Reply to: National Grid DFS

[Protagoras]

Do point to electronic & power devices that are rated 10+ years without regular maintenance.

Domestic electromechanical meter installed in a previous house was 50+ years old. Design life was certainly over 10 years when installed.
After so many years the meter would almost certainly under-read, a secondary benefit :-)

[SueEllen]

Apparently SMET1 meters used the mobile network but SMET2 use a separate secure network to connect to the the DCC.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smar...-a-smart-meter

Which is another reason why I want a version 2 one.

Depending on your utility supplier they may lie to you and say you are getting a version 2, but send one of their contractors around to change your meter and install a version 1. So you are basically stuck with a dumb meter in a year or so.

[DoctorStrangelove]

The mechanical stuff can last decades.

Aye. What a good idea to replace something that lasts decades with something that relies on sand and software for correct operation.

And charges for reactive power unlike the old electromechanical meter.

And can disconnect on command.

[ladymuck]

I only found out this week that 3G is being phased out in the next few years (at least by some providers), but I had thought Smart Meters used 2G?

Apparently SMET1 meters used the mobile network but SMET2 use a separate secure network to connect to the the DCC.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smar...-a-smart-meter

[d000hg]

I hate they are still 3G though so have a limited life span.

I only found out this week that 3G is being phased out in the next few years (at least by some providers), but I had thought Smart Meters used 2G?

[vetran]

Fortunately, older meters last many years. I just hope that by the time they get around to it, the 'smart' meter lives up to its name and as a product it is designed to be sustainable.

Mid C.20 meters lasted 40+ years, albeit with decreasing accuracy. I'd like to see 'smart' meters with a 50+ year life expectancy rather than the 10 years usually quoted.

Do point to electronic & power devices that are rated 10+ years without regular maintenance. Previous Employers used to install equipment valued in the millions that required annual maintenance their design life for batteries started at 5 years.

Even smoke alarms only last 10 years.

The mechanical stuff can last decades.

[Hairlocks]

I want mine when:
a. I can change company and it won't be a dumb meter
b. It won't be a version 1 one

In theory the last one will change in the next year.

Got mine in late 2021 with Shell and then moved to octopus fine. It is a version 2 one though, didn't know they where still fitting version 1 still fitting.

I hate they are still 3G though so have a limited life span.

[SueEllen]

The problem with all us smart meter dodgers is that eventually they do catch up on you. Meters have a finite life span and eventually they have to be replaced, and they're going to be replaced with a smart meter.

I want mine when:
a. I can change company and it won't be a dumb meter
b. It won't be a version 1 one

In theory the last one will change in the next year.

[Protagoras]

The problem with all us smart meter dodgers is that eventually they do catch up on you. Meters have a finite life span and eventually they have to be replaced, and they're going to be replaced with a smart meter.

Fortunately, older meters last many years. I just hope that by the time they get around to it, the 'smart' meter lives up to its name and as a product it is designed to be sustainable.

Mid C.20 meters lasted 40+ years, albeit with decreasing accuracy. I'd like to see 'smart' meters with a 50+ year life expectancy rather than the 10 years usually quoted.

[ladymuck]

The problem with all us smart meter dodgers is that eventually they do catch up on you. Meters have a finite life span and eventually they have to be replaced, and they're going to be replaced with a smart meter.

[SueEllen]

The energy company keeps begging me to get a smart meter but there's no way as I don't trust them

Neither do I due to the "disputes" I've had with energy companies over the years varying from refusal to give final bills, deciding my meter readings weren't legit to refusing to refund credit while at the same time putting up my DD.

[tazdevil]

Nah because not everyone was conned into having a smart meter.

The energy company keeps begging me to get a smart meter but there's no way as I don't trust them

What they should have done is have the main meter be the responsibility of the utility company and installed outside the property as with water meters. Then they could have done what they want WRT metering. If they do that I'll still have my own meter in line so that I have an independent reading on consumption

[SueEllen]

Won't there a big BIG spike at 18:01 :-)

Nah because not everyone was conned into having a smart meter.

[gables]

Because the only choices are everything or nothing? Not to mention there are about 30 million 'Gladys at #64' in the country, their behaviour en masse makes more difference than a data centre. And the whole point is to shift usage that CAN be shifted, spikes are far more a problem than continuous demand.

Won't there a big BIG spike at 18:01 :-)

[d000hg]

So the M4 corridor data centres that are sucking capacity out of the system are fine but Gladys at no.64 has to turn off her heating?

Because the only choices are everything or nothing? Not to mention there are about 30 million 'Gladys at #64' in the country, their behaviour en masse makes more difference than a data centre. And the whole point is to shift usage that CAN be shifted, spikes are far more a problem than continuous demand.