Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Sir Tigger KC]

Anyone got one?  Worth having?

Or is it just a device so the barstewards can spy on us?     

TIA! 

[Shackeng]

Do your homework, as up until recently, if your existing company fitted a Smart Meter, and you then wanted to change supplier, (as I do every year for the cheaper deals and cashback ) you may have found that the new supplier was unable to take you on as their system is not compatible and cannot read it. This may have changed, but double check. Our Village Hall is fitted with a smart meter, but still have to be read as the current(no pun intended) supplier is unable to read it.

[flyer 0712]

Yep,had one put in for gas and electric some months ago...you can have the display on or off if it annoys you sitting in your room all lit up glaring at you...As I understand it,they can if they so wish just pull the plug and cut you off if you dont pay your bills from where they are sitting in their office...they are very clever as you can see straight away what you are using and how much it costs you...minute by minute//hour by hour //or day by day..Not that I do,but at first I did find it fasinating just to check it from time to time..Now I am use to it I only check it  out of interest to see the usage and cost....The other thing is that if you do not want to pay by standing order you can go onto the net,check into your account..(british gas you can ) and then pay into your account with your debit card at any time you want to..So if in the winter your costs are rising fast,then just pay some into the account so that when they bill you it will not be such a big hit as you have already paid some off...also it stops them collecting you direct debit all year round and keeping your hard earned dosh in their bank  while it could be in yours...Anyway each to their own but for me personaly it works well and I wouldnt be without it now,

[flyer 0712]

As for possibly other companies may not be able to read it if you switch suppliers..I think you are correct..but for me living on my own the amount that i use it would not be worth the hassle or benefit me personaly to change...

[Kevin Wood]

From a point of view of checking your consumption, you can buy a £30 device that'll do that almost as well.

I think they'll be interesting once suppliers start introducing variable tariffs, but not for me yet.

From a privacy perspective, there is almost certainly someone who can tell when your house is empty. How many people can do that and whether it's a concern is not in the small print, funnily enough.

[Sir Tigger KC]

From a point of view of checking your consumption, you can buy a £30 device that'll do that almost as well.

I think they'll be interesting once suppliers start introducing variable tariffs, but not for me yet.

From a privacy perspective, there is almost certainly someone who can tell when your house is empty. How many people can do that and whether it's a concern is not in the small print, funnily enough.

I can read the meter from time to time....   

Good point about privacy though! 

[hercules]

i had one and found that i was looking at it too much so i turned it off 

[Mister Rog]

I'm being nagged rotten about getting one, not from Mrs, but from energy suppliers

I like conspiracy theories. If they are nagging me so much . . . . why ? Oh yes of course it's so I can keep tabs on my energy consumption. And of course, economise and save the planet. Dangles . . . . there must be an angle, a motive.

[gbh]

Having worked for E.on fitting meters all i can say is that like it or not you will have to have one.Because the electric and gas comps got so lazy and to save money they started guessing usage with smart it sends a text message in with all data including any attempts to fiddle.Will cost us all a small fortune to install and all the old meters will go to the bin and not reused as before!!! Companies fit there own meters and software and you need their passwords to speak to the meter and some companies won't share!!

[STEMO]

I use this method: If it's turned on, it's using fuel. If it's turned on and it has a heating element, it's using lots of fuel.
You're sitting in your hovel, you feel a bit cold, so you turn the central heating on. Your 'smart' meter immediately informs you that you are using lots of fuel. Yeah.......I know that already.

[Mister Rog]

I use this method: If it's turned on, it's using fuel. If it's turned on and it has a heating element, it's using lots of fuel.
You're sitting in your hovel, you feel a bit cold, so you turn the central heating on. Your 'smart' meter immediately informs you that you are using lots of fuel. Yeah.......I know that already.

Quite.

But it's actually the government which is pushing the energy companies to push us to get them. They realize that not everyone is as super-intelligent as venerable OOF members   


Anyway, work started today on putting in a log/solid fuel stove  So I'll be ready when the gas runs out 

[aaronjb]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

[Shackeng]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

[Sir Tigger KC]

View from the Tree Huggers. 

http://www.naturalnews.com/054591_Smart_meters_radiation_EMF.html

[aaronjb]

Another way you can help combat the EMF radiation from smart meters if you already have one, is to diffuse calming essential oils in your home, which can help minimize the insomniac effects of constant exposure

Uh. Yeah. OK. Right-o.

[Mister Rog]

Another way you can help combat the EMF radiation from smart meters if you already have one, is to diffuse calming essential oils in your home, which can help minimize the insomniac effects of constant exposure

Uh. Yeah. OK. Right-o.

And . . . . don't forget the lentils and green tea   

[Sir Tigger KC]

Another way you can help combat the EMF radiation from smart meters if you already have one, is to diffuse calming essential oils in your home, which can help minimize the insomniac effects of constant exposure

Uh. Yeah. OK. Right-o.

And . . . . don't forget the lentils and green tea   

Cynical bastids! 

[TheBoy]

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Just one ESX host? You're energy usage must be non existent

[aaronjb]

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Just one ESX host? You're energy usage must be non existent

  Compared to the bill for hosting OOF, probably! Keeps the garage nice and warm, though

[redelitev6]

  You use a lot of gas and leccy in winter and a lot less in summer , not rocket science is it ?

[TheBoy]

You use a lot of gas and leccy in winter and a lot less in summer , not rocket science is it ?

My leccy is pretty constant all year round. Constantly high

Heat by gas, so that's more seasonal.

[Shackeng]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

Still none the wiser!

[TheBoy]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

Still none the wiser!

NAS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

ESX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_ESXi

[Nick W]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

Still none the wiser!

NAS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

ESX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_ESXi

So they're computer thingies. Why didn't you say so? All that talk of heterogenous clients, hypervisors and RAIDs made me feel I should have a brown paper bag over the wireless router

[TD]

I cant see the point of 'smart' meters.....if it needs to be on...then so be it...its using energy....end off!

If your that lazy you carnt be bothered to give meter readings now and then.....then maybe its for you... 

My energy company gives me 50p back per meter reading....so I'm happy to give them the readings every month for a £12 rebate every year.

[STEMO]

I cant see the point of 'smart' meters.....if it needs to be on...then so be it...its using energy....end off!

If your that lazy you carnt be bothered to give meter readings now and then.....then maybe its for you... 

My energy company gives me 50p back per meter reading....so I'm happy to give them the readings every month for a £12 rebate every year.

I'd give them a reading every half hour.

[ronnyd]

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

Still none the wiser!

NAS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

ESX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_ESXi

So they're computer thingies. Why didn't you say so? All that talk of heterogenous clients, hypervisors and RAIDs made me feel I should have a brown paper bag over the wireless router

I'd rather not know, really.. I have one of those clamp-type energy monitors which did remind me to change all the lighting to low energy (especially as the previous owners of the house had 50W GU10 bulbs everywhere - 8 in the kitchen, for example, hello 400W!), but other than that.. generally if it's on it's because I need it on!*

*Everyone runs two 8-bay NAS and an ESXi host 24x7, right?

Wot dat?

Still none the wiser!

NAS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

ESX
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_ESXi

Lost me on the first sentence.

[Shackeng]

Ditto

[YZ250]

I've recently had a new gas meter fitted (new extension meant relocating the meter and required a different style meter) so I thought I'd ask about having a smart meter installed. I was told that the smart gas meter uses the electric meter to read the gas meter, and because they are not my electric supplier I can't have one as they would have no way of reading it. He then went on to say that everyone will have to have smart meters by 2019 so not sure how they will get around that one. 

[Shackeng]

I've recently had a new gas meter fitted (new extension meant relocating the meter and required a different style meter) so I thought I'd ask about having a smart meter installed. I was told that the smart gas meter uses the electric meter to read the gas meter, and because they are not my electric supplier I can't have one as they would have no way of reading it. He then went on to say that everyone will have to have smart meters by 2019 so not sure how they will get around that one. 

I was told that it will not be compulsory until all companies can read each others meters, and I believe that new meters are being, or have been developed, to allow this.

[gbh]

The idea is that a third party will read all the meters and the new supplier will receive info from them after a small charge.That way the companies whose meters are installed don't have to share their software and possible hackers to their systems's.Yes the electric meter has mobile inside to send texts/readings and is bluetoothed to the gas meter

[iansoutham]

The idea is that a third party will read all the meters and the new supplier will receive info from them after a small charge.That way the companies whose meters are installed don't have to share their software and possible hackers to their systems's.Yes the electric meter has mobile inside to send texts/readings and is bluetoothed to the gas meter

That will be fun when my gas and electric smart meters get installed next week. The electric meter is in a signal dead-spot, surrounded by original 1930s lead wiring (not connected anymore but still present) and proper bricks. I know this is a dead-spot as every couple of weeks I take a meter reading on my app and the phone has no signal there to send until I am a few feet away.

[gbh]

They can fit an external aerial if they're really keen or they might not fit at all as no point!!

[iansoutham]

They can fit an external aerial if they're really keen or they might not fit at all as no point!!

I'll let you know Monday night......

[biggriffin]

Just had a letter, from my supplier, they want to fit a smart meter, and I can top up by app, only problem is I don't use crapple or android, I use a real system Windows 10, just proves how stupid large company's are. Might ring them could be fun.

[iansoutham]

Well, been and installed. Main install went well except the bloke installing had never seen the layout of the lard and fuse separate like in my place (old style had ever been modernised) and had trouble finding a decent socket initially for his testing.

Gas was installed easily enough and other than no earth to the unit to meet current regs (which it does not need due to age of house and current installation) no hiccups there.

He did have real trouble synchronising both units though. In the end he had to use his tablet linked to one and in the middle of the room to synth them both and then only had 1 option for the data channel which worked.

Will get photos later to show, but it is neatly done.

[gbh]

Glad they were successful although your home electrics sound very dodgy!!!