Reply to: Now we know why smart meters have an off switch

[TheDude]

Helps to find "*losses" in the system.

For *losses read "theft".

Cannabis farmers abstracting electricity?

[TheDude]

My smart meter has told me that the kettle sand toaster talk about me behind my back.

[Zigenare]

I have noticed that lots of the supply network has little antennas and comms boxes attached these days.

Helps to find "*losses" in the system.

For *losses read "theft".

[Protagoras]

I'd have thunk that rolling power cuts would be done at the substation level rather than individual smart meters.

Each network operator's area is divided into 18 'load blocks' which experience an outage of 3 hours, or multiples thereof. There are multiple rota plans depending on the extent of the demand reduction required.

https://assets.publishing.service.go...c-guidance.pdf

[SueEllen]

Notwithstanding remote disconnection possibilities, my pet hate with so-called smart meters is that they are reported to have a life expectancy of 10 years. Hence need to factor in the costs and environmental impact of replacement.

Plus, of course there's the overhead of all the systems and folks need to run the smart meter infrastructure.

I've seen electromechanical meters last 50 years - with no fancy electronic components they are less of a re-cycling challenge too.

I said 'no thanks' ...

Oooh I can use the green argument to refuse to have one.

(Though I won't be gluing myself to my meters.)

[DoctorStrangelove]

It would seem, rittle glasshopper, that you have far more faith in modern electronics than I have.

They're already replacing the first tranche of "smart meters" because they're becoming obsolete.

Then again, smart meters are rather more prone to breakdown due to the spikey normans on the supply than the good old fashioned whirly disc kind..


I'd have thunk that rolling power cuts would be done at the substation level rather than individual smart meters.

I have noticed that lots of the supply network has little antennas and comms boxes attached these days.

[vetran]

Notwithstanding remote disconnection possibilities, my pet hate with so-called smart meters is that they are reported to have a life expectancy of 10 years. Hence need to factor in the costs and environmental impact of replacement.

Plus, of course there's the overhead of all the systems and folks need to run the smart meter infrastructure.

I've seen electromechanical meters last 50 years - with no fancy electronic components they are less of a re-cycling challenge too.

I said 'no thanks' ...

Plenty of electronics work for decades, what needs to be permitted is obsolescence, Slide in upgrades make real sense. Plenty of systems have hot swap cards, Once you have the meters connected with Corgi & rev 17 accredited engineers if an unqualified bod could change the communication system a meter could still work in 50+ years.

[Protagoras]

Notwithstanding remote disconnection possibilities, my pet hate with so-called smart meters is that they are reported to have a life expectancy of 10 years. Hence need to factor in the costs and environmental impact of replacement.

Plus, of course there's the overhead of all the systems and folks need to run the smart meter infrastructure.

I've seen electromechanical meters last 50 years - with no fancy electronic components they are less of a re-cycling challenge too.

I said 'no thanks' ...

[vetran]

The functionality to turn off supply is known, I believe that feature is what National Grid might employ in their plan for targeted power cuts.

Indeed. A foolish step, they should have offered an output that allowed you to drop load partially e.g. EV charging, night storage heating, hot water generation or air source heat pumps. just a flashing IR led with a tos link or similar that connects to a second metered output. Then we could have wired all these things via a contactor, via our web logins /apps we can decide if we needed the EV etc charged in 4 hours or 12 if we choose the longer time it can modulate the power and charge us less.

Little interruption to our lifestyle but the ability to shed / enable load.

The idea whole households can be switched off by a foreign power shows how incompetent our government are.

[vetran]

Which "people" are you referring to?
The Government?
The electricity supply companies?
Wail readers?
Unnamed experts?

What is the solution? Is it to regulate/control/disband one or more of the four groups?

Nurse he is out of bed again!

[SueEllen]

Good thing I’ve fobbed ‘em off so far…

After blocking their number about 18 months ago I got a call on Friday from a new number.

"Hello, Do you want to upgrade to a smart meter?"
"No I don't want one, bye" Click. Block.

[AtW]

The functionality to turn off supply is known, I believe that feature is what National Grid might employ in their plan for targeted power cuts.

Good thing I’ve fobbed ‘em off so far…

[ladymuck]

The functionality to turn off supply is known, I believe that feature is what National Grid might employ in their plan for targeted power cuts.

[WTFH]

The Government who pushed out the idea of smart meters.

Any suggestion that some of the govt have shares in either the manufacturer or the UK supplier? Or is it just further evidence of Xi/Putin owning the Tory party.

[SueEllen]

Which "people" are you referring to?
The Government?
The electricity supply companies?
Wail readers?
Unnamed experts?

What is the solution? Is it to regulate/control/disband one or more of the four groups?

The Government who pushed out the idea of smart meters.