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Should I get smart meters?

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Freddyfruitba...
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PostPosted: 17:36 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
I've had a prepayment one for Thinking Question probably 10 years because social housing

If you're possibly able to change this to a credit meter you really, really ought to - it's the most expensive way to get electricity...
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SpeedyCBR1100
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PostPosted: 17:53 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've got an air source heat pump, a log burner and a 15 panel solar array with battery back up. I have no gas in my house. I have an app which connects to my system and gives me, if I want it, a minute by minute report of my power usage.

My problem is that the readout is totally different to the smart meter readout and I've got no idea which is correct.

The smart meter, by the way, always has by far the highest readout.

Que sera, sera as Gino Washington said.
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hellkat
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PostPosted: 21:05 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Freddyfruitbat wrote:
hellkat wrote:
I've had a prepayment one for Thinking Question probably 10 years because social housing

If you're possibly able to change this to a credit meter you really, really ought to - it's the most expensive way to get electricity...

So how is that different to the method I am using?
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to v or not to v
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PostPosted: 21:32 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
]
So how is that different to the method I am using?

you get cheaper tariffs.
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hellkat
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PostPosted: 22:40 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Brick Wall

Laughing I asked for that.
Yes but how is a prepayment meter different than a credit meter?
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to v or not to v
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PostPosted: 23:11 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
the tariffs are higher for prepay than for monthly/quarterly payments.
go online and get a quote for each type of tariff to see the difference.
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dave001
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PostPosted: 23:21 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pete. wrote:
Islander wrote:


Technically, they could also switch your supply off without notice. Smart meters have a built in contactor (power relay). The real disadvantage is their ability to impose variable day rates on you rather than a flat tariff. In theory it could work in your favour but then then there are the shareholders and the CEO and board's massive coke intake to consider...


Technically they could but not under Ofgem rules. There's a whole rigmarole to go through before disconnection becomes an option.

The prospect of variable rates based on peak usage is what stops me from getting one fitted. I think that is sure to become a reality.


not any more recently they been swaping em to prepaid or switching em off remotley without bothering to get a warrent

its been all over the news one pentioner was left weeks without and gas or heat as he had no ider and they never told him

hers a tip for any one make up a lead cover out of roofing lead sheet or simular and put that over them they wont beturing off any time soon remotley as the high frequ
encey signal will not penertrait that
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dave001
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PostPosted: 23:23 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
SpeedyCBR1100 wrote:
I've got an air source heat pump, a log burner and a 15 panel solar array with battery back up. I have no gas in my house. I have an app which connects to my system and gives me, if I want it, a minute by minute report of my power usage.

My problem is that the readout is totally different to the smart meter readout and I've got no idea which is correct.

The smart meter, by the way, always has by far the highest readout.

Que sera, sera as Gino Washington said.


your app will be acurate the silly box they give you with smart meter are near useless and as about as acurate as any information given buy that nigerian prince that email you with a killer deal
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dave001
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PostPosted: 23:25 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
Brick Wall

Laughing I asked for that.
Yes but how is a prepayment meter different than a credit meter?



if you dont put money on a prepayment you dont get any power or gas

if you dont pay your bill with a credit meter they got to get a warrent to turn off your gas ir more ushally fit a prepayment meter
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Ste
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PostPosted: 23:30 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Laughing @ people describing the differences between prepaid tariffs and standard 'credit' tariffs.

hellkat wrote:
Yes but how is a prepayment meter different than a credit meter?

The meters are the same.
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Islander
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PostPosted: 23:40 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
dave001 wrote:


not any more recently they been swaping em to prepaid or switching em off remotley without bothering to get a warrent

its been all over the news one pentioner was left weeks without and gas or heat as he had no ider and they never told him


Nope that's simply not true. Pete's right, under current regulations they cannot remove a service without a court order. There have been, however, been several reported instances of consumers being converted from credit to prepay without due consultation.

dave001 wrote:
hers a tip for any one make up a lead cover out of roofing lead sheet or simular and put that over them they wont beturing off any time soon remotley as the high frequ
encey signal will not penertrait that


You don't need to use lead to block a 4G signal. Simple tinfoil would do that quite nicely. It has to be continuous (enclosing the meter completely) and earthed mind. Not sure how you're going to manage that though. Also if they suddenly lose signal, you're likely to find a DNO representative on your doorstep to check things out.
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Islander
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PostPosted: 23:43 - 18 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ste wrote:
Laughing @ people describing the differences between prepaid tariffs and standard 'credit' tariffs.

hellkat wrote:
Yes but how is a prepayment meter different than a credit meter?

The meters are the same.


Indeed. It's the charging mechanism and the tariffs that are different.
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dave001
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PostPosted: 02:49 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
I've had a prepayment one for Thinking Question probably 10 years because social housing - so when they said they were putting one in, I just went with it.
Top it up through me phone - individually for gas or electric, not difficult.
There was a card somewhere that you take to the corner shop but I've never used it, don't know how Laughing

Saves me reading the meter which I'd have to stand on a stepladder in the hallway to read anyway.
There's only me here so my erratic usage is probably not within any interesting demographic group (although I'm sure that eccentric old single bints in London are quite a high statistic Laughing ).

When it beeps at me that the credit is low I just bung in another 30 squids. Recently for the gas its been 50 cos I *have* got it ramped up for quite a lot of the time when I am indoors.

Basically I'm idle, so it suits me fine.
Long as it keeps working, we're good.


when i was in a council house i got sent the first bill for 5 and a half grand in a two bed flat like you could use that in 3mouths


obvesly i refused to pay on till they put right and refused a prepayment meter as mrs is disabled and cant use one

this had gone on for 4 or 5 years id rung up a number if time tell just to stop sending me shit and just remove the gas meter and id recored them calls

finaly they try and get a warrent i go and tell the court there comiting purgery and refing to discont it and that iv got recorded proof

the magistraits adjourned it for 11 mounths as they cant cut disable of in winter anyway on priority register

i go back to court 11 mounths later and they rang away they was seen there but when my case they legged it

the magistrats threw it out

they cant go back to court now as there get done for purjery

so the years go by its now 13 years since started and iv not payed anything for gas since this shit started and they cant do anything about it

i knew i may buy a house soon

so i emailed the CEO of the company with the story and said if they zero the meter and wiped the bill for the last 13years and payed me a grand for the harasment

i would start paying again

they had no choice prity much and agreed

4 weeks after i changed supplyer and got rid of the morons

sometimes there greed bites the on the ass
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dave001
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PostPosted: 02:54 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Islander wrote:
dave001 wrote:


not any more recently they been swaping em to prepaid or switching em off remotley without bothering to get a warrent

its been all over the news one pentioner was left weeks without and gas or heat as he had no ider and they never told him


Nope that's simply not true. Pete's right, under current regulations they cannot remove a service without a court order. There have been, however, been several reported instances of consumers being converted from credit to prepay without due consultation.

dave001 wrote:
hers a tip for any one make up a lead cover out of roofing lead sheet or simular and put that over them they wont beturing off any time soon remotley as the high frequ
encey signal will not penertrait that


You don't need to use lead to block a 4G signal. Simple tinfoil would do that quite nicely. It has to be continuous (enclosing the meter completely) and earthed mind. Not sure how you're going to manage that though. Also if they suddenly lose signal, you're likely to find a DNO representative on your doorstep to check things out.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-63746955

they been doing by the back door switching them to prepayment by with no checks or warrent lately theres be a masive surge in it heres one case


https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-11457237/Homes-smart-meters-plunged-darkness-REMOTE-CONTROL.html

there getting away with murder at the moment i suspect therw will be a test case soon over this in the courts

this is a clear breash of human rights law there supost to vist and check for vrunrabilitys before apply for a warrent

this is abuse if the intended legistation but so far they have been getting away with and ofgen have donr jack shit about it as ushal


i have an onld wheel meter i refuse to have a smart meter
ther trying to fourse smart meters now buy say they dont have any non smart meters to fit and saying the have to change any meter over 10years old

i suspect that withing the next year or two they will change the law to make them compusary

and then its time for the ass raping time based charging they have planed all along

year you get ome money of at the start and for now to get the sheeple to accept them

but they the peek times will change to morning when get kids ready for school and getting ready for work

and ever ning when you come home from work and are hungery and tired and want to eat and watch tv

the rich that have 30grand spare to cover there roof with solar and a large battery back will be larthing

the mp`s will get there bills payed on there expence account as ushal for two home

and the sheeple wll be getting with out the lube even more than ushall
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Nobby the Bastard
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PostPosted: 08:05 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Enemied simply because trying to read any of your posts makes my brain bleed.
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Freddyfruitba...
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PostPosted: 10:36 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
how is a prepayment meter different than a credit meter?

Have a read of St Martin of Lewis:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/

...although TBF he does say that right at the moment, because of the unprecedented screwed-up energy market, there's actually not much difference
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Islander
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PostPosted: 12:12 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Islander wrote:


Nope that's simply not true. Pete's right, under current regulations they cannot remove a service without a court order. There have been, however, been several reported instances of consumers being converted from credit to prepay without due consultation.

dave001 wrote:
hers a tip for any one make up a lead cover out of roofing lead sheet or simular and put that over them they wont beturing off any time soon remotley as the high frequ
encey signal will not penertrait that


You don't need to use lead to block a 4G signal. Simple tinfoil would do that quite nicely. It has to be continuous (enclosing the meter completely) and earthed mind. Not sure how you're going to manage that though. Also if they suddenly lose signal, you're likely to find a DNO representative on your doorstep to check things out.



You might try reading posts properly...

Bold to emphasise.

Your claim of remote disconnection is the part I said wasn't true.
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dave001
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PostPosted: 21:56 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nobby the Bastard wrote:
Enemied simply because trying to read any of your posts makes my brain bleed.


love and xxx`s and a hug for you for you nobby
merry Xmass
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dave001
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PostPosted: 22:02 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
Islander wrote:
Islander wrote:


Nope that's simply not true. Pete's right, under current regulations they cannot remove a service without a court order. There have been, however, been several reported instances of consumers being converted from credit to prepay without due consultation.

dave001 wrote:
hers a tip for any one make up a lead cover out of roofing lead sheet or simular and put that over them they wont beturing off any time soon remotley as the high frequ
encey signal will not penertrait that


You don't need to use lead to block a 4G signal. Simple tinfoil would do that quite nicely. It has to be continuous (enclosing the meter completely) and earthed mind. Not sure how you're going to manage that though. Also if they suddenly lose signal, you're likely to find a DNO representative on your doorstep to check things out.



You might try reading posts properly...

Bold to emphasise.

Your claim of remote disconnection is the part I said wasn't true.


It amounts to the same thing mate

energey companys never acturley disconect anyone for debt only for frurd and meter bypases

the last thing they want is to cut a debter of they gett the warrent and stick in a prepayment

if acturly call there bluff and ring up and try and make an apoint met for them to disconect it

your get every excuse under the sun not to

i done my self when they got the bill wroung by 5 and a half grand and refused to put right

in the end i got 13years free gas and they neally got done for purjury
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Islander
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PostPosted: 22:40 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
dave001 wrote:


It amounts to the same thing mate

energey companys never acturley disconect anyone for debt only for frurd and meter bypases

the last thing they want is to cut a debter of they gett the warrent and stick in a prepayment

if acturly call there bluff and ring up and try and make an apoint met for them to disconect it

your get every excuse under the sun not to

i done my self when they got the bill wroung by 5 and a half grand and refused to put right

in the end i got 13years free gas and they neally got done for purjury


It does not mean or amount to the same thing.

A change of tariff is an entirely different thing to a service disconnection.

A change of tariff means the mechanism and level of payment is altered.

Disconnection means removal of service to a property entirely.
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hellkat
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PostPosted: 22:56 - 19 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
dave001 wrote:
if you dont put money on a prepayment you dont get any power or gas

if you dont pay your bill with a credit meter they got to get a warrent to turn off your gas ir more ushally fit a prepayment meter


I understood that. Cool Thumbs Up

So basically a prepayment meter is definitely what I have, cos when it runs out I have to put money ("credit") in it , which is why I was gettign confused with the terminology - I'm easily confused these days, and its not helping that I've been on the piss tonight Laughing

(but not like back in the day when you'd put in loads of 50ps to last you a few weeks and your flatmate's boyfriend would nick them all Mad )

But what you guys call a "credit" meter, I just call a meter. Back when I was all respectable and that, with a mortgage and whatnot, then yes, up until I sold that house, I always had a "credit account", where you read the meter , you got the bill and then you wrote a cheque for the outstanding balance. Been/done/t-shirt, etc.

But in fact, I like prepayment ones better, cos its convenient for me. You pay, you get juice. Sometimes more expensive juice because Ukraine, sometimes cheaper juice. No skin off my nose unless its actually cut off.

I don't think the tariff is *that* different. It might have been the case back in the bad old days, but at the moment we're all paying through the nose, but at least I'm not missing several grand out of my bank acount just because of direct debits for "estimated" energy costs.

In other news, my boiler appears to be leaking and its only about three years old. I am currently DEEP into complaining to the landlord about other repairs in my flat, and this side of the new year I haven't the spare energy (pardon pun) to expend on arguing with the housing association about whether or not sending out a boiler guy is or fckingwell is not one of their policies these days Rolling Eyes

Sheesh.
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dave001
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PostPosted: 01:12 - 20 Dec 2022    Post subject: Reply with quote
hellkat wrote:
dave001 wrote:
if you dont put money on a prepayment you dont get any power or gas

if you dont pay your bill with a credit meter they got to get a warrent to turn off your gas ir more ushally fit a prepayment meter


I understood that. Cool Thumbs Up

So basically a prepayment meter is definitely what I have, cos when it runs out I have to put money ("credit") in it , which is why I was gettign confused with the terminology - I'm easily confused these days, and its not helping that I've been on the piss tonight Laughing

(but not like back in the day when you'd put in loads of 50ps to last you a few weeks and your flatmate's boyfriend would nick them all Mad )

But what you guys call a "credit" meter, I just call a meter. Back when I was all respectable and that, with a mortgage and whatnot, then yes, up until I sold that house, I always had a "credit account", where you read the meter , you got the bill and then you wrote a cheque for the outstanding balance. Been/done/t-shirt, etc.

But in fact, I like prepayment ones better, cos its convenient for me. You pay, you get juice. Sometimes more expensive juice because Ukraine, sometimes cheaper juice. No skin off my nose unless its actually cut off.

I don't think the tariff is *that* different. It might have been the case back in the bad old days, but at the moment we're all paying through the nose, but at least I'm not missing several grand out of my bank acount just because of direct debits for "estimated" energy costs.

In other news, my boiler appears to be leaking and its only about three years old. I am currently DEEP into complaining to the landlord about other repairs in my flat, and this side of the new year I haven't the spare energy (pardon pun) to expend on arguing with the housing association about whether or not sending out a boiler guy is or fckingwell is not one of their policies these days Rolling Eyes

Sheesh.

iv got a credit meter but im dont pay by direct debit i just pay wahat ever the bill is each mouth with my amex card so i get the cash back

im still on a fiex deal of 3.4pence per KW for gas and 18pence per KW for electric

id just signed up for a 24 mounth fixed deal just before the shit hit the fan

and that dont run out to the end of next july so my bill was 24 quid last mounth after the goverment 67quid discount Embarassed

i got a old floorstanding boiler no condecing i coulc get a free new one but i dont want

i hate the new boilers takes a week to fill the bath they always go wroung and cost to fix

when we was in rented i had 3 combie boilers in 4 years bluddy thing and warter was luke warm for a bath when it was minus 5 outside

my old one can heat water to 90degress and I can fix myself when it gos wroung witch aint very often
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Jmoan
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PostPosted: 21:50 - 01 Feb 2023    Post subject: Reply with quote
So these things are spymeters instead of smart meters.
Aren't there any breaker boxes with power monitors built in to tell the user the power use for each line?
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 22:02 - 01 Feb 2023    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jmoan wrote:
So these things are spymeters instead of smart meters.
Aren't there any breaker boxes with power monitors built in to tell the user the power use for each line?


You can buy a clamp-on power monitor which has all the functionality of a smart meter in terms of monitoring energy useage. You just put a clip round the incoming power cable and it remotes to a display, or smartphone app or whatever you fancy. Works just like an ammeter clamp measuring the incoming current over time.

People often buy one, use it for a couple of weeks to see what uses loads of power in their house then sell it on again so you can pick up hardly used ones very cheap on ebay.

I've got a simple one which was £25 and found out a) I needed a new deep freeze and b) It is cheaper to cook sausages in the oven than under the grill but most cheap to fry them on the gas ring.
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MCN
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PostPosted: 22:18 - 01 Feb 2023    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tinfoil over the meter and save a sheet to make some protechead wear too.

And while your at it, keep your credit cards inside some tinfoil too.

I got these tips from Water Deviner Weekly.
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