The smart meter, it seems 10% don't work, well it may be more!

[ericmark]

I can read the app, but the actual meter, I have never managed to read all three reading required i.e. export, and peak and off-peak import, loads of other info, which may be of interest, like what my standing charge is, and who is supplying my electric, etc. But I don't need that.

No instructions came with the meter, it has just two buttons, but with no clear instructions I have to rely on the App. What total act import means, I don't have a clue.

 

[RrogerD]

The whole smart meter thing was / is a con. It was never about helping users. It has always been about control by the suppliers. They are able to see usage in real time but more importantly, would be able to manipulate usage as and when they want.

 

[mikehammer69]

The whole smart meter thing was / is a con. It was never about helping users. It has always been about control by the suppliers. They are able to see usage in real time but more importantly, would be able to manipulate usage as and when they want.

It's a natural progression for at least a few reasons
Smart tariffs . Remote readings. Remote disconnection and probably more

 

[morqthana]

The whole smart meter thing was / is a con. It was never about helping users. It has always been about control by the suppliers. They are able to see usage in real time but more importantly, would be able to manipulate usage as and when they want.

Nothing wrong in principle with demand management via dynamic pricing.

 

[Murdochcat]

There are targets to get them installed but no targets to keep them working. Yes it’s that dumb

 

[denso13]

The whole smart meter thing was / is a con. It was never about helping users.

I get a cheaper tariff with incentives to use energy at different times.

I'm happy with that.

 

[ericmark]

I also get cheap rate tariff at night, and am happy with that, but the meter could have so easily had duel outputs, essentials and non-essentials allowing the suppler to switch off non-essentials when there was a power shortage, and to charge less for non-essentials. It seems an opportunity missed.

Today saving power as in 1978 will not work, as they would be turning off generation as well as use.

I do think the report missed out the North/South divide, where the way meters are control changes. But we have seen the silly Freddy Boswell look alike adverts and the reasons given to have a smart meter are daft, for most people doing the gardening at night would not save a single kWh it would just upset the neighbours and the in home display most of the day shows zero, and why it has a section for gas when there is no gas in the village I don't know?

Cross fingers, mine works well, in that it allows me to be paid for export, and to have an overnight off-peak cheap rate. But until we got solar, there is nothing it would have done for me.

And cheap rate at night also means paying extra during the day, so unless one has storage of some type, be it a battery in a car, storage radiators, or fixed battery, it really does not help.

It helps the supplier, he can at a flick of a switch turn it into a pre-payment meter, and he can stop sending someone to read it, but for the user, to gain, they must have a way to store electric.

But if my meter had failed to work, it would have resulted in a massive financial problem, as I had paid out a lot of money to install solar and battery, and for them to then save me money it needs the smart meter and an off-peak tariff.

 

[denso13]

I don't have have solar and I get a cheaper tariff at targeted times. That works for me.

 

[aveatry]

The red flags are when you are told --
Its for your benefit
Its more convenient for you
Take our bribes to fit one
You will save money with one

 

[Rodders53]

Pretty sure that meter instructions will be available on the internet, somewhere...

https://www.landisgyr.eu/product/landisgyr-e470/ is probably the most likely model (that you omitted from your photo) but has two variants ... smartme has a
see https://www.smartme.co.uk/reading-my-meter
and many suppliers also have a 'how to read' it page or two that I've not looked at in detail...

My electric smart meter saves me reading it manually, as the readings are sent to my supplier... and I get accurate bills each month.

IHDs are the same for all users (economies of scale) and thus support gas & electric... Doh!

 

[Diver Fred]

There is NO choice if you don't want one or not - recently I had to have a meter changed 'cause the time switch failed. I ask to have the time switch changed instead I was forced to have a b****y smart meter which needs an exterior antenna with a long length of cable between meter and the antenna.
Even then the in home display only works occasionally.

It's certainly not saving me money.

In the video I note the way one of the 'committee' was shut down by the chairman 'cause he was asking 'difficult' questions.
One question that I'd like answering by someone independent but in the know - does every reading go through one central point before the supplier receives it? From when I changed suppliers I had to confirm what the readings were as the new supplier made comment that a central point believed my readings were not correct.

The whole scheme needs sorting out.

 

[ebee]

Suppliers inundate us with " we are ready" etc etc as if its something we really need.
I do not need a dumb meter to tell me how and when to use electric, I use it when needed and only when (to a degree) and do not use it when not needed.
Off peak runs some storage heaters and an immersion heater and these are used and cotrolled sensibly.
I do not have solar or wind or wave or heat pump.
If I lived near the seaside and had plenty of land I might dig a big hole and link it to the tide and put a big heavy float in it and construct a mechanism to get energy from the tide and hide it from view, but I have not.

 

[denso13]

There is NO choice if you don't want one or not - recently I had to have a meter changed 'cause the time switch failed. I ask to have the time switch changed instead I was forced to have a b****y smart meter which needs an exterior antenna with a long length of cable between meter and the antenna.
Even then the in home display only works occasionally

You can't be forced, they can fit them in "dumb" mode. Unless it is needed for things like time switching and the like.

Nothing to be scared of though.

 

[Diver Fred]

In the 50 odd years I've been paying energy charges I'm pretty certain in the 1990's or maybe the early 2000's there was a time when the standing charge was incorporated into the unit charge - I'm pretty certain it only last around 12 months as the users found it was more expensive in the long run or they used even less energy.

Can anyone agree or disagree?

 

[mikehammer69]

Yes that was the situation when I had mine fitted
You could choose to stay on standard 24 HR metering or switch to a smart plan but can't go back

You can't be forced, they can fit them in "dumb" mode. Unless it is needed for things like time switching and the like.

Nothing to be scared of though.