Rather dumb Smart Meters

[towny44]

Recently I read in the Daily Mail about energy customers with smart meters finding they were not compatible with new suppliers when they switched, the first I had heard of it and just assumed the Mail was scaremongering as usual.
However my next door neighbour, who had a smart meter fitted earlier this year, told me today he is having to switch back to reading his meters because his new suppliers software did not recognise the data stream from his meters.
Now which stupid govt. dept did not think to make sure there was standard software before embarking on a multi million pound programme, which you and I are paying for in our bills.

[david63]

I think that I read somewhere that the problem is with the actual meters and not the software. The original "first generation" meters are not compatible with the later "second generation" meters and eventually all the first generation meters are going to have be replaced/modified.

One strange thing with our smart meters is that up until having them installed we never had anyone round to read them - I entered the readings on line (no problem with that), but since having smart meters installed I have a guy coming round every few months to read them - even though they send the data automatically (perhaps they do not trust the technology!)

[Stephen]

Did you query it David with your supplier. The whole point of smart meters is they are supposed to give a more accurate readings with no need for someone to come round and check them which in turn saves money. Well that's the theory.

And no, we don't have one.....yet. And if I have a choice I don't particularly want one. I am quite happy giving my reading online.

[towny44]

I feel a bit the same Stephen, it seems that technology might just be moving a bit too fast. But it would be beneficial to see just how much the gas consumption varies with minor tweaks to the thermostats, and therefore if it's worth bothering.

[Mervyn and Trish]

It always seemed rather random whether a meter reader came round in the past. Sometimes we'd submit a reading and a reader would turn up days later. Other times we'd be called for a reading a fews days after a meter reader had called. Since we've had the smart meter no one has been. Though I understand the gas bit of the smart meter set up is battery powered and someone has to call periodically to change the battery.

[CaroleF]

We are definitely not having one. Two different people in our village have them and both have had lots of trouble with readings and bills. Besides which, if we had a meter I would have John looking at it every evening and then going through how we could have used less electricity! No thank you.

Carole

[Manoverboard]

Nor us ... seems one's supply can be cut via these devices when the supplier is aiming to reduce the load in any particular area.

Apart from that I have no intention of reading it every hour/day/week just to save a few quid, we use what we use ... end of.

[gilly88]

for his sins, my eldest is a smart meter engineer for a well known gas/ electric company. the meters are defiantly not for everyone at the moment, there are a many reasons that people will not be able to have them fitted as of now, and the problem is that until they turn up at the houses they do not know what they will be facing, and whether it is possible to fit them. the telephone sales people make promises and the engineers have the problems of explaining why that is not going to happen.

the meters need to be made standard so they work with all suppliers, to cut out the "having to change them, with a change of suppliers" problem after all we are always being told that we should shop around to get the best deal.

I think this is another government led idea that has defiantly not been thought through clearly enough, which is going to cost consumers a lot of money over the next five/ six/ or even ten years.

one other thing to add we have NOT got one, as we do not use the supplier he works for.