Offered a Smart Meter, Worth It?

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

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Alfreton,Derbyshire
So I've just moved into a new property and sent over my initial readings to eon next, they've dropped me an email to say I'm eligible for a smart meter, but I've heard a number of mixed feelings about these in the past. What do people think? They supply both my gas and electric currently, so not sure if this would cover both, but could confirm.

I do hate having to give readings which would be a plus
 
I was against having one, but do now have one and am very happy with it. The energy company gets 30 min updates on my energy usage and my bills now accurately reflect and charge for what I actually use. I can also see what I am using, quickly on my HA tablet.

I feel I was wrong to resist. the benefits for me are significant, financially and with information availability.

There are concerns about future opportunities to vary charging patterns, but I cannot see these will ever fail to disadvantage old meter users more, to push them to smart meters.

I feel I was wrong to resist the change, especially with fuel prices as they are
 
We had one in our last house - having a constant reading of how much you're spending is just another thing to be anxious about.

Our current house doesn’t have one and we won’t be getting one any time soon. Sure, I could just not use the usage/spend meter and still provide automatic readings to my supplier, but I don’t mind giving manual readings.

We’re sensible with our energy usage and sometimes a bit of ignorance is bliss.
 
We've just had one installed and I'm in favour of getting one now because if power suppliers do upscale incentives to adjust usage to help the grid, there will be a surge of smart meter requests and they'll no longer be free due to demand.
 
martin363 said:
I was against having one, but do now have one and am very happy with it. The energy company gets 30 min updates on my energy usage and my bills now accurately reflect and charge for what I actually use. I can also see what I am using, quickly on my HA tablet.

I feel I was wrong to resist. the benefits for me are significant, financially and with information availability.

There are concerns about future opportunities to vary charging patterns, but I cannot see these will ever fail to disadvantage old meter users more, to push them to smart meters.

I feel I was wrong to resist the change, especially with fuel prices as they are
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As if I written a reply myself.

Exactly the same and now glad I have one
 
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n30_mkii said:
So I've just moved into a new property and sent over my initial readings to eon next, they've dropped me an email to say I'm eligible for a smart meter, but I've heard a number of mixed feelings about these in the past. What do people think? They supply both my gas and electric currently, so not sure if this would cover both, but could confirm.

I do hate having to give readings which would be a plus
Click to expand...
had the same eon said elegible umm and arrred but decided to bite the bullet ...there due first week in january at least no more walking round to the gas meter on the side of the house (i hope).
 
I really like having one, it's really handy to see your usage in real time even if its just to know you left the outside light on with todays energy prices.

I can't think of a single downside to having one, you'll get the luddite brigade saying big brother is watching etc but i've never heard any actually factual arguments against having a modern one. The first generation ones were rubbish as they turned useless when you changed supplier but the modern ones are great.
 
You can spend £15 and get constant readings using a ESP8266 w/ Home Assistant though.
& With that you can set alerts and make it turn off stuff automatically etc etc...

youtu.be

Clamp Sensor Energy Monitoring - ESPHome in Home Assistant

Integrating simple energy monitoring into Home Assistant using a Wemos D1 mini and a clamp sensor, with a brilliant PCB in between. Wemos D1 Mini: https://am...
youtu.be youtu.be
 
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they do absolutely nothing you cant do yourself ... except in winter my energy is within £5 every month ... you use what you do .. you leave a room you turn off the light .. rooms your not using turn down the heating ?
i've had this argument with octopus .. i just don't need or want one .. if they want a photo every month of my readings fine .. as i do that anyway ..
 
flea.rider said:
they do absolutely nothing you cant do yourself ... except in winter my energy is within £5 every month ... you use what you do .. you leave a room you turn off the light .. rooms your not using turn down the heating ?
i've had this argument with octopus .. i just don't need or want one .. if they want a photo every month of my readings fine .. as i do that anyway ..
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I can’t supply a meter reading every 30 minutes. I have to sleep.
 
flea.rider said:
they do absolutely nothing you cant do yourself ... except in winter my energy is within £5 every month ... you use what you do .. you leave a room you turn off the light .. rooms your not using turn down the heating ?
i've had this argument with octopus .. i just don't need or want one .. if they want a photo every month of my readings fine .. as i do that anyway ..
Click to expand...

They're great for helping people understand what all your devices cost to run. I've basically learnt that everything is pretty cheap to run and not worth really even thinking about unless it's anything that generates heat. Now my habits are based around that, be sensible with anything that generates heat and use as much as I want of everything else. I wouldn't of had a clue if it wasn't for my smartmeter.

I don't really see a reason not to get one.
 
bainbridge said:
We've just had one installed and I'm in favour of getting one now because if power suppliers do upscale incentives to adjust usage to help the grid, there will be a surge of smart meter requests and they'll no longer be free due to demand.
Click to expand...

And it is coming, the industry is making changes for half hourly billing for domestic connections.
 
I got them fitted this week so am in the "stop looking at the darned monitor" phase and regretting it. :) I'm very aware of what everything uses, so it only adds to my paranoia, not helps "educate" me. However I'm hoping (also on Eon) to be able to get involved in those demand nudging exercises that might save me some money at minimal inconvenience to me, now I haven't got a dependant to prioritise.

I do fear that demand shaping will soon turn into Uber-style dynamic pricing which will prey on disorganised folk like my Mum used to be, on the dementia spectrum, but that's the modern world... the road to hell is paved with good intentions!

Edit: forgot the main reason for switching... no more txts, emails, letters, or phone calls from Eon every ten minutes reminding me I can have smart meters!
 
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flea.rider said:
they do absolutely nothing you cant do yourself ... except in winter my energy is within £5 every month ... you use what you do .. you leave a room you turn off the light .. rooms your not using turn down the heating ?
i've had this argument with octopus .. i just don't need or want one .. if they want a photo every month of my readings fine .. as i do that anyway ..
Click to expand...
Even if that was true, like has been said I'm sure you wouldn't want to get up every 30 minutes to provide readings.

Why would you not want that automated? Surely you must have something you'd rather do with your time no matter how small than provide meter readings? Plus it's for free, i can't see any downsides at all myself?
 
sovietspybob said:
Even if that was true, like has been said I'm sure you wouldn't want to get up every 30 minutes to provide readings.

Why would you not want that automated? Surely you must have something you'd rather do with your time no matter how small than provide meter readings? Plus it's for free, i can't see any downsides at all myself?
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New world order/WEF scaremongering basically
 
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