Smart Meter

[Robster59]

We've had an letter from Scottish Power offering to put a smart meter in the house for free.
Given that you don't get anything for nothing, I'd value people's experience and knowledge of these.
Are they worth it? What are the pros and cons?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

We've had an letter from Scottish Power offering to put a smart meter in the house for free.
Given that you don't get anything for nothing, I'd value people's experience and knowledge of these.
Are they worth it? What are the pros and cons?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

If you believe conspicuousy theorists they are a way of the companies shutting you off if you don't pay your bill, or being hacked by the Russians

In truth they are vital to help us reduce our carbon footprint

They help the grid manage demand and see when people use real time

They provide feedback to people so they can see what they use and help them cut down (if they want to)

Also don't have to do smart readings anymore


However ask if it's smet1 or 2. If 1 say no thanks if 2 yes please

1 only works with your provider .. 2 works for everyone

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No real downside, unless as suggested above you go with the conspiracy theory. No need to do meter readings anymore, it just does its thing.

Ours stopped communicating for a while but is back up and running again now.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

No real downside, unless as suggested above you go with the conspiracy theory. No need to do meter readings anymore, it just does its thing.

Ours stopped communicating for a while but is back up and running again now.

Really comes into play with my car aswell, as they are able to offer cheap times (and I could pick the times within a range we went for 5 hours starting at 01:30) so I only charge at those times to make it super cheap

Also the tumble and dishwasher go on at those hours .. Mrs loves it .. everything's ready in morning and saves more than you would think

 

[chellie]

Really comes into play with my car aswell, as they are able to offer cheap times (and I could pick the times within a range we went for 5 hours starting at 01:30) so I only charge at those times to make it super cheap

Also the tumble and dishwasher go on at those hours .. Mrs loves it .. everything's ready in morning and saves more than you would think

What about the fire risk though of a tumble dryer and dishwasher on whilst you sleep? Big no no from me. Play golf with someone who had a house fire in the day from a washing machine....

 

[Deleted member 21784]

What about the fire risk though of a tumble dryer and dishwasher on whilst you sleep? Big no no from me. Play golf with someone who had a house fire in the day from a washing machine....

Fire can happen anytime, the kitchen is isolated at back of house , we have smoke alarms linked on each floor after the loft extension so would be alerted

Could equally have a fire from anything plugged in or even the gas into the house

Nothing is risk free

Also the tumble cuts off when it sensors that the load is dry, and if it didn't it only goes on max of 3 hours which shouldn't cause a fire .. unless was going to happen anyways

 

[Deleted member 29109]

What about the fire risk though of a tumble dryer and dishwasher on whilst you sleep? Big no no from me. Play golf with someone who had a house fire in the day from a washing machine....

Its a very small risk.

Fridges cause the most house fires from appliances. Followed I think by dishwashers.

 

[CliveW]

We have a Smart Meter and still get estimated bills! It is however, a great way of seeing how much electricity you are using.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Don’t have one, and until everyone is installing smets 2 meters they can forget it. A meter doesn’t make you more environmentally considerate, turning things off when not needed or in use does that.
I have have what used to be a white meter, which is just a 2 rate meter so the cost of night units are cheaper than day unit.

 

[rulefan]

We've had an letter from Scottish Power offering to put a smart meter in the house for free.
Given that you don't get anything for nothing, I'd value people's experience and knowledge of these.
Are they worth it? What are the pros and cons?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Do 'smart' meters measure gas and electricity usage?
Does an electric 'smart' meter tell you which devices are using what what power? Don't people understand that when they turn a switch on power will be used and that a 3kw heater will use more than a 60w bulb. Does it tell you that you have left a light on in the spare bedroom? How smart is smart really? What does it tell you that you don't already know?

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Do 'smart' meters measure gas and electricity usage?
Does an electric 'smart' meter tell you which devices are using what what power? Don't people understand that when they turn a switch on power will be used and that a 3kw heater will use more than a 60w bulb. Does it tell you that you have left a light on in the spare bedroom? How smart is smart really? What does it tell you that you don't already know?

"Smart" metres and In home displays are 2 completely different things and one of those situations when people think the in home display is the smart part

The smart metres themselves are very clever, read the usage of electric and gas in half hour slots (can be less if you don't need that, I do to be able to have the car tariff) and report back to the energy company with usage readings for accurate bills and real time grid demand to help the country reduce its carbon foot print

In home display (I don't have one it's In a draw somewhere) give you a system to see what uses more electric when it's plugged in just to make people aware of what uses what

It entirely depends on your level of knowledge and it educates people

If like yourself you take an interest in the finer details of things you don't need it

But as a visual to show kids it's an excellent learning tool

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Do 'smart' meters measure gas and electricity usage?
Does an electric 'smart' meter tell you which devices are using what what power? Don't people understand that when they turn a switch on power will be used and that a 3kw heater will use more than a 60w bulb. Does it tell you that you have left a light on in the spare bedroom? How smart is smart really? What does it tell you that you don't already know?

They don't, but I suspect you knew that. What the display has allowed me to do is show the cretins who live with me how much it costs to leave everything switched on. So now they switch it off.

I don't get comedy high estimates, so the energy company can't have my money sitting in their bank.

It now just sits there doing whatever it does and I don't have to bother with meter readings. Win win

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Standard day



Charged the car lol

Agile isn't my tariff it's go , that's just a comparison app between the 2 tariffs ..

Saves me a fortune the old go tariff

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Do 'smart' meters measure gas and electricity usage?
Does an electric 'smart' meter tell you which devices are using what what power? Don't people understand that when they turn a switch on power will be used and that a 3kw heater will use more than a 60w bulb. Does it tell you that you have left a light on in the spare bedroom? How smart is smart really? What does it tell you that you don't already know?

For two it shows me how greedy my kettle and my convection heater are, and so I tend to be much more conscious of how I use such appliances. Plus I check it most days to see how our usage is going. Find it really useful. And good that I don’t have to do meter readings or get bills based upon power company estimated readings.

 

[jim8flog]

If only both of mine worked it would save me having to go out in the freezing cold or pouring rain to take a meter reading and that to me is the biggest upside.

I have never known any downsides.

I only ever used mine to take meter readings. Having one is not going to change my lifestyle.

" Oh look at the graphs the're the days I did the washing etc"

 

[jim8flog]

Its a very small risk.

Fridges cause the most house fires from appliances. Followed I think by dishwashers.

and Hotpoint tumble driers.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

and Hotpoint tumble driers.

Technically speaking....Indesit dryers.

 

[williamalex1]

We've been asked to allow " e-on NEXT " to install smart meters.

Has anyone had these installed?
Have you found any problems or benefits?

 

[Deleted member 21784]

We've been asked to allow " e-on NEXT " to install smart meters.

Has anyone had these installed?
Have you found any problems or benefits?

What as in smart metre in general? They will be the same as any other smet 2 I believe

 

[williamalex1]

What as in smart metre in general? They will be the same as any other smet 2 I believe

Any experiences, pros &cons with e-on next or smart meters in general.