Having working in the metering industry for a long time they won't be optional,and of course we are all going to have to pay one way or another.When the old electricity boards went private most got rid of their metering depts and stopping reading 4 times a year but by law they have to read/look at your metering once every 2 years.Most of the smart meters already fitted will have to come out again and be replaced.Savings ! Well at least you should get no more estimates,good for the enviroment and all that green nonsense,hardly,every existing meter both gas and electric will be binned instead of being reused as in the past.Electronics,batteries,mobile phone all go wrong and this will need servicing quite a bit and all because the governments you all voted for allowed the companies to stop reading meters and save themselves money,Oh and the interest free loans they can take with overpayments and direct debits..Still can't complain as they are paying my pension!!!!