Email saying that I've chosen a smart meter!

[Mexy02]

Originally Posted by sunseeker100

Just want to add the other side of the story but please don’t lynch me

I work for one of the main suppliers, actually on the smart meter project. None of the suppliers instigated smart meters and they are all forced by the government to roll them out. It started years ago when the government agreed to an EU directive on reducing energy usage by 2020, all connected to climate change agreements and our government decided smart meters would help them hit the target. Now they probably will, they have been installed in most other European countries as well as Australia, USA to name a few. But and it’s a big but, this program is driven by the government not the suppliers.

We all have strict targets to meet each year starting at least 2yrs ago which Ofgem and the government energy dept measure us on and have the power to issue fines if we don’t hit a target. We have to prove that we’ve done everything possible to contact a customer, arrange the appointment and they even tell us what to put in the letters. The plan is that they will be rolled out by suppliers to all domestic and small business customers, you don’t have to ask for one... you can opt out though if you wish.

I would personally have a smart meter as soon as the next generation is out..the only reason it’s been delayed is due to the main data centre, appointed by the government, not being ready on time...suppliers are all ready. They are safe and have the highest security protocol in the UK, designed by the bods at GCHQ and the same as what is used at airports so hackers would have quite a job to switch off Mr Bloggs. The reason I’d wait btw is only because I like the newest things, there’s nothing wrong with what’s out there now but it’s like having an iPhone 4 or X.

One last point, this is costing suppliers millions, literally it’s eye watering what we’re spending on doing this and all the hoops to jump through and reporting to the government every week etc. We will benefit in that we’ll be able to bill customers more accurately and they will hopefully pay, but the customer will see the most benefits. So the fact that we’re having to spend millions on something that we didn’t want to do in first place and customers hate us even more for it, is not great. We probably won’t see any return for at least 10-15 yrs from this project and any of you who run a business will know that’s not ideal. We’d have much rather invested this money in a new system or something..

Don’t get me wrong, energy suppliers aren’t perfect and I’ve been on the receiving end of bad treatment, but in this case I’d say don’t refuse a smart meter cos you don’t trust the energy companies, they really will be good for you and I can’t wait to get mine

See more...

not a dig personally at you as you only work for them but anyone who believe it won’t be passed onto the consumer in some way is living in cuckoo land , a multi million pound foreign company not going to recoup costs :pity there isn’t Emoji for a flying pink pig .

[Bouncing Tigger]

What stops me wanting one are the reports of the amount of radiation they emit. Now I don’t know how true that is but some of the statistics are frightening.

[shauney]

Yep I got one a couple of days ago, oddly enough a couple of days after i'd given notice to transfer out to another supplier.

Never requested one ever.

[JAF]

I realise you are only following rules and have no say in the matter and I am also well aware that the roll out is part of the government signing up to reducing energy usage by 2020 but having a smart meter in itself is not going to reduce my energy usage. I am also well aware that this is going to cost me and every other household in the UK £100's to cover the cost of the meters as someone will have to pay for them and it won't be the energy companies. Government does not have any money only what we give it in the form of taxation so again it will be the home owners footing the cost. I find it quite easy to phone in a meter reading and get NPower to provide an accurate bill.

[Guest]

Just in case you don't know, if you have a smart meter (or when you do), you have the right to request the smart data side to be turned off. This means it's simply a normal meter.

I don't know the full ins and outs, however I recently attended a conference for the energy services at the utility supplier I work for. This came up in conversation.

At some point we will all have to have the smart meter. You can hold off for as long as you want, but when your meter is considered too old it will be replaced with one.

Personally I am holding off until very last minute.

V

[bighal]

All households will be switch over to smart meters. The consumer do not pay for it or for them to be installed amd if you get a first generation one and then switch suppliers and ypu6r current meter doesn't work with them then tney will at thier expense fit a new one. Smart meters mean you always get an accurate bill and you can, if are inclined, check to see how much electricty each item in your house uses. After we had ours fitted our electricty bill actually went down.

[JAF]

Originally Posted by bighal

All households will be switch over to smart meters. The consumer do not pay for it or for them to be installed amd if you get a first generation one and then switch suppliers and ypu6r current meter doesn't work with them then tney will at thier expense fit a new one. Smart meters mean you always get an accurate bill.

See more...

No you do not pay up front to have a meter installed but the energy companies have to supply them and they do not get them from free and they have already admitted the cost is being passed on to the householders and it runs in the £100's per house. I also get an accurate bill by phoning through a meter reading and getting them to input it at the time.

[Mazbar]

I always have a accurate bill I read it on the 10th of every month and put the readings in on my ovo app, it takes about 1 minute. It isn’t that hard.