Smart Meters

[johnbarry]

I have been told my power company are ready to install a smart meter.

I have done a little research, to find each meter will cost the consumer £215 via the energy bill.

If I move property will they pay me back, let’s say the next property hasn’t got a smart meter, when it arrives am I going to pay again.

You can refuse, but it says they will install a dumb meter.

So refusing, won’t stop the charge, they want them so they don’t need meter readings from you. I can see it saving them money, it’s not my choice so why should I pay to fit it.

Or should I not believe what I read on the internet and no charge will occur?

Cheers
John

[The Duke]

Just ignore it. You need to confirm an appointment time with them, as an eternal company does the fitting.

I canceled the appointment made with them. I actually wanted one, but decided to move suppliers, so thought it best not confusing matters.

I may see if my new provider is doing smart meters in my area once the switch over us complete.

[dwynnehugh]

The Duke – I think you mean “external company” – I know these energy companies think they’re Gods but not there yet as far as I know, perhaps you know something I don’t …… !! ???

 

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[Ed P]

A correction John. In general Energy companies do NOT want them, they cost a lot of money, but they are under a Government mandate to roll-out these things. Not for me thank you, we get more than enough info direct to our Pcs via the solar PV set-up.

The ‘savings’ come from altering the way you consume electricity. You can get most of the savings already by moving to a dual fuel  (gas/electricity) contract and doing your own meter readings. The bulk of any remaining ‘savings’ can be obtained by having a day/night tariff and doing your heavy lifting (tumbler dryer, or dish washer) off-peak i.e over night. If you use a slow cooker overnight you can even avoid the high consumption cost that goes with an electric oven.

[Dave Rice]

John, you will not personally be paying £215 upfront for the smart meter, the power company will. That’s the estimated contribution we will all be making via our bills to pay the suppliers back, and that’s whether you have we smart meter or not.

You do NOT have to have one, I won’t be. It’s not because of any tin foil hat reasons, it’s because on a very sunny day my meter will actually run backwards when the solar panels produce more than we’re using ? That doesn’t happen that often ? It may be in the future that the cheapest tariffs may only be available to those with smart meters, I’ll deal with that if it happens.

There’s probably no reason for you to refuse one – but it is your decision not the suppliers – and you will not be charged. Indeed you’re already paying your contribution via your bills. If you decide to go ahead ask if it’s SMETS-compliant. If it isn’t refuse it.

There’s a good article from Citizens Advice Getting a smart meter installed

[johnbarry]

Thanks for the replies

I am already on dual fuel, I do my own meter reading,  I do my own energy saving by many ways.

I have just telephoned to cancel, gave the accont number etc (on the email), they put me on hold. While I was on hold I logged into my online account to notice the account number on the email is no longer my account. It was my previous address (5 years ago) I waited to explain, eventually the line went dead.

I phoned back to speak to someone else and explained it wasn’t my address why should I have the email. I was told sorry for that I will cancel it.

I gave the wrong A/C (for this add) but gave this address and yet they are canceling someone elses smart meter, how is this possible, they even did all security checks.

I thought it would be best to speak to someone, I am now even more worried.

Cheers
John

[Drezha]

I’ve just switched to British Gas for the new house and a requirement of the tariff is to get a smart meter installed. I was going to get one anyhow, but this helped.

Can I switch to an Energy 7 meter at the same time? Would be good to switch to lower energy tariffs overnight, as then I could charge my car up then, rather than during the day. Think I can set the timer within the car itself to do that, but did set it up last night using my TP-Link plug (wont be an option when my charging point is added to the house next week mind).

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[johnbarry]

I seemed to have missed you post Dave.

I am happy with the way it works now (why rock the boat), I don’t think I will find any use for it. As for seeing my usage I struggle to get at the meter on a quaterly basis as it is. I wouldn’t want that struggle on a daily basis to see how much.

I have recently had the rubbers changed on the windows/door I don’t open my blackout curtains. My electric is more or less the same each quater, and I haven’t used any gas yet, that’s a good saving.

It’s been a nightmare contacting the supplier, finally I have a refusal on my account.

Cheers
John

[Dave Rice]

I’m with you John, but just a point. The smart meter comes with an internal reader so you can see your usage in real time. I believe some of these readers are truly portable, but I think father-in-laws plus into a mains socket. Any way, you can put them in a convenient place inside the house and never have to read the meter for the power company again.

However from what I’ve seen they’re a nine day wonder. You’ll still be shouting at the kids to turn that bloody light off!

[Richard]

About the only reason for a self reading meter is that they cut out the ‘should have gone to Specsavers meter reader’ who overrode my accurate reading with one that months later has still not been reached.

The current pre SMETS II SMART meters are about as useless as the meter readers on Specsavers bypass. Some of the installers appear to be in the same league, due to fires following their visits, it is probably good to hold off until the process and equipment are  reliable.

I have struggled to find much scope for further on ‘site demand management’. Though slow boil kettles and slow toasters are starting to drive me nuts. Replacing old  bulbs with LEDs could make sense where their use suggests a payback. However, I would still need to replace well over 40 traditional bulbs, most of which have been in place for more than 25 years. This suggests infrequent use and thus a very slow payback rate, probably greater than my life expectancy. Clothes drying uses a  gas drier which is much cheaper than electricity.

John, I started this before your latest message arrived. I suggest a formal complaint is in order.

[The Duke]

What the hell is a slow boil kettle. That sounds the devils work. I have one of those, that boils a single cup at a time in about 10s.

They only make sense if you only have a single person that drinks coffee. As if you need to boil say 3 cups of water, I’m sure it takes more energy than boiling a traditional kettle.

Boil iis a stretch, I’ve had two of these ‘instant boil’ kettles, over the last 10 years, and they don’t quite boil.  good enough for coffee, but they make a terrible cup of Tea. Also you can’t make babies bottles with them, (not an issue for us no more), but even with an ‘instant’ kettle, you’ll still need a traditional one.

Though I couldn’t live with out nine. This latest one, has lasted a long time too. Especially given I can drink a coffee an hour around the clock.

[RSB]

I personally leave my whistling kettle on the gas hob lowest flame 24/7 so when I need it and this often I just stick on the high burner and I am having my cuppa in minutes.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[johnbarry]

Dave, not sure if I want to know the cost until the end of the quater, it may frighten me.

I do at times read it and work out the usage since the last bill. Also when I send readings I work out the cost and compare it (once the reading is sent they send a picture of cost)

That happens a lot Richard, I get to them in the end.

Duke I drink coffee alone and have a 1 cup kettle, for me 1 cup is too close
to the scale.

Talking Kettles every one I seem to buy leak as I pour. I purchased a Swan Kettle even that leaks.

Lee that’s surely dangerous.

Cheers
John

[The Duke]

Yes John, I couldn’t just boil a single cup in a normal electric kettle. There is always bits in the bottom, though I think every kettle we have had, has had a small mesh filter behind the spout to catch the lime scale crud.

I’d imagine the inside of my current Insta kettle, is just a one cup kettle. (you can adjust the about the, form a cup up to a mug amount. My original Insta kettle (iirc tefal) that worked the same a vape ciggy pens works, by running the water over an electric  element. That one was trully instant. The new one probably takes 10s longer. 25s in total for a mug full of almost boiled water.

I recon a good buy if your a single heavy drinker. Especially if you can find one on black friday. Save money (eventually) and get faster coffee. Faster coffee equals more coffee lol.

I seem to of not posted the reply I thought I did this morning.

My nan in the 80 replaced her gas kettle with an electric one the was the same shape of a traditional gas kettle. She asked me to make her a tea, I set fire to this plastic electric kettle.

She never let me forget it. The last time I seen her, the night before she died, she said to me “you never did replace that kettle”. It wasn’t until later that night I realise she knew she was off. The next day she passed.

I’d not thought of that for about two years, it may be a 3 years next month. Time flys.

[RSB]

johnbarry wrote:

Lee that’s surely dangerous.

Not really, it’s just a  smattering of a flame and there is nothing round it to fall on it to catch fire plus I have one of my Security cameras looking down on the gas poker all the time so it’s mostly in view when I am working through the day.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[Ed P]

Lee – wouldn’t it be more efficient to make one huge brew of black tea and then stick it in a air-pot (vacuum flask).

[RSB]

I do have my flask that I used for fishing but through the day I drink the following:

Yorkshire Tea “Breakfast Brew”

Yorkshire Tea “Normal”

Yorkshire Tea “Breaktime Brew”

Lipton Tea “Green Tea Mint”

Yorkshire Tea “Bedtime Brew”

Multiple pint pots of each of these through the day.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[The Duke]

I’ve been known to fill a flask when the house is empty and I’m busy. Trouble is it just doesn’t taste the same out of a flask.

I just drink the one type of coffee, so that makes it simpler.

Lee, what’s the diffence between ‘normal’ and ‘breakfast brew’. I don’t mind a tea, if I’m at a a strange house, I’ll always go for tea, as I can drink it however, as long as it’s light on milk. Im fussy when it comes to coffee.

I hate going to non coffee drinkers houses and they have really naff cheep coffee. A small jar of decent stuff is only £3. Hardly break the bank for when guests come. Probably a pound cheaper, and telly only buy one jar a year.

We don’t drink tea, but I’ll aways by a decent brand. Admittedly it will be whichever has a deal on at the time. But a small box will do us 12 months. A small jar of coffee 2 days.

[RSB]

More Caffeine in breakfast brew. No caffeine in Bedtime brew but with a hint of cinnamon. Break time brew has some citrus and something else, Ill look later. Coffie just gives me a stomach ache and/or wiped out after an hour of drinking it. This is recent though, was a big fan of douwe egberts, it had a hint of toffee taste I think which was nice.

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!

[The Duke]

If Im doing real work, one where you have to actually move, or rather bend often, coffee give me heartburn/acid, so then I’ll drink tea, but it goes through me, so I have to cut the intake in half.

The shit we talk about. Lol.

Side note, can you see this emoji ?

[Author]

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