Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
My current digital meter meter must use less energy than the newer smart meters, as well as being more enviromentally better as there are no batteries needed, as it does less.
Smart meters.....what's the point
- Thread starter Bunkermagnet
- Start date
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
It's technological progress. Smart technology will be commonplace pretty soon.
rulefan
Tour Winner
My supplier (First Utility) offered me a smartmeter a week ago. The manufacturer (Siemens) told me that particular model was not compatible with any major supplier and only a few smaller ones.
I declined the offer.
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
Smart meters are brilliant.
The bad thing was putting a little display device to go along with it.
Just use a phone app and Bluetooth. Could have saved millions.
Loved the data. Hated the display.
Glad I don't have a display now but still have a remotely read meter.
The bad thing was putting a little display device to go along with it.
Just use a phone app and Bluetooth. Could have saved millions.
Loved the data. Hated the display.
Glad I don't have a display now but still have a remotely read meter.
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wrighty1874
Journeyman Pro
I was meant to get one fitted in our house back in July between 8-12. Waited in till 12.05 and no sign of them or a phone call to say they will be late. I received a letter a week later apologising for their unprofessional dealings with me. Haven't heard anything since.
Totally agree but not resisting nor embracing. If I had one fitted I'm pretty much sure I'd barely look at it. Just what info would it give me? It'll tell me that the TV and Sky box are on. Yes they're supposed to be. It'll tell me the fridge is on. Yes its supposed to be. It'll tell me there's a table lamp on in the lounge. Yes its supposed to be on. And when I'm cold it will tell me I've put the heating on.
It will tell me all the things I already know and have known for years. Is it going to change my habits? No of course it won't. I want to watch the TV, and I want the fridge to keep the food chilled, and I'll want the heating on when I'm cold.
So what does it achieve? It sees lots of people in offices burning energy/electricity/gas administering a programme that sees lots of men in factories making Smart meters, who send them out to lots of people that run around in vans(burning fossil fuels) to fit something the vast majority of people will ignore.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Yes it will change some peoples habits once you see how much each of your appliances use. They don't just tell you if something is on or off, they tell you how much electricity each appliance is using. We had one fitted 3 months ago and it is an eye opener how much electricity certain things use and how relatively little other things do. So my behaviour in terms of use of appliances has changed slightly. Not a huge amount on my own, but multiplied by several million and it will make a difference. Also I like to think I am doing a very small bit for the environment, kind of trying to leave the planet is a slightly inhabitable state for future generations, in a hippy dippy woolly liberal yurt eating tree hugging way.
And I suspect that most electronics nowadays are not made by 'men in factories' but by mostly automated production lines.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Smart meters. Pfaff. I know that my kitchen lights at 500 w is where the money goes in my house. Its not hard to work out. There is no mystery here. I dont need a meter to inform me. Any one who cant work out where the money goes is an eejit
But what do people switch on that they don't need or want on? I'm all for being disciplined and managing what I want on, I just don't need a meter to tell me something is on.
As for adopting/ substituting technologies to improve the environment I spent a couple of hours today researching hybrid cars, energy and fossil fuel consumption with a view to getting one. For example for every 2 gallons of fuel used in a Hyundai Ioniq you'll use 3 in an Astra. Now that is a genuine saving and benefit.
Automated production lines; the Labour feeds the production lines and ships the end product. The speed and volume of production actually, in many cases, uses more energy than the man with a screwdriver. Automated doesn't necessarily equal energy savings.
As for adopting/ substituting technologies to improve the environment I spent a couple of hours today researching hybrid cars, energy and fossil fuel consumption with a view to getting one. For example for every 2 gallons of fuel used in a Hyundai Ioniq you'll use 3 in an Astra. Now that is a genuine saving and benefit.
Automated production lines; the Labour feeds the production lines and ships the end product. The speed and volume of production actually, in many cases, uses more energy than the man with a screwdriver. Automated doesn't necessarily equal energy savings.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
The classic example is filling a kettle when you only need one cup. Plenty of people leave TVs etc on when not actually watching them, lights in other rooms etc.
However, this is all just one of many benefits of smart meters so don't get hung up on it if you already monitor your usage effectively.
However, this is all just one of many benefits of smart meters so don't get hung up on it if you already monitor your usage effectively.
Canfordhacker
Q-School Graduate
So a year ssince this thread, which was quite binary. I have just had an appointment for a fitting sent to me out of the blue by nPower. Have things moved on in a year regarding cross supplier compatibility? Are they all SMET2 now? What about the snooping/big brother elements? Is resistance futile?
Should I bother?
Should I bother?
Crazyface
Tour Winner
Nutz to 'em. Just another "Big Brother" thing.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
Funnily enough I had a missed call from N Power yesterday, wonder if it was about a smart meter.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
No, most still arent using SMET2 so no cross compatibility between companies.
Still got my old digital meter, and wont be going smart meter route anytime soon.
Still got my old digital meter, and wont be going smart meter route anytime soon.
Reemul
Head Pro
Yeah i've been chased by npower for smart meter installation. Thing is it's a choice and you don't have to have one so I am ignoring it, no intention of getting one
rulefan
Tour Winner
There are plenty of alternatives available that do a better job of analysing usage down to appliance than smart meters. And they are supplier independent.
Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
Scottish Power were supposed to fit my smart meter about 3 years ago, they didn't. I've been trying ever since to try get them to fit one and currently there unable to.
We are with Scottish Power. 3 times they have arranged to fit meters and 3 times they just didn't turn up, appointment made, day off work, just didn't bother. The good news is we got a £75 credit each time for inconvenience. The main problem being that SP do not fit the meters, they farm it out to a 3rd party who are nigh on impossible to speak to. We have given up on it now.
If you get an appt booked and they fail to turn up, definitely complain. At least you get something back for it.
