Panorama - The Smart Meter mess

[motorbiking]

Wasting your time, he will run 100 pages telling you, you're wrong.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have smart meters, I needed one for my EV charger... But I don't ignore the genuine issues people have with them.

As Panorama suggested, and I think we all agree, the whole thing, the implementation was a complete shambles. None of which really, detracts from the potential value of them, if installed and used properly. No one invited me to have them. I asked for them, seeing some of the potential advantages to me, of accurate bills, without my needing to keep relaying them to the supplier. The bonus, was latter, when the much cheaper tariffs emerged.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Doesn't matter.

If you only spend pennies you can only save pennies

That is nonsense - If you can save 20% of a large bill, you can save the same 20% on a small bill..

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Of course you are - if you have the meter inside and you dont let them in for a start. But with a SM it makes no difference if you let them in or not. ergo you are more likely to be disconnected on a SM.

With a dumb meter, you could perhaps delay the disconnection some, but you cannot delay is forever. They can get a court order and smash there way in, and/of disconnect you from the network externally.

Why are we even discussing this? Are there perhaps some in this thread, who are at risk of disconnection, for none payment?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Does the Supplier need a court Order to disconnect the supply on an old meter inside the property = Yes.

The supplier, needs a court order, to enter the premises, to disconnect. No court order is needed to disconnect.

 

[aveatry]

That is nonsense - If you can save 20% of a large bill, you can save the same 20% on a small bill..

A SM will not save me any money on my electricity my bills. I already do all the best practice needed to keep them low. In fact it will increase my bills as the display thing will be plugged in 24-7.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Like those that give you free electricity for not using your lecky between x and y o-clock. I listened to a phone in radio and people were per filling the kettle and boiling it, charging all the phones back up to 100% -cooking dinner early charging up batteries for torches then after all of that and wandering around in the dark for a few hours they received £1.78 AND wasted all that electricity "prepping" - its a complete joke.

I've not come across any such incentives, other than a free hour of power, when there is a surplus of generation. My tariff, the cost per unit, varies day by day, set for 24 hours at a time, as advised the day prior. The big advantage, even if I do nothing, is that it is much cheaper than the CAP.

The real reason is control via pricing it wouldn't surprise me if starzi starmer mandates it by law you have to have one, once enough people are on them the real control will start.

Of course, there is some element of control, or bribe would be more accurate - a bribe, to encourage you to consume, when the energy is more plentiful, and deter your use, when there is less available. Isn't that how most supply and demand works?

 

[gas112]

I asked that. You said.

And do I use the word millions or not unusual . Do read what is written and stop making things up .

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A SM will not save me any money on my electricity my bills. I already do all the best practice needed to keep them low. In fact it will increase my bills as the display thing will be plugged in 24-7.

Then you would be wrong, because the potential is there, but you need to take advantage of it. Besides, 'the display thing' doesn't actually need to be plugged in at all. My IHD has been in the drawer for years, unused, apart from being plugged in occasionally, as a diagnostic device. Even plugged in, the IHD consumes around the same as you phone charger - next to zilch.

 

[aveatry]

I've not come across any such incentives, other than a free hour of power, when there is a surplus of generation.

Maybe it was that then but I got the impression that it was for longer periods and I am sure that it was people being paid not to use it during peak times. Rather yours getting it free when there is a surplus.

 

[gas112]

Irrelevant waffle..
Disconnection protocols are exactly the same for both meters.

Q. Am I more likely to be disconnected having a SM?
A. No.

Are they able to change you to prepayment remotely once your in debt......YES

 

[motorbiking]

The supplier, needs a court order, to enter the premises, to disconnect. No court order is needed to disconnect.

hence why I said..

"disconnect the supply on an old meter inside the property"

 

[aveatry]

Then you would be wrong. Besides, 'the display thing' doesn't actually need to be plugged in at all. My IHD has been in the drawer for years, unused, apart from being plugged in occasionally, as a diagnostic device.

How will I be wrong.
And the plugged in monitor is what they say is the thing that will allow people to see what they use as so will be constantly plugged in.

 

[Murdochcat]

In my experience people are simply not in top of their energy bills - they don’t know their tariff, their typical usage, the rate they are are paying or whether their account is in debit or credit

 

[motorbiking]

How will I be wrong.
And the plugged in monitor is what they say is the thing that will allow people to see what they use as so will be constantly plugged in.

Some providers give you free energy at certain times of the day and withhold their best tariffs for "smart" customers.