Turn it off

[SueEllen]

Issues with smart meters include.

1. Remote disconnection. There is a risk that if there isn't enough generating capacity, those with smart meters might be temporarily cut off from the grid. They can't do this with dumb meters.
2. Incompatibility. You switch energy provider and they don't support the type of smart meter you have. In this case it becomes dumb and you have to request a new smart meter install.

Plus the story I linked to where they can remotely change you from a credit to a prepayment meter if you aren't around to pay your bill for any reason e.g. long hospital stay, or are in dispute with them. (Some former SSE customers have been fighting with Ovo over incorrect billing and over charging for over a year and Ovo has called bailiffs on some of them.)

This may seem extreme but the majority of energy companies have been found wanting in their "help" for vulnerable customers.

[dsc]

Remote disconnection. There is a risk that if there isn't enough generating capacity, those with smart meters might be temporarily cut off from the grid. They can't do this with dumb meters.

Fairly sure that's not how grid load shedding works, as with this approach you'd be disconnecting people connected to various local stations rather than just off loading one specific one / one region etc.

[vetran]

Fairly sure that's not how grid load shedding works, as with this approach you'd be disconnecting people connected to various local stations rather than just off loading one specific one / one region etc.

it isn't currently but I suspect that will change.

The trick they missed was allowing the smart meters to receive flexible tariff information. Pop a TOS like connection on the front and build small receivers that allow you to switch off car charging / storage heating etc. and you would have a better control over load. I could select 3 hours of car charging and the Grid could decide when during the night and charge accordingly. They could switch on half the car charging etc. for the street then the other half.

[d000hg]

I've never understood the claim that smart meters help you save money. Your meter ready shows you what you're using so other than a pretty graphic (I assume) what else does it offer?

Your meter doesn't make it easy to see when and how you're using energy. Most people don't run out to see how fast the wheel is spinning when they turn the TV on but a smart meter means you can from your armchair.

It also means you are charged for precisely what you use rather than estimated readings. Many people forget to give monthly readings.

[DealorNoDeal]

Your meter doesn't make it easy to see when and how you're using energy. Most people don't run out to see how fast the wheel is spinning when they turn the TV on but a smart meter means you can from your armchair.

Yeah, I'm sure it's easier to identify where electricity can be saved with a smart meter but we still don't particularly fancy one. I bought a plug in Watt meter for a tenner off eBay which does a similar thing. I was surprised to discover that my 10-year old laptop uses over 3x the electricity of my wife's 2-year old one.

[WTFH]

Your meter doesn't make it easy to see when and how you're using energy. Most people don't run out to see how fast the wheel is spinning when they turn the TV on but a smart meter means you can from your armchair.

It also means you are charged for precisely what you use rather than estimated readings. Many people forget to give monthly readings.

It's useful as well for seeing how you're running to budget - I have our display set to show weekly spend. Seeing the kWh value isn't the same impact as seeing the £.

As they say, knowledge is power, so it can be useful.

[DealorNoDeal]

Have they ironed out most of the gremlins with smart meters now? I read reports of some problems with early models but don't know how prevalent this was.

Our supplier EDF used to write to us regularly urging us to have one but they stopped since Covid.

[quackhandle]

I did read that the older ones were a fire risk? And not very safe so could be hacked to get onto your home network.


https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...-burglars.html



qh

[WTFH]

I did read that the older ones were a fire risk? And not very safe so could be hacked to get onto your home network.


https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...-burglars.html



qh

You're quoting a Daily Mail article that is an advertorial for a couple of companies that do WiFi security.

I've just checked our smart meter and it's definitely not connected to the home wifi. The created risk in the story is that if a hacker can access your home wifi and then if they could connect on to the smart meter and then if they read the current usage, they would be able to see that you aren't using much electricity, so you're maybe not at home.
If a burglar wants to find out whether you're at home or not, there's easier ways than the number of leaps to conclusions made in the story. They could: ring your doorbell, or look to see if all the lights are out.
That's easier than getting a load of wifi scanning equipment just to read your meter and take a guess from the reading.
I mean, if the risk was really about reading an electrical meter to decide if someone is at home, then you could do the electric or gas meter that are frequently in easy-to-access places outside the house, and all you need is a triangular key.

And then there's the "your smart meter data could be sold on the dark web"
That's based on all the if statements above, and not even thinking about what information is actually on your smart meter.
Here's what it holds:
1. Your electric meter serial number.
2. Your smart display serial number and software version.
3. How much your electric costs.
4. How much you are using

It doesn't contain bank details, your address, your name, your newspaper preferences.

It's a non-story created for luddites by a media outlet that relies on spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt.

[quackhandle]

Fair enough. I still won't be getting one anytime soon.

qh