Any downsides to a smart meter?

I hope they think about the new coms hub and include a reset button so communication issues don't require a call out as well.
It would be nice to think so but the cynic in me says no. Two powerful forces are lined up against this bright idea. One, company profits - anything that adds a micro of an expense to a device will be denied. Two, stupid people - never give the general populace buttons to play with.
 
It would be nice to think so but the cynic in me says no. Two powerful forces are lined up against this bright idea. One, company profits - anything that adds a micro of an expense to a device will be denied. Two, stupid people - never give the general populace buttons to play with.
Smart metering is funded from the standing charge so its not really a profit issue. But if it were the case its got to be cheaper getting someone to press a button rather than sending someone out to power cycle the house.
 
Smart metering is funded from the standing charge so its not really a profit issue. But if it were the case its got to be cheaper getting someone to press a button rather than sending someone out to power cycle the house.

It also only needs to reset the comms module so its like in effect rebooting your router.
 
Is this complete BS? It sounds like it to me? I can’t see a digital meter getting less accurate, surely it either works or it doesn’t? Are they allowed to outright lie to scare people into switching?

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Just to explain, I’m happy to have a smart meter but I live in a rented flat and the electricity meter is under the stairs (along with those of the neighbours), right under the diagonal of the stairs. I understand the meters need a bit of space around them.

Also, I would have to deal with my landlord and managing agent.

Scottish Power will only take me off the pester list for 6 months at a time even though this situation won’t change.
 
Is this complete BS? It sounds like it to me? I can’t see a digital meter getting less accurate, surely it either works or it doesn’t? Are they allowed to outright lie to scare people into switching?

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Just to explain, I’m happy to have a smart meter but I live in a rented flat and the electricity meter is under the stairs (along with those of the neighbours), right under the diagonal of the stairs. I understand the meters need a bit of space around them.

Also, I would have to deal with my landlord and managing agent.

Scottish Power will only take me off the pester list for 6 months at a time even though this situation won’t change.
Power meters are rated for certain times yes.
They do start degrading...
 
Is this complete BS? It sounds like it to me? I can’t see a digital meter getting less accurate, surely it either works or it doesn’t? Are they allowed to outright lie to scare people into switching?



Just to explain, I’m happy to have a smart meter but I live in a rented flat and the electricity meter is under the stairs (along with those of the neighbours), right under the diagonal of the stairs. I understand the meters need a bit of space around them.

Also, I would have to deal with my landlord and managing agent.

Scottish Power will only take me off the pester list for 6 months at a time even though this situation won’t change.
The email lays it on a bit thick but basically yes.

Digital meters can very much do wander out of calibration and they are rated to only last a certain period of time.
 
I don't entirely buy the safety aspect in the emails energy companies send out to persuade customers to have a smart meter fitted. Maybe if your meters are ancient or were installed by somebody dodgy previously, but really the energy companies are probably more fussed about the inaccuracies of old meters possibly losing them money.
 
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but really the energy companies are probably more fussed about the inaccuracies of old meters possibly losing them money.
Not really, they are probably concerned about not meeting government targets about smart meter installations and being fined though.
 
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Not really, they are probably concerned about not meeting government targets about smart meter installations and being fined though.

They're more concerned with complying with Market Wide Half hourly settlements that are coming into play over the next couple of years, which is the next big thing in the industry.
 
I asked EON during covid i f they could switch me onto a regular meter, as It's alwasy been one of those top of leccy meters with a key since I moved n.
They claimed they would do it.... no one ever contacted me again after giving them proof my meter had no debt etc, said direct debit is fine...


now for the last 3 months EON are bombarding me every day almost with texts, emails and phone calls about getting a smart meter....

they literally phone every few hours on the days they try.... Android auto flags the number as "suspicious/fraudulent" so I blocked it...

NOT MY PROBLMEN EON YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE.


It's literal harassment btw....., I ignored 5 phone calls one morning, its not eon doing the phone calls probably some loophole so they don't get in trouble but the emails and texts oddly always come around the same time the calls did...


any old person has been coned into thinking they 100% must have a smart meter as your "old meters are being phased out" etc...

quick get a smart meter before its too late, it's disgusting and so is the stupid government target of getting smart meters installed.


whomever came up with that one has fingers in the pie no doubt.....
 
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I asked EON during covid i f they could switch me onto a regular meter, as It's alwasy been one of those top of leccy meters with a key since I moved n.
They claimed they would do it.... no one ever contacted me again after giving them proof my meter had no debt etc, said direct debit is fine...


now for the last 3 months EON are bombarding me every day almost with texts, emails and phone calls about getting a smart meter....

they literally phone every few hours on the days they try.... Android auto flags the number as "suspicious/fraudulent" so I blocked it...

NOT MY PROBLMEN EON YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE.


It's literal harassment btw....., I ignored 5 phone calls one morning, its not eon doing the phone calls probably some loophole so they don't get in trouble but the emails and texts oddly always come around the same time the calls did...


any old person has been coned into thinking they 100% must have a smart meter as your "old meters are being phased out" etc...

quick get a smart meter before its too late, it's disgusting and so is the stupid government target of getting smart meters installed.


whomever came up with that one has fingers in the pie no doubt.....
Should have bought and airhorn
 
Eon have been trying to replace my economy 7 meter now for a few years, every month or so they will call, tell me they need to change it. I explain that i can only do weekend appointments as i refuse to take an unpaid day off work to have one fitted. They say no weekend appointments are currently available and will add a note to my account and call me back once one is available. Following month another phone call, same thing, totally oblivious to the note that is meant to be on the account, tell me they have now added it and then rinse and repeat 3 years later lol still same thing.

They are now saying the radio signal is being turned off and it is now urgent... Yea well give me a weekend appointment then! you have had 3 years!!!
 
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Eon have been trying to replace my economy 7 meter now for a few years, every month or so they will call, tell me they need to change it. I explain that i can only do weekend appointments as i refuse to take an unpaid day off work to have one fitted. They say no weekend appointments are currently available and will add a note to my account and call me back once one is available. Following month another phone call, same thing, totally oblivious to the note that is meant to be on the account, tell me they have now added it and then rinse and repeat 3 years later lol still same thing.

They are now saying the radio signal is being turned off and it is now urgent... Yea well give me a weekend appointment then! you have had 3 years!!!

I suppose, as long as you accept that it's not their problem if your meter sticks on the day rate when the radio signal is turned off.

"They should have had a weekend appointment", coulda woulda shoulda - if your meter's not working properly then you'll need to accept an appointment to change it. Or are you suggesting that there's literally nobody you know who could house-sit for a weekday?
 
I suppose, as long as you accept that it's not their problem if your meter sticks on the day rate when the radio signal is turned off.

"They should have had a weekend appointment", coulda woulda shoulda - if your meter's not working properly then you'll need to accept an appointment to change it. Or are you suggesting that there's literally nobody you know who could house-sit for a weekday?
I’d also be speaking to his HR department as he doesn’t appear to have any holidays. Unless he’s a contractor or self employed.
 
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