Smart Meters 'forced' on people?

[JP_]

True - but as I've often said, a program of 'public education' would undoubtedly have been dramatically cheaper, and very much quicker (and probably just as effective, given that many/most people seem to stop looking at a 'smart' meter when the novelty has worn off after a few days), than the astronomical cost (and time) of the 'roll-out' of 'smart' meters.

Kind Regards, John

Maybe this is the real reason for the price increases - to reduce demand, to try to manage usage.

People don't like doing as they're told.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No, it's not the only one I am 'considering' - but from all one hears, it does seem to me that the government really does believe (have somehow been persuaded to believe) that widespread deployment of 'smart' meter will result in a substantial reduction in electricity usage, hence also 'carbon emissions'.

I suspect there were lots of reasons, but the main one being that of persuading people to economise and help reduce emissions, as well as helping to improve bill accuracy. Sadly, they failed to think it through properly, and completely failed to take into account that people would be able to change suppliers, so a common system was an essential part of the spec., to avoid the complete mess we have at present..

I've had SM's for around five years now, they were installed just weeks before I intended to change suppliers. they worked fine for just those few weeks, before becoming dumb again. They have though begun to limp along over recent weeks.

Working properly, suppliers would have daily consumption data and their customers would have access to near instant data, there would be no need for anyone to physically read the meters, they would be secure and tamper proof.

Despite the SM's not working, finding ways to economise was at the forefront of my mind, without impacting my lifestyle and comfort. I think I have made a reasonable job of achieving that.

 

[Old Salt]

The introduction of smart meters was an EU mandate before Brexit.

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, but it depends on the methods used to achieve that once smart meters are installed.

I may be wrong, but I strongly suspect that the government haven't thought as deeply/laterally you have. In other words, I think they really believe that the mere existence of smart meters will, by allowing people to see hoe much energy they are using (if the bother to even 'look', beyond the first few days) result in considerable reductions in demand (hence carbon emissions etc.) - without any further 'methods' being used to further discourage usage.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

I suspect there were lots of reasons, but the main one being that of persuading people to economise and help reduce emissions,

Indeed. I think most of us think that that is the main, maybe only, perceived benefit that politicians (internationally, not just UK) see of 'smart' meters - but I think that most of us seriously doubt that it will have much such impact at all.

The recent happenings to fuel prices, for which one can primarily blame (some might say 'thank'?!) the Russians, has probably had far more effect on making people reduce their energy usage than would any number smart meters ever would/could?

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

The introduction of smart meters was an EU mandate before Brexit.

We know that, but many of us think that all the politicians, in whatever countries, believe that 'smart' meters will achieve something which it very probably won't achieve to any marked extent.

As I've just written, I would imagine that the actions of Russia have had far more effect on reducing fuel usage/demand than smart meters ever could.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The recent happenings to fuel prices, for which one can primarily blame (some might say 'thank'?!) the Russians, has probably had far more effect on making people reduce their energy usage than would any number smart meters ever would/could?

Yep, you cannot beat the ability of a sharp rise in the cost of something, to focus peoples minds on economising on their use of it.

 

[EFLImpudence]

What a fortuitous coincidence.

 

[JohnW2]

What a fortuitous coincidence.

Maybe - but 'fortuitous'for whom, I wonder?

The unfortunate thing is that 'smart' meters may well be given the credit (by governments etc.) for what I imagine will have been (and continue to be) a substantial reduction in usage which has actually happened "because of Russia"

Kind Regards, John

 

[plugwash]

I strongly suspect that the "helping people to reduce consumption" is just an excuse, I see a few benefits (for the government/industry) to a well executed smart meter programme.

1. Avoiding the need to pay meter readers.
2. Enabling the time profile of customer's usage to be measured. This is a pre-requisite to introducing schemes that encourage customers to shift their demand to better match up with supply.
3. Giving more flexibility in rationing electricity in case demand exceeds supply. Right now the only real option is indiscriminate rolling blackouts. Smart meters with disconnect capability give more options.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Maybe - but 'fortuitous'for whom, I wonder?

It was sarcasm.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

3. Giving more flexibility in rationing electricity in case demand exceeds supply. Right now the only real option is indiscriminate rolling blackouts. Smart meters with disconnect capability give more options.

Which has massive benefits for some people, when such a situation becomes necessary. It would allow those people with essential medical equipment requiring power, to not be cut off, plus companies which rely on having power for processes which cannot be stopped, to keep going.

 

[plugwash]

Indeed, though a problem I see is that afaik larger supplies typically don't have disconnect relays/contactors, so if smart meters are used as the sole means of rationing electricity then it could end up prioritising larger buisiness/industrial customers over domestic/small buisiness ones.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

1. Avoiding the need to pay meter readers.

I've never had a smart meter and I haven't seen a meter reader in at least 5 years.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

3. Giving more flexibility in rationing electricity in case demand exceeds supply. Right now the only real option is indiscriminate rolling blackouts. Smart meters with disconnect capability give more options.

Another way they could use SM's is to bribe customers to restrict their consumption during those peak times, rather than penalising them for higher consumption. The suppliers have access to the 30 minute consumption data, they could make customers a refund of £x for every peak where they limited their consumption below a set level.