gas/lectric smart meters

[PaulCheffus]

Are these things compulsory? , So if I don`t leave the TV on standby and use the lights only when needed etc ,I`ll be paying more for my electricity because the meter runs on electric. 

Hi

As far as I am aware the meter is powered by the input so doesn't go on your bill as the electricity it consumes doesn't go through the meter.

Cheers

Paul

True. But the little user interface which displays energy usage etc. Is powered by a small 13amp mains adapter.

Hi

Which costs around 1p a day to run (which is cheaper than batteries) and you don't have to use it.

Cheers

Paul

[jonclox]

Had mine fitted about a month ago which surprised me as the mobile phone signal where I live is shocking for all providers.
I can check what 'juice' I use by the hour, day, week etc but as it's so warm at present it doesn't really tell me anything

Quick question regarding your installation Sir Mick 
Does it take note and calculate your heart thingie (pacemaker?) in its results and usage?
Us uninitiated need to know such things?

[austinbob]

Are these things compulsory? , So if I don`t leave the TV on standby and use the lights only when needed etc ,I`ll be paying more for my electricity because the meter runs on electric. 

Hi

As far as I am aware the meter is powered by the input so doesn't go on your bill as the electricity it consumes doesn't go through the meter.

Cheers

Paul

True. But the little user interface which displays energy usage etc. Is powered by a small 13amp mains adapter.

Hi

Which costs around 1p a day to run (which is cheaper than batteries) and you don't have to use it.

Cheers

Paul

Also true Paul but just consider, if you saved that 1p a day you could buy a new loco in about 40 years.

[Newportnobby]

Had mine fitted about a month ago which surprised me as the mobile phone signal where I live is shocking for all providers.
I can check what 'juice' I use by the hour, day, week etc but as it's so warm at present it doesn't really tell me anything

Quick question regarding your installation Sir Mick 
Does it take note and calculate your heart thingie (pacemaker?) in its results and usage?
Us uninitiated need to know such things?

The pacemaker/defibrillator runs from its own batteries which will need replacement every 7-8 years, Jon (will require 24hrs in hospital for that) so it takes no juice from the mains
However, every Monday morning I have to transmit data from the defib via a black box (well, actually it's white) which runs on the mains and sends the data via a dongle to Boston Scientific. I am told it only uses £0.80 worth of electricity per annum.

[JRS747]

I won't have one until they are made compulsory, for the simple reason they WILL charge higher prices at peak times and there will be no control over how much. Whatever they say now, if they can sooner or later they will.
Same with a water meter, I don't have one and won't be required to have one anytime soon thank goodness.

John

[PaulCheffus]

I won't have one until they are made compulsory, for the simple reason they WILL charge higher prices at peak times and there will be no control over how much. Whatever they say now, if they can sooner or later they will.
Same with a water meter, I don't have one and won't be required to have one anytime soon thank goodness.

John

Hi

Whilst I enjoy my free electricity on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cheers

Paul

[daveg]

I have nothing but trouble getting my supplier to take my readings as correct rather than their wildly inaccurate over estimations so a smart meter seemed the way to go.

I understand though that if you switch provider, the smart bit won't work as they don't run on an 'industry-wide OS' (or whatever) so it reverts to a standard type. So much for us being encouraged to switch on a regular basis.

For now I'll stick with our ancient meter (no gas here out in the sticks) but switch provider at the end of the contract.

Dave G

[Byegad]

Before we moved I delighted in teasing those people who stopped you at the exit to supermarkets to encourage you to change. They'd start with a line something like:-

'We can do your dual fuel cheaper than you pay at the moment.'

To which my reply was:-

'How much do you charge per tonne?'

This invariably got a bemused look, so I'd add:-

'Well I use electricity and coal so how much for a tonne of coal?'

Got them every single time and while I was wasting their time other shoppers were saved the bother.

[JRS747]

The response of my friend when offered a dual supply is "Gas and electricity down the same pipe? I don't like the sound of that: it seems awfully dangerous to me!"
He says it usually ends the marketing attempt.

[Crepello]

I suspect my current off-peak times (used for a storage heater, washer and dryer) will be changed to something unfavourable so I'm sticking with the old-fashioned meter until they force it on me. :

[mr bachmann]

I'm with Crepello  on this one , also there's grants for new boilers and heating systems but nothing towards replacing your existing night store heaters - most have been installed for 25 year plus and the recommend house re-wire is 25 years

[jonclox]

Just a short update on this.
Today we received a letter sayiny that they are now installing these meters in our area.........
would we like one

[Crepello]

Do you have a choice in the matter? I'd look very carefully into the off-peak switching times if I were you.

[austinbob]

Do you have a choice in the matter? I'd look very carefully into the off-peak switching times if I were you.

I don't think you have to have one yet!! I've had mine for several years now and found it very useful. I don't think the supplier can force you (yet!!) to go for any particular tariff whether it involves you in off peak or weekend saving or whatever (yet!!)

[daveg]

I read that as from October this year, smart meters will be 'universal' in as much as they will now use a industry-wide standard system. This means should you switch supplier(s), the meter will now,unlike earlier versions, talk to the new supplier without any problems.

Dave G