Caporegime
Currently on Octopus Economy 7 with a conventional meter. Have been thinking about a smart meter to allow access to EV tariffs.
Any downsides these days to a Smart Meter?
Any downsides these days to a Smart Meter?
Do you plan on going into debt with them?They can switch you to prepay without even attending the property. That alone means it's a no from me.
British Gas seem to have a poor reputation when it comes to smart meters https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/dec/06/why-cant-british-gas-install-a-smart-meter-that-works and I know others that have had issues with BG as well.If they stop working (A lot have, including mine 18 months ago) It's a pain to get them replaced, especially if you have switched supplier. I've had to change back to British Gas to get mine replaced and I've been promised April. That has been postponed Three times now. 1st they turned up when I was at work and they put a card through the door instead of phoning me which made me cross. 2nd time they couldn't replace because I was with a different supplier, said supplier refused to send an engineer so they got kicked to the kerb. 3rd time was just before Xmas I got a text to say they couldn't send anyone on the booked day. I have no faith in BG to send anyone out to fit new ones, They are giving me the runaround.
The ombudsman wont help unless I have evidence to support this, I dont as I get cross, when I see red I delete said evidence even though I shouldn't, but that's me, I dont help myself in that regard.
Well, no, but does anyone? Mistakes happen, no doubt it's happened to some people who weren't in debt.Do you plan on going into debt with them?
None, there are only advantages.Currently on Octopus Economy 7 with a conventional meter. Have been thinking about a smart meter to allow access to EV tariffs.
Any downsides these days to a Smart Meter?
Take the tinfoil off your head. Get a smart meter, get on a smart tarrif and shave your bills, trackers are about 40% cheaper than your current rate, other smart tarrifs more.Well, no, but does anyone? Mistakes happen, no doubt it's happened to some people who weren't in debt.
They like you in a bit of debt because you have to clear it before you switch.Do you plan on going into debt with them?
Yes. But switching things off saves you money regardless of meter, the savings with the smart comes from the tarrif themselves.If I need it it's on, if it's not I turn it off.
My account stays at £0.They like you in a bit of debt because you have to clear it before you switch.
I always prefer to be a little in the negative than positive, you don't get interest off them having more of your money than they're owed.
That said we recently accumulated an uncomfortable level of credit that thankfully the winter months has been reducing.
As for smart meters in general, they're good when they work but I don't believe any of the nonsense about saving money. I never plug in the reader and only check usage when the bill comes.
If I need it it's on, if it's not I turn it off.
If you work from home, that’s perfect. Laundry & dishwasher on overnight/in the morning and avoid the 4-7pm peak rates. Your laptop and monitors don’t use huge amounts of energy.These flexible tariffs, how helpful are they if you work from home and can't do a huge amount to vary when you're using energy?