

And in the end the supplier eventually gets it back by increasing the fixed direct debit amount in line with usage based on a 6monthly or 12monthly reading, let's say.

I can't see how the consumer stands to benefit from the change? They are not getting a reduced rate for the energy they use? The cost of this smart meter installation scheme is now in the billions and according to statistics has been an abject failure. This cost has been carried by the consumer. Could this have not been spent on new renweable energy stations instead?

Bills themselves are the best reminders that a person is using too much energy. It allows a person to see how much they are getting ripped off so that they use less; you don't need a smart meter for this? Calling people conspiracy theorists doesn't help your case either. I'm willing to be convinced but the laughing point is you've accused others for lack of evidence while you've provided none yourself?

I can do what you've said without a meter and so can you. Why have a smart meter ?

 

[HawkEye244]

I am going to now back out of this conversation. Needing to try and insult because you have nothing else you can really say is quite sad...

Weakness. You should have started out without the accusations because if you had the evidence to back it up you wouldn't be scurrying off.

I was quite open to being convinced. Seems there's no need for a change in position.

 

[wv62]

What a lot of folk don't realise is that unless it's wind or water powered ALL electricity is generated by steam.

If it's an open cycle gas turbine then no steam is involved. Basically it's a big jet engine powered by gas. In fact some, Taylors Lane in London for example, used the same turbines as in Concorde to drive the generators. In a CCGT power station a 'HRSG' (Heat Recovery Steam Generator) is used to collect the waste heat from the gas turbine to produce steam for a steam turbine which makes them far more efficient than an OCGT.

When you next pass one of these huge power stations, gaze in wonder & admiration at the colossal scale of the operation, rest safely assured that the large part of your income spent on electricity is well spent.

This is actually true! I just sometimes wish I could drive past them and not have to go to them to work.

Did you know that even a large steam turbine electricity generator is not much bigger than a single decker bus?

Height wise, yes, but you wouldn't want to see a turbine heading down the road towards you

That the average power station contains approx 6 (six) of them?

Nope! They can vary from a single turbine upwards. In fact not many that I can think of have 6.

Does it really take a building that is cathedral sized X4 to park up 6 single deck buses?

Nope but it DOES take up that much room for the turbines and generators plus all the ancillaries!

 

[Ihavenojob]

best thing since sliced bread.

And that is as healthy as a smart meter.

 

[Doug99]

Am I missing something? I have been hounding my energy company to fit it for me. They can't fit it quick enough. Why are you against it? Surely it makes life easier

1. I don't need a meter to tell me how much it costs to boil a kettle - I will still boil the kettle.
2. Its none of their business how often or when I choose to boil the kettle.
3. I always submit my own monthly readings because if they are wrong, I can only blame myself.
4. Apparently the smart meters are not smart enough to be read by all gas/electric suppliers if I choose to switch.

 

[Doggit]

We've had this discussion before in another thread. Smart meters don't need reading, and will give you accurate bills, but that's all. On the down side, they are designed for the benefit of the suppliers, as they can then remotely cut of late payers, and they can introduce variable rates that will benefit them, not us.

At the end of the day, it's a simple option, if you pay your bills on time, and can't be bothered to read the meters get a smart meter. If you want to stay in control of your life, then don't, but they're never going to get someone to change their habits until they give you little adaptors that you can fit on your gadgets to record the usage on to your smart phone.

 

[Judy in the sky]

I have smart meters for gas and electricity. As far as I can make out, the only thing that's smart about them is the fuel companies ability to cut my gas and electricity off instantly, should I forget to pay the bill. But,, they are also dumb (or perhaps it's me) These meters transmit usage data back to the provider, so can anyone tell me why, when I pay a regular amount by direct debit, I'm in credit by over £350 during the winter? When I get my fuel bills and add up the credit on both bills I'm always around this amount in credit. These companies should of course credit these amounts back into my bank account, but to do so, I have to phone them up and request that it is paid back. Do any of them actually have the capability to set up a variable direct debit or standing order, so I can be maybe just a few pounds in credit each quarter?

 

[Doggit]

Now now Judy, we did say that smart meters were designed for the benefit of the suppliers, not the customers. But you've made an interesting point about eh variable direct debt though, although I suspect most of us prefer the budgeting benefits of a set amount each month, but over the course of at least a year, and two at the most, they should have worked out your usage patterns, and adjusted the direct debit amount more closely. Now I'm living in la la land as well.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Direct debits are variable.

You're more likely to get a letter asking for it to be increased.

Cancel it.

 

[Judy in the sky]

Direct debits are variable.

You're more likely to get a letter asking for it to be increased.

Cancel it.

Unsurprisingly, I had a letter last year informing me that they were increasing the direct debit (even though I was in credit by a large amount) I phoned them up and spoke with a lovely woman who said the computer had made a mistake (ahh like computers make mistakes,,, more like someone entering data made a mistake, or the program is designed to make them more money) and my direct debit would be in fact, reducing. Had I not bothered to phone them, I'm sure by this time , I'd have been in credit by at least £500+ . You have me now seriously considering cancelling the direct debit and just paying the bills when they arrive each quarter. I shall mull this over for a few days.

 

[Mikefromlondon]

If your worried about big brother I recommend not to ever leave your house.

I have to check my meter every month and submit the reading just something that could be automated so who cares who has the info? I don't mind if anyone knows how much gas and electric I use I still have to pay for it at the end of the day.

I love a good conspiracy but I think you are a bit paranoid

Get ready for what is coming, you ain't seen nothing yet. We have CCTV Camera at every street junction, I have to wear lipstick and down a blonde wig and wear a black face mask to leave my house and pretend I am Dianna Abbott with dyed hair. People do give me weird looks though!

 

[Doggit]

Tempting as that is, it'll just increase the cost of the service. Ask to speak to a supervisor, and inform them that if they fail to correctly monitor your account, then you'll contact the energy ombudsman, and inform them that they are running a system that is blatantly designed to keep as much of your money in their accounts. Their computer program is able to assess your usage, so why are your DD payments being increase.

Actually, maybe you should make the call as well; I wonder just how many people don't bother to check their usage, and just let the extra money be taken out of their account.

 

[Doggit]

if we had remained within EU, then EU would stop our Government approving this higher charge two tear scheme

Sorry Mike, but the EU, being so arrogant, would impose it in an instant if anyone gave them the idea, so please don't spread this any further.

 

[blightymam]

Quite a lot of people I should imagine Doggit who don't check. My other half was in credit just shy of a grand with his energy company provider, and he had to make a couple of calls to get it back as they didn't pay up when they said they would. DD's are handy for some, like my partner who has a bad memory or for those who are silly-busy but I don't have any direct debits at the mo. They always seem to cost more money because people don't fish around for the best deals when a contract ends and simply keep paying via direct debit - energy, breakdown, insurance etc.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Tempting as that is, it'll just increase the cost of the service.

That is true - but if the present DD is cancelled, Judy has £350 for the next bill - and when the company notices, she can say it was a computer error and begin a new DD at the appropriate amount.

Or - in the meantime change supplier.