Smart Meter ...

Joined
16 Sep 2006
Messages
4,167
Reaction score
774
Location
Fife
Country
United Kingdom
... have you got one? If yes, what benefits (if any) have you noticed thanks to having it installed? If no, why not?

I don't. Get the occasional card through the door saying 'we'll be installing in your area on x date, call us to arrange installation' however I've never bothered. No absolute reason why. I live alone, don't use much gas/elec compared to family households and I'm happy enough with my monthly direct debit amounts. I don't needlessly use anything so doubt there's much savings to be made in my scenario. Only real benefit I can see is not having to submit readings, however that's hardly a massive hassle.
 
Sponsored Links
I've got one. It's never worked properly since day one, it won't connect to the little gadget that shows what you are using and I can't view my usage online.
They can't repair it "because of Covid"
I've had it for about a year now. There are two versions, I knew that before the installer came and, when I asked which version he was going to fit, he said the early version.
When I queeried this, he relented and said that he's fit the latest version. I have no idea why he wanted to use the Mk1.
So far, I've not seen any benefit to having it, apart from not have to send them readings.. Maybe when it is working properly, let's see?
 
Don't have one here as it's not 'smart' enough to deal with Solar panels /facepalm
 
Sponsored Links
... have you got one?
Yes. I requested both (gas and leccy) to be fitted. All done and have been in months. Zero fuss. No dramas. Much better than faffing around reading meters etc. Backwards luddites will say differently.
 
I don't like the ability of the meters to cut off the supply.

The last thing a household (think pensioners on a very tight budget) needs is to be struggling to pay a bill and be cut off.
 
I've got one. It's never worked properly since day one, it won't connect to the little gadget that shows what you are using and I can't view my usage online.
They can't repair it "because of Covid"
I've had it for about a year now. There are two versions, I knew that before the installer came and, when I asked which version he was going to fit, he said the early version.
When I queeried this, he relented and said that he's fit the latest version. I have no idea why he wanted to use the Mk1.
So far, I've not seen any benefit to having it, apart from not have to send them readings.. Maybe when it is working properly, let's see?

Covid should not be a reason. A friend had the SMETS 1 meters fitted, except they made a muck of the gas meter in that they ran a pipe close to and in front of the display, so it was totally unusable. It was like that for two years, with no one able to get a reading. Last week they arrived to fix the issue, which involved digging up part of the drive, to shift the pipe - he is still stuck with SMETS 1.

Me, I am on my third set of SM's, having switched supplier three times - the SMETS 1 version. The past couple of years I have numerous promises from suppliers that I would not have long to wait for the SMET 1's to be replaced with the SMETS 2, but so far, just promises. I have just emailed my present supplier for an update on when and if I might actually get SMETS 2 finally fitted.

It seems the whole change to Smart Meter thing has fallen on its face, they have even stopped the newspaper and TV ads.

Given what I now know, I would tell them where to put there SMETS 1 meters.
 
The thought behind smart meters originally was to allow you to get on the cheapest tariffs easier, Google for cheap prices and change online almost immediately. Trouble is, as has been found, most companies use different billing systems, which is why when you switch providers, if you have a smart meter, chances are your old and new suppliers systems won't be compatible and your smart meter will now be as smart as a brick, and you have to supply readings, which is so difficult.
 
No Thanks - Another half baked initiative to save the planet which is more to do with reducing supplier costs, rather than reducing consumer bills.
A conspiracy theory on facecrap is that the govt is going to use them to cut the heating to old people and bump them all off.
 
Apparently, if you have SMETS 2 it is compatible with all suppliers making it easier to chop and change keeping your meter as you go.
Until your battery packs up, then you'll need another meter, which will require another van with man to do the job, make the new meter, dispose of the old meter (and poisonous battery), but hey, you're doing your bit to save the planet.
 
Until your battery packs up, then you'll need another meter, which will require another van with man to do the job, make the new meter, dispose of the old meter (and poisonous battery), but hey, you're doing your bit to save the planet.
Why can't they just change the battery?
 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top