Smart Electricity Meters

[Dustydog]

This may have relevance to some of you , especially those charging their EVs at home on the “best” tariff. Hope it helps.
https://www.gbnews.com/money/smart-meter-warning-radio-teleswitch-service

 

[GUMPY]

So nothing really to do with smart meters, just the old economy 7 RTS meters that are due to be replaced. True the households will have to get a smart meter to replace the RTS meter but where is the hardship in that, it's all GBnews propaganda.
I do feel unclean having looked at GBnews time to go and have a shower.

 

[Sam Vimes]

The problem will be if you can't get a Smart Meter installed or if you can will it actually work.

The number of RTS meters installed is low compared to other types.

Following on from this the early SMETS1 meters relied on the 3G mobile signal which is being switched off.

 

[ProfJohnL]

So nothing really to do with smart meters, just the old economy 7 RTS meters that are due to be replaced. True the households will have to get a smart meter to replace the RTS meter but where is the hardship in that, it's all GBnews propaganda.
I do feel unclean having looked at GBnews time to go and have a shower.

Attention grabbing headlines to up reader numbers.

I would argue the electricity sales companies should be liable for any inconvenience of customer costs if they fail to fit an appropriate meter before the RTS system is turned off. Customer should not have bigger bills if the supply company has failed to install the correct meter.

The problem will be if you can't get a Smart Meter installed or if you can will it actually work.

The number of RTS meters installed is low compared to other types.

Following on from this the early SMETS1 meters relied on the 3G mobile signal which is being switched off.

There have been some problems - (Show me any brand new technology that hasn't had a hiccup or two) with the first meters, I was asked to have a smart meter fitted several years ago, but as soon as the fitter viewed my situation he said he couldn't fit one becasue there was no signal he turned round and left.

Just a month ago I have now got a smart meter and its is working, so things have improved. Perhaps not perfect, but its those challenges that drive innovation.

 

[Dustydog]

Attention grabbing headlines to up reader numbers.

I would argue the electricity sales companies should be liable for any inconvenience of customer costs if they fail to fit an appropriate meter before the RTS system is turned off. Customer should not have bigger bills if the supply company has failed to install the correct meter.

There have been some problems - (Show me any brand new technology that hasn't had a hiccup or two) with the first meters, I was asked to have a smart meter fitted several years ago, but as soon as the fitter viewed my situation he said he couldn't fit one becasue there was no signal he turned round and left.

Just a month ago I have now got a smart meter and its is working, so things have improved. Perhaps not perfect, but its those challenges that drive innovation.

Is it fake news?
We don’t have a smart meter and these headlines made me wonder if there really are problems?
Seems a bit of a minefield to me😉

 

[Sam Vimes]

Probably AI generated or Russia trying to cause panic.

The RTS system is due to turn off next year. Maybe June

 

[GUMPY]

Following on from this the early SMETS1 meters relied on the 3G mobile signal which is being switched off.

They use 2g not 3g and 2g is here for a while yet.

 

[Dustydog]

Probably AI generated or Russia trying to cause panic.

The RTS system is due to turn off next year. Maybe June

Can they self explode😉

 

[Sam Vimes]

They use 2g not 3g and 2g is here for a while yet.

My bad. Yes 2g.

 

[Tobes]

This may have relevance to some of you , especially those charging their EVs at home on the “best” tariff. Hope it helps.
https://www.gbnews.com/money/smart-meter-warning-radio-teleswitch-service

As has been said, really only affects old Economy 7 meters. There is a a small irony which is that any EV user with a dedicated EV focused tariff will already be on a smart meter, not a radio switch meter.

I really don't understand the reluctance of some of the public (not suggesting any here is in that category) to use smart meters (where they are available - which is still not everywhere and as such a travesty). They offer so many benefits to home owners with few drawbacks. The only real drawback is if you are using a smart tariff, and some of your data is lost and unretrievable, you may be charged at a higher rate - the exact rate you would have been on on a "dumb" meter.

I have several neighbours who I have suggested (persuaded would be way too strong) would benefit from a smart meter, and when shown the savings available, they have leapt to get them and are saving literally hundreds of pounds a year.

Does anyone have insight on the reluctance ? I am genuinely curious.

 

[Jcloughie]

As has been said, really only affects old Economy 7 meters. There is a a small irony which is that any EV user with a dedicated EV focused tariff will already be on a smart meter, not a radio switch meter.

I really don't understand the reluctance of some of the public (not suggesting any here is in that category) to use smart meters (where they are available - which is still not everywhere and as such a travesty). They offer so many benefits to home owners with few drawbacks. The only real drawback is if you are using a smart tariff, and some of your data is lost and unretrievable, you may be charged at a higher rate - the exact rate you would have been on on a "dumb" meter.

I have several neighbours who I have suggested (persuaded would be way too strong) would benefit from a smart meter, and when shown the savings available, they have leapt to get them and are saving literally hundreds of pounds a year.

Does anyone have insight on the reluctance ? I am genuinely curious.

We have had the smart meter for a couple of years with zero problems. It is a mystery to me why the original ones were issued before being tested as fit for purpose and not updatable.

John

 

[Buckman]

I have several neighbours who I have suggested (persuaded would be way too strong) would benefit from a smart meter, and when shown the savings available, they have leapt to get them and are saving literally hundreds of pounds a year.

Does anyone have insight on the reluctance ? I am genuinely curious.

How did they manage to "save" hundreds of pounds by having a Smart meter fitted as after all whether a standard or a Smart meter the charges are still the same? Curious.

 

[Tobes]

How did they manage to "save" hundreds of pounds by having a Smart meter fitted as after all whether a standard or a Smart meter the charges are still the same? Curious.

The tariffs are _not_ the same. They can be much cheaper especially if you pick one tailored to your particular usage pattern. Smart meters record your usage in 30 min windows, allowing your provider to charge you in a very granular fashion. If the meter fails to upload the reading data to the cloud, or the cloud fails to pass it on to the supplier, and it cant be retrieved (which is very rare), the supplier will charge you at the non-smart tariff that you were originally sign up with for the days (or sometimes hours) where data is not available.

My neighbours were on the standard Octopus or E-On tariff and moved to the Octopus tracker tariff. It changes price every day based on the prevailing wholesale price of electricity. Much cheaper (in general) than that standard variable tariff. Same for gas.

My latest bill looks like this. Note the average rate per kWh charged...

 

[Buckman]

When we had the Smart meter installed, the tariff remained the same so zero difference. Previously when I worked in the industry, when we fitted a Smart meter and we fitted thousands of them, there was no change in the tariff.

However currently we are with Octopus and our kwh tariff is about 6 times more than what you are being charge so one hell of a difference. SC is about the same.

 

[Tobes]

When we had the Smart meter installed, the tariff remained the same so zero difference. Previously when I worked in the industry, when we fitted a Smart meter and we fitted thousands of them, there was no change in the tariff.

However currently we are with Octopus and our kwh tariff is about 6 times more than what you are being charge so one hell of a difference. SC is about the same.

Exactly this Buckman. The smart meter its self does not adjust the tariff, but it gives you access to other tariffs that may suit you well.

If you are already on octopus, I urge you to have a look at this. https://octopriceuk.app/

Add your account details, and then tap the "compare tariffs" tab. It could be the easiest savings you ever made.

 

[GUMPY]

The tariffs are _not_ the same. They can be much cheaper especially if you pick one tailored to your particular usage pattern. Smart meters record your usage in 30 min windows, allowing your provider to charge you in a very granular fashion. If the meter fails to upload the reading data to the cloud, or the cloud fails to pass it on to the supplier, and it cant be retrieved (which is very rare), the supplier will charge you at the non-smart tariff that you were originally sign up with for the days (or sometimes hours) where data is not available.

My neighbours were on the standard Octopus or E-On tariff and moved to the Octopus tracker tariff. It changes price every day based on the prevailing wholesale price of electricity. Much cheaper (in general) than that standard variable tariff. Same for gas.

My latest bill looks like this. Note the average rate per kWh charged...

View attachment 7730

I see your 7.45p and raise you 3.72p

 

[Tobes]

I see your 7.45p and raise you 3.72pView attachment 7731

@GUMPY Thats a fantastic number. I wish my solar array was capable of supporting the import load we have! (I see ours is about 20x more than yours )

 

[GUMPY]

I don't have an EV yet which helps. The 55kWh is mostly me taking advantage of Agile negative pricing hence the low rate.

 

[Tobes]

Yeah - we run 4 EVs at around a total of 1200 miles a month. Mind you - 1200 miles a month for about £30 (415 of those 1133kWh are used in the cars) is pretty good.

 

[Buckman]

Exactly this Buckman. The smart meter its self does not adjust the tariff, but it gives you access to other tariffs that may suit you well.

If you are already on octopus, I urge you to have a look at this. https://octopriceuk.app/

Add your account details, and then tap the "compare tariffs" tab. It could be the easiest savings you ever made.

My mistake it is just under 4 times as much per kwh as your tariff. Looked at that link, but it is so confusing I gave up and logged into my account. I am on fixed term until Dec 2024 so cannot change anyway.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Is it fake news?
We don’t have a smart meter and these headlines made me wonder if there really are problems?
Seems a bit of a minefield to me😉

I didn't call it fake news!
Its not fake, it's just the headline which is implying that customers will loose out. which is inaccurate because the supply company should secure the Tarif structure they are contracted to supply. The easiest way is for them to fit a smart meter before the RTS is cut off.

As for problems with early smart meters it is true. Some early models of meters had grave difficulty in communicating with the meter reading service. The fitters are supposed to have a data base which tells them in quite detail (to post code level) where the original standard of smart meters were likely to fail. and they had to use a more expensive model of meter which had more robust communication.

 

[Tobes]

My mistake it is just under 4 times as much per kwh as your tariff. Looked at that link, but it is so confusing I gave up and logged into my account. I am on fixed term until Dec 2024 so cannot change anyway.

Octopus fixed tariffs have no change penalty - it's worth looking into.
To use - open the page via the link in Chrome or Firefox (Safari does not seem to work).
Click on the three lines at the top right to open the menu
Click on "compare tariffs" option. - this will take you to the "fill in the user" page.
Click on "fill in" and it will open a form.
Open a new window and log into your Octopus account.
Click on "menu - my account".
Under the "Hi xxx" at the top left is your account number - put this in the account number box.
Clicl on "personal details" and scroll down until you see "developer settings" and click "API Access" click on the "API Key" and it will copy to the clipboard, paste this into the API key box in the app.
Submit this data.
You should see your current tariff and the cheapest tariffs you can have access to.
Clicking on the menu and "dashboard" should give you all the information on your account.

 

[otherclive]

My mistake it is just under 4 times as much per kwh as your tariff. Looked at that link, but it is so confusing I gave up and logged into my account. I am on fixed term until Dec 2024 so cannot change anyway.

Some companies allow a no penalty transfer between tariffs if the outgoing and incoming tariffs are both with that company. That way if you bought an EV you can move to an EV friendly tariff without having to wait for the tariff to end. I do it with BG.

 

[Tobes]

The compare tariffs page should look something like this. This is based on the actual data in your account from your smart meter looking back over a year.

 

[otherclive]

The compare tariffs page should look something like this. This is based on the actual data in your account from your smart meter looking back over a year. View attachment 7733

That’s a wide range, what is required to take advantage of the two lower priced tariffs. Are they geared to having solar and or battery storage. Otherwise why would anyone choose the more expensive tariffs.