overheard conversation re 3phase working

[mhar]

3 people were discussing scheme membership and insurance and it sounded like eiher 'domestic installers,' or their insurance, does not cover work on 3 phase installations.
Some 6 months ago I was informed that all WPD supplies to new properties are to be 3 phase and this is now what is being planned for (presumeably because of the fact that gas is no longer going to be supplied to new estates + car charging etc).
Is this going to restrict who can work on new builds or are bodies such as the niciec going to have to allow their short course members to be let loose on pretty much anything?

 

[mhar]

Whilst that reply is quite funny, there are all sorts of options being investigated, this being a part of one of them.

If we are having trouble getting new nuclear power stations built even with offering staggering guarantees on resale unit pricing, and gas is a diminishing resource that is imported, then demand management and storage are two of the prominent options.

One vision regarding 'the internet of things' relates to demand management (which is already crudely used in industry, some supply agreements can regulate demand). Internet enabled devices may be controlled by smart meters so that demand can be reduced at peak times.

Storage is already an issue with people with pv panels looking to store the energy they produce. As battery technology improves, having millions of batteries in cars is going to be a reality that could be exploited in demand management, probably not to the extent as outlined by PEG though!

Most people are of the opinion that current smart meters are pretty pointless. They are very unlikely to achieve their advertised function of saving the customer money, they offer some savings to the supply companies though. However, if future smart meters can be used to manage demand then their introduction would be cost effective as it may reduce the need for new generation.

 

[LightGEN]

gas is a diminishing resource that is imported

Most people are of the opinion that current smart meters are pretty pointless. They are very unlikely to achieve their advertised function of saving the customer money, they offer some savings to the supply companies though. However, if future smart meters can be used to manage demand then their introduction would be cost effective as it may reduce the need for new generation.

Of course, if shale gas extraction ever gets going in a substantial way in the UK, that may give us more gas independence for a time ....we'll see.

As for, so called, 'smart meters', that whole thing is a mess. Short sighted in having failed to include a master isolator and being unable to accommodate a change of supplier at the outset and lacking metering for on-site generation. Then, of course, having previously encouraged electricity consumers to install consumption monitors, which has, likely, already encouraged those who are interested to modify consumption an/or gradually replace electrical devices with more efficient alternatives ....you have to question who then benefits from the smart meters being installed, at the consumer's cost. From the outset I always considered that smart meters were going to benefit the supplier the most, firstly by removing on-site meter readings from the equation and then through peak time metering costs. Thus far, I've declined offers of smart meters ....maybe the time will come where suppliers decide to incentivise their uptake.

 

[PEG]

This "internet of things supply management" twaddle,is more expanded terminology which equates to nowt.

How are they going to manage the hierarchy of need?

Meters which limit current? ...that sounds problematic...

Switching of remotely? ...mmm,better not have a fridge,freezer,medical device or light on a dark stairway...

No,this changing of the way our future energy short-comings are dealt with,will NOT start,with some pushy,northern actress,repeatedly whining made-up rubbish,to get folk signed up,for a Shart Meter...

....and those that know what a shart is,know also,the above is not a spelling error

 

[ruston]

This "internet of things supply management" twaddle,is more expanded terminology which equates to nowt.

How are they going to manage the hierarchy of need?

Meters which limit current? ...that sounds problematic...

Switching of remotely? ...mmm,better not have a fridge,freezer,medical device or light on a dark stairway...

No,this changing of the way our future energy short-comings are dealt with,will NOT start,with some pushy,northern actress,repeatedly whining made-up rubbish,to get folk signed up,for a Shart Meter...

..ad t..hose nthat know what a shart is,know also,the above is not a spelling error

Is it that escaped involuntary prisoner that you referred to in to in a previous post?

 

[LightGEN]

How are they going to manage the hierarchy of need?

'Cost' seems to be the answer to some extent - charge more at peak times and use that to encourage the willing to bump their consumption to a lower demand time. Of course, there's a limit to the number of applications which can be shuffled around in such a manner but high consumption devices like washing machines and dishwashers could be run over-night.