Electric smart meters.

I got a smart meter. Old one and so not up to speed with rates excetra but if you fancy testing individual appliances in your home for power consumtion then Hmmm.

This is from your other Thread Steve:

Ever used the MSE forum Steve?     http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

Make up a user name & password, check out “Energy” and look for Smart meter Threads, there are a lot.

My own refusal to let EDF fit a Smartmeter, is based upon the absolutely incompetent way that government have gone about it.

*Planning is non-existent. As usual in the UK, there has been no single government initiative to ensure it goes smoothly. Every Westminster department that could have a finger in the pie, adds to the chaos.

*There are several different meters. If you switch energy suppliers, your smartmeter will probably not work with the next supplier.

*Training has been hit and miss. There are press stories about some new, half-trained fitters causing meters to break down, fitting wrong meters, incorrect wiring, even some fires.

*The programme as ‘planned’ by government, has a projected budget of  £11 Billion. This is expected to at least double.

*ALL energy users in the UK will pay for this by rising costs in their energy bills.

*I read my own meter every 2 months (every month in winter) and send readings via the excellent EDF website. I get a new bill within 24 hours, if I have paid too much they reduce my DD: too little and they increase it. The amount has not moved since last December. What is wrong with that system? Nothing. Takes me 15 minutes at the most, to read gas and leccy, then send readings. Simples!

*I had brand new meters fitted 2 years ago.

I told EDF “thanks, but no thanks” – It is not compulsory. *Some of the usual scumbags have been out doorknocking and convincing people that it IS compulsory.

The suppliers say that the meters will make consumers more conscious of what they use and adjust their usage accordingly. Once again, it’s up to the customer to do the work. Screw that: if we are cold, I put the heating on. If I need to see what I am doing, I put the light on. I use computers whenever I want and I charge devices when they need it. (All of this is a battle between myself and my dear SWMBO, who turns down a thermostat and then complains that the rads are cold.)

I carry out regular meter reads and I keep an eye on bills. I am at the stage of life when I refuse to worry about something as daft as energy use.