So, these "smart" meter do actually have a use then !

Octopus energy now offer some tariffs that use the abilities of the "smart" meters.

There's one for EV users, which as far as I can see from the blurb is really just a variant of E7 - more like an E4. it's not clear whether the meter is used to control the charger, or the charger is just programmed to turn on at the right time.
But there's another where the rates change daily according to forecast wholesale costs. It talks about "when wholesale costs change", but it's clear they are applying day-ahead forecasts to set the prices.

It's an interesting development.

EVs normaly allow you to program times you want them to charge, so you can plug them in in the evening and they only charge in off peak times you set the car to.

EDIT: forgot to add I belive there are also chargers that can control the cars charging times that will link to smart meters for varying time/costs. Probably not far from being able to sell power from the EVs back to the grid.

Bet it goes right up on Christmas day just when you are cooking.

I bet it doesn't - wholesale price is cheap as chips on Xmas day, demand being rock bottom as only the people that HAVE to be at work, are actually at work. Meanwhile, loads of other families are sharing heating, lighting and cooking under fewer roofs.

I bet it goes up on a still winters evening/night when there's no wind and no solar.

Nozzle

In comparing Thursday 22nd December 2016 to Sunday 25th December 2016 there was a 30% drop in energy demand on the 25th.

While the dramatic difference can be attributed to a number of factors in parts (levels of wind, a weekend day compared to a week day, etc.) I think we can be pretty certain demand would be smaller on a day such as Christmas day.

Be interesting to look at it in the past, when we all had CRTs, Hi-Fi systems with big amps, etc.