Panorama - The Smart Meter mess

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It seems to me that there is a need for the use of the freedom of information laws to see what is actually going on. Have assume the suppliers do log faults and what the end result was. This page covers the same as Panorama did

The latest figures show that nine in 10 smart meters are working fine. But a recent survey by Citizens’ Advice suggests one in five households have had to regularly send manual meter readings because their smart meters haven’t worked properly.

It also said that a recent customer experience survey by Ofgem “found no statistically significant differences” in the proportion of customers reporting that their meter was not sending readings to their suppliers for areas in, or predominantly in, the north.


Also the real reason for fitting them
As more energy comes from renewable sources, smart meters will form a vital part of a “smart grid”, allowing consumers’ demand for energy to match the available supply, minute-by-minute.
 
Interesting. They appear to be using 3g and talking about going to 4. The other meter I have mentioned where heating is by oil is in Wales. 3g mobiles were not much use where the meter is. 4 too but 5 is ok indoors.
 
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They appear to be using 3g and talking about going to 4.

This explains to the layman how the net work connects smart meters to suppliers https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/

Unlike your smart TV, computers, tablets, and other digital devices that operate using your home internet, smart meters send and receive information using a standalone network; it’s safe, secure and completely separate from your Wi-Fi and public broadband. This nationwide network is managed by the DCC


Connected premises​

Homes and small businesses connected to the networkLast updated on 23.11.2024
19,781,811



Connected devices​

82,917,613

Which to me suggests that on average there are 4 devices per connected premise

(1) electric
(2) gas
(3) water
(4) ?
 

It seems that the smart meter does not talk directy to the display in the house but indirectly via the communications hub and via the DCC owned dedicated network

Typically, four devices are used to measure your energy use and transmit their information to your suppliers.

1. Communications hub
The communications hub allows your smart electricity and gas meters and your in-home display to connect to each other and the DCC’s smart meter home area network (HAN). By connecting the smart meters to the in-home display, energy customers can monitor their electricity and gas use, allowing them to identify high-usage periods and providing an opportunity to change their behaviours and improve their energy efficiency.

2. In-home display
With every smart meter installation, the customer is provided with an in-home display. This clever device shows how much gas and electricity is being used in kilowatt hours (kWh) and its cost in as near to real-time as possible.
The in-home display receives information from the communications hub transmitted via our dedicated network - so there’s still no need for connection to your Wi-Fi and home internet.

3. Smart electricity meter

4. Smart gas meter
A smart gas meter works just like a smart electricity meter. Properties that don’t have a gas supply won’t need to have one.
 
The in-home display receives information from the communications hub transmitted via our dedicated network -

The IHD, gets it's data, straight from the meter itself. The meter only uploads data, as a full days consumption batch, at the end of the day, so of no use for the IHD.

Octopus developed their own optional gadget, which likewise connects direct to the meter, then uploads the data every 10 seconds. That data is instantly available to customers with the gadget, for diplay on a smart phone, or via the website. I have one here.
 
This explains to the layman how the net work connects smart meters to suppliers
Thanks. It's confusing. Frequencies get mentioned as being HAN - home area network and do match that. Both of them on dual band.

Elsewhere 3g and now 4g get mentioned which are cellular radio. Perhaps there are several companies offering the connection services and no standardisation. A supplier just picks which one they choose to use.
 
It seems to me that there is a need for the use of the freedom of information laws to see what is actually going on. Have assume the suppliers do log faults and what the end result was. This page covers the same as Panorama did

The latest figures show that nine in 10 smart meters are working fine. But a recent survey by Citizens’ Advice suggests one in five households have had to regularly send manual meter readings because their smart meters haven’t worked properly.

It also said that a recent customer experience survey by Ofgem “found no statistically significant differences” in the proportion of customers reporting that their meter was not sending readings to their suppliers for areas in, or predominantly in, the north.


Also the real reason for fitting them
As more energy comes from renewable sources, smart meters will form a vital part of a “smart grid”, allowing consumers’ demand for energy to match the available supply, minute-by-minute.
It's like BT pushing their digital network on to customers: all these firms will eventually get their way - it's only a matter oof time before the world of analogue is is passed by the Digital future.
 
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