Smart meter rollout

Mynight

Mynight

Mynight

Soldato
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Has anyone given any thought to these yet?

Appears the EU have made targets for 80% of the UK to have smart meters installed in a bid to cut energy wastage/usage.

I was also considering the security risks apparently they're all linked via wifi sending the usage data back to the various companies involved. We all know how insecure wifi is given enough time, in theory if you're charged on the data sent back then a nefarious neighbour could increase your bills, work out when you're not home and rob you. Obviously these are extreme scenarios but its a point I have considered.

I know I'm going to hold out on getting one fitted but I am getting ahold of one to have a play with test my security theory :D


Would you have one installed?

(Poll? Yay/nay?)
 
It's a large initial outlay with a payback targeted at 8~ years I believe but if it helps bolster European energy security then I'm all for it
 
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Muffin` said:
It's a large initial outlay with a payback targeted at 8~ years I believe but if it helps bolster European energy security then I'm all for it
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Just out of interest but how can it pay back? Wouldn't the payback be based on people realising how much energy they're using and cutting down? If so then I can see an awful lot of people not caring as either they already save as much as they can or they just don't care as long as it stays the same price. Unless my family are weird we don't leave anything on were not using so couldn't save anymore.

I'm not trying to be difficult but I can't see how it's going to save us any money when were going to foot the bill in the first place.
 
Supposedly saves on employing meter readers and some savings in electricity.
Their figure of an 8 year payback is skypie.

If they incorporated some load shedding then it would save money.



I wonder how much the manufacturer of meters had to bribe the right politicians to get this deal.
Someone is going to make a shed load of money out of this.

£200 for a poxy wi-fi current meter? What a rip off :rolleyes:



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Mynight said:
Just out of interest but how can it pay back? Wouldn't the payback be based on people realising how much energy they're using and cutting down? If so then I can see an awful lot of people not caring as either they already save as much as they can or they just don't care as long as it stays the same price. Unless my family are weird we don't leave anything on were not using so couldn't save anymore.

I'm not trying to be difficult but I can't see how it's going to save us any money when were going to foot the bill in the first place.
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I think a technological addition giving people a granular breakdown will help educate on usage more than the current system of alphabet stickers and a bill. It's not too dissimilar as auto enrolment for Pensions or dieting advice, you can lead them to water but if they refuse then it will just cost them more in the long run but you can't say they weren't advised in a practical way.
 
bitslice said:
Supposedly saves on employing meter readers and some savings in electricity.
Their figure of an 8 year payback is skypie.

If they incorporated some load shedding then it would save money.



I wonder how much the manufacturer of meters had to bribe the right politicians to get this deal.
Someone is going to make a shed load of money out of this.

£200 for a poxy wi-fi current meter? What a rip off :rolleyes:
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...

To be fair, the property we are currently in has the old style meter and its garbage. I would much rather have a modern one with automatic monitoring and meter reading, but neither I nor anybody else can be bothered to pay for it. Its a good thing.
 
Muffin` said:
I think a technological addition giving people a granular breakdown will help educate on usage more than the current system of alphabet stickers and a bill. It's not too dissimilar as auto enrolment for Pensions or dieting advice, you can lead them to water but if they refuse then it will just cost them more in the long run but you can't say they weren't advised in a practical way.
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Good reply. Thank you. I can see what you're saying now. It does make me a bit sad though that it has to come to this.

BunnyKillBot said:
...

To be fair, the property we are currently in has the old style meter and its garbage. I would much rather have a modern one with automatic monitoring and meter reading, but neither I nor anybody else can be bothered to pay for it. Its a good thing.
Click to expand...



What's garbage about it? It spins and you read it or am I missing something? Just wondering as I've got the old 50s meter and I have no issues with it wondering if I've got a surprise in store.
 
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I wouldn't mind having them installed so long as the cost is spread over a number of years to make barely noticeable.
 
the £200 cost will be passed onto "us" the end user even tho we are forced to have it - the energy companies have openly admitted so..
 
rah^ said:
the £200 cost will be passed onto "us" the end user even tho we are forced to have it - the energy companies have openly admitted so..
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You can decline having one. They can't force you by any means. However I imagine we will all be paying regardless if we have one or not.
 
Mynight said:
You can decline having one. They can't force you by any means. However I imagine we will all be paying regardless if we have one or not.
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Yep, it'll come out of the bills so whether you have one or not the small price rise they'll put in will hit everyone.
 
I pay less than £30 a month in energy bills, and so I figure I'm doing my bit to save energy already.

Don't be forcing a bloody smart meter on me, and then tell me I've got to pay for it.

:mad:
 
E.On fitted a new electric meter to the house the other year but I still have to manually input readings sometimes as it fails to transmit them. It runs off an O2 SIM and the signal can be a little dodgy at times but you'd think it would keep trying and would eventually go through. Odd :p.
 
Mynight said:
You can decline having one. They can't force you by any means. However I imagine we will all be paying regardless if we have one or not.
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I'll do that then. I'm quite capable of reading my own meter and complying with the power supplier when requested. I only pay for what I use too, no direct debit. They've never ever been once on their estimated usage for me. I'm pretty good at running things very efficiently :D I see no point in wasting money on power. Why leave a light on, things on standby etc etc. Might as well just put my money straight into the bin.
 
rah^ said:
the £200 cost will be passed onto "us" the end user even tho we are forced to have it - the energy companies have openly admitted so..
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well i hope they put it as a seperate charge on the bill, as this charge should be paid by my landlord.. not me
 
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