Smart meter benefits/downfalls

[gazdkw82]

What's everyone's thoughts?

I have an appointment with British gas to install a smart meter. I like the idea accurate readings can be taken from the meter which may help us control usage

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Has anybody come across the smart meters with the in built single pole isolator, i am told you can turn the screw to isolate. the screw sort of comes out with a spring behind it. I have been told about these meters but yet to actually look out for them. supposed to make it un-necessary to pull fuse. from what i have learned some have the isolator screw behind a little flap, others its just a little notch on front you can turn.
Can anybody enlighten me with more info?

 

[Toneyz]

Just be aware that Smart Meters are nearly all bespoke to the supplier - so when you want to change your supplier, you will have to change your meters.

I like the good old fashioned "dumb" meters.

We are with First Utility - I take a reading from our gas and lecky meters on the last day of the month and enter it on our account - nice and easy.

As for controlling usage - Smart meters won't do that ...

The generation 2 Smart meters are supposed to be able to switch between suppliers now according to Martin Lewis on his programme.

 

[Octopus]

The generation 2 Smart meters are supposed to be able to switch between suppliers now according to Martin Lewis on his programme.

I did say "nearly all"

 

[Trevor2522]

I had both my gas and electrical smart meters removed. They had been installed by another utility before I moved into my current property. No charge to do so and now thankfully free of cellphone and Bluetooth emissions as well.

 

[ferg]

Has anybody come across the smart meters with the in built single pole isolator, i am told you can turn the screw to isolate. the screw sort of comes out with a spring behind it. I have been told about these meters but yet to actually look out for them. supposed to make it un-necessary to pull fuse. from what i have learned some have the isolator screw behind a little flap, others its just a little notch on front you can turn.
Can anybody enlighten me with more info?

They are fairly standard round here. Unscrew a cover for a small quarter turn isolator. It's labelled for use by electrical contractor only.

And the other one the isolator is a small one on the front of the meter.

Really useful IMHO.

 

[Pete E]

I predict that these type of meters or rather future models, will be used to actually ration energy usage to the customer. The premise will be that if you can't manage your own energy usage, we will manage it for you...

For those who scoff, it will no more than the Big Brother version of the Power Cuts of the 1970's for those enough to remember them...

 

[Toneyz]

Have these Smart meters got some sort of contactor inside as I would like to know how your supply can be switched on and off remotely?

 

[Des 56]

Meters have been available with a isolation switch for yonks
It was a pity they were few and far between

A smart meter programme could have had a function that was of actual benefit,ie a isolator
Customer benefits were not what these contraptions are or were about

 

[Pete E]

I don't know for sure about the various Smart meters in operation now, but the technology to control the supply via meter is already in use with Card Meters...you run out of credit on a card meter and the power is automatically turned off...

Given that smart meters are more recent development, I doubt the Power Company's are going to introduce a technology with less features/control for them?

 

[Percyprod]

Ahh card meters! Memories, memories. Many people didn't realise that they also collected debt, so it ran out, you had your £5 emergency credit, then it went off completely. Then it went into debt, so you had ti ckear the debt, replace the £5 then you put some crecit on it. Also the joys of travelling 70 miles one way from Barrow to the other side of Kirkby Stepen on a dark, wet winter's night to supply a £1 card because the local shop had run out. Was I glad when dno's stopped doing metering.

 

[Darkwood]

I was pestered by N-power to have a smart meter, I refused on every occasion after confirming they still fit 'generation 1' meters which are not universally transferable to other suppliers if you decide to accept a new smart meter I would make sure it's Gen2 but to be honest I would give it a few yrs until all the incompatibility is ironed out and any early bugs are addressed and sorted.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I recall a case in Bristol in 2010 where somebody was going round fitting meters for people mainly within the somali community for cash, so until they were caught effectively got free electric, he took out the official meter and fitted another refurbed one he sourced online. the customers when faced with letters from power companies asking why the readings were not right or when somebody finally came around to read the meter discovered it was not the correct one! said that a engineer knocked door saying there is a dangerous fault and needed to fit a new one... who were they to challenge him! they only found him by chance when they took meters away and fingerprinted them! he was known for some other crime. quite a good scam when you think about it.