Smart meters.....what's the point

[FairwayDodger]

I tend to check out the cheapest suppliers annually and change if its prudent.

Slightly concerned that if the meters aren't compatible across suppliers the freedom to switch will be compromised and competition will suffer.

That won't be the case.

It's only a slight issue with some of the meters from the early trials. People on those meters can still switch but it initially meant leaving the smart trial and the meter being switched to operate in dumb mode. Increasingly, these are becoming more interoperable as most suppliers are gearing up and some processes have been derived to allow switching while continuing to be "smart".

The full rollout won't have any such problems as the meters, processes and central systems are all being designed with this in mind.

 

[drdel]

That won't be the case.

It's only a slight issue with some of the meters from the early trials. People on those meters can still switch but it initially meant leaving the smart trial and the meter being switched to operate in dumb mode. Increasingly, these are becoming more interoperable as most suppliers are gearing up and some processes have been derived to allow switching while continuing to be "smart".

The full rollout won't have any such problems as the meters, processes and central systems are all being designed with this in mind.

Okay - cheers

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Just why it is assumed that Smart Meters will change peoples behaviour baffles me.

If you can see that turning on a kettle that is full of water when you only need one cup costs £1.50, made up figure, when if you put enough in to fill 1-2 cups costs £0.20, again made up figure, then that is an incentive to change your behaviour

It shows you the cost of the electricity you are using and that is enough for most people.

 

[Rooter]

Is it geeky that i already meter all my IT equipment under the stairs? by power port i can track use, harmonics, peak load and the total UPS figure? Yeh, i'll get my Star Trek dvd and let myself out...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If you can see that turning on a kettle that is full of water when you only need one cup costs £1.50, made up figure, when if you put enough in to fill 1-2 cups costs £0.20, again made up figure, then that is an incentive to change your behaviour

It shows you the cost of the electricity you are using and that is enough for most people.

It did work for me - I was gob-smacked the cost of putting the kettle on - and the cost of a convection heater. And once I had a few weeks data in it I could see what I should be 'spending' day by day - and so if on any day I was ahead of what I felt I needed to spend as shown by historical data - then I'd cut back.

I could also show the kids the effect of switching off all the upstairs lights.

Have to say though - Gaz and Leccy are starting to irritate with their joviality as we see suppliers starting to whack up their charges

 

[Rooter]

I could also show the kids the effect of switching off all the upstairs lights.

Check the change of LED from halogen! That will show a huge impact! Especially on bulbs like GU10 spots...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Check the change of LED from halogen! That will show a huge impact! Especially on bulbs like GU10 spots...

Must go check my spots - are GU10 spots BAD! ? Or is it just cos GU10 is half mile from me

 

[Beezerk]

If you can see that turning on a kettle that is full of water when you only need one cup costs £1.50, made up figure, when if you put enough in to fill 1-2 cups costs £0.20, again made up figure, then that is an incentive to change your behaviour

It shows you the cost of the electricity you are using and that is enough for most people.

But your meter is still tucked away in a cupboard, so how do you see real time how much energy you are using?

 

[Rooter]

Must go check my spots - are GU10 spots BAD! ? Or is it just cos GU10 is half mile from me

Touch a GU10 thats been on for 10 seconds. It will take off your skin, heat = lots of power used.

Here is a table that's hard to format here, but taken from http://www.thegreenage.co.uk/article/cost-comparison-led-spotlight-versus-halogen-spotlight/

Based on 1000 hours use. In short, LED last longer, cost less to run, but cost more up front. Long term much better though..


Light bulb Type 5W LED Spot 50 Watt Halogen
Light bulb projected Lifespan (Hrs) 24,000 2,000
Cost per bulb £5.00 £1.50
kWh of electricity used over 24,000 hours 120 1,200
Cost of electricity (@ £0.15 / kWh) £18.00 £180.00
Bulbs needed to last 24,000 hours 1 12
Bulb expense £5.00 £18.00
Total cost for buying and running the bulb £23.00 £198.00


EDIT: And thats ONE bulb! I have 12 GU10's in my kitchen alone....

 

[MegaSteve]

Once we lose most of our good links courses to rising sea levels, maybe people will wonder if a smart meter wasn't such a bad thing after all

If we truly wish to save our links courses then we'll have to take greater steps beyond fitting smart meters...

Cutting all air travel by a third would be a good place to start...

 

[DCB]

But your meter is still tucked away in a cupboard, so how do you see real time how much energy you are using?

You get a small portable wireless device that's paired with your meter and shows you what the meter reads and a lot more.

 

[Beezerk]

You get a small portable wireless device that's paired with your meter and shows you what the meter reads and a lot more.

Is it blue tooth or piggyback your wifi signal? Hopefully not the latter.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

It must be bluetooth surely as lots of people do not have wifi still, many elderly people for example.

 

[Beezerk]

It must be bluetooth surely as lots of people do not have wifi still, many elderly people for example.

Yeah and my "fibre" broadband connection is sheeeiiite so I won't allow them access anyway, every Kb/s is precious to me

 

[DCB]

Yeah and my "fibre" broadband connection is sheeeiiite so I won't allow them access anyway, every Kb/s is precious to me

The smart meter uses a GSM connection to send it's data to the supplier, no need for any connection to the users phone or broadband etc. Don't know what the screen uses ,but, it works well in a certain range so it may be bluetooth, but nothing visible on another device if you search for devices.

 

[DCB]

If we truly wish to save our links courses then we'll have to take greater steps beyond fitting smart meters...

Cutting all air travel by a third would be a good place to start...

Agreed, but every little helps

 

[londonlewis]

In my mind smart meters are a provision to future proof against challenges with energy supply and rapid increases in cost we will all suffer from in the future.
1st generation won't be great but the technology will rapidly improve. It will be essential for future generations to manage their utility bill$$$!

 

[FairwayDodger]

It must be bluetooth surely as lots of people do not have wifi still, many elderly people for example.

There are various components, some integrated into the meter. Basically a comms hub handles the communication to the data communication company (central meter reading system) over a gsm wan and creates a local wifi network (Han) to which all your devices will be paired - leccy meter, gas meter, in home display etc.

The meter operator will pair all the devices during installation so ideally this is all seem less to customers.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

FD - I actually have no idea how it connects so thank you for the explanation. Given the two assumptions by Beezerk I went for the process of elimination method and decided it could not be Wifi so it must be the other. Obviously there were other methods, as you have described :thup:

 

[FairwayDodger]

FD - I actually have no idea how it connects so thank you for the explanation. Given the two assumptions by Beezerk I went for the process of elimination method and decided it could not be Wifi so it must be the other. Obviously there were other methods, as you have described :thup:

I used to work on the smart metering implementation programme. (And several years on old school metering systems before that). Have been out of the loop for about a year though.