General Chat

Had a smart meter put in few years back.
Dual fuel. It stopped reading the gas meter after 7 - 10 days, and even after reporting a few times, no new meter. Even told to do a hard reset, and it would take a day or two to settle. Yeah right lol.
We have had a couple of meter readers in over last few months. And have had to put in a reading for gas, as estimated other wise. One of the meter readers said he had been sent as no reading going through, and possible that we might have changed just gas supply, -- we still paid dual to same company.

We don’t have a smart meter, but have come to the end of our current dual fuel fixed tariff. I have chosen the new one and noticed that it says that you have to agree to having a smart meter put in as a condition of choosing this tariff. I don’t mind, but it will be interesting to see if they turn up and change the meter.
The meter we have is just three years old because they sent us a letter to say they were changing everyone in the area to new meters. I asked then if we could have a smart meter, but they said that they weren’t fitting them in our area which seemed a bit odd as the tv was full of adverts for the things.

This new place has a 'Smart' meter, unfortunately no 'device'.
I tried to read the meters when I moved in - but couldn't. :-|

I received letters to 'The Occupier' threatening me about unpaid bills.
Unfortunately, British Gas don't put a phone number on their letters, besides which, I had no internet, landline, or usage left on my mobile, anyway.
However,I did notice they were putting the usage/readings on their letters.

I'd informed my energy company 'People's Energy' that I was moving a week before I moved, and asked for advice, as I wished to stay with them.
They sent me a 'support ticket' - ie an acknowledgement that I had contacted them.

Four weeks later 'Open Reach'/TalkTalk finally got me connected.

I tried to contact 'People's Energy' - I found a phone number online.
3 calls of over half a hour for 3 days - no answer. I gave up.
Sent an email to 'Customer Service' - received another 'Support Ticket'

Found 'British Gas's' phone number online - it was answered just under my half hour deadline.
I have had to join British Gas until 'People's Energy' get their act together.
however - and this is the pertinent point - I CAN read the meters - by pressing a button! I haven't tried it yet - so it may be a lie.
They don't put in meters that need devices any more - as people walk off with them!
I can't see the point of a 'Smart Meter', if you can't actually see your usage when you're using it. Without a smart meter, I used to read my meter every month - and knew then, if I'd used more, or less than the previous month.

As for 'People's Energy' - I resorted to 'bot talk' via their 'chatline, - something I resent - it's like I can hang around at their beck & call, until a 'human' comes along and asks me the same bl**dy question! I AM NOT their ADMIN!
My response is either 'see above' or 'hang on while I copy & paste'.
I have put in an official complaint about their 'support' tickets.

Why do these firms always think the excuse 'we're very busy now' due to either the pandemic, or illness, is acceptable?
They make enough profit - EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE!!!!

The problem with Smart meters is, when enough people have them, and usage can be monitored, the price is likely to go up during periods of high usage - like during adverts, half time when football is on etc..

I was constantly annoyed by gas meter readers who thought they had the right to walk on my lounge carpet in outdoor shoes ,especially if it was raining

My meter is In the under stairs cupboard accessed through the lounge

No way did I want dirty shoes on my carpet, even my family no it’s shoes off inside the front door

Some reader meters were a holes and thought they have the right to read the meters no matter what !

So the smart meters have stopped all that and I only get charged for actual usage :-)

They are like smart motorways, not smart and only lining the pockets of those that don't need the money, jobs for the boys etc.

You don’t save anything unless you turn down usage on what you see you are using

Tbh I use what I use to be comfortable and won’t be cold just to turn down


The advantage I can see is that the meter sends usage to the company so they charge for actual use not an estimate

I am constantly being pestered by Scottish Power to have one, and so far I have ignored them. Until they become a legal requirement I shall continue to do so.

I actually asked my OH if there was yet any proof that smart meters saved anyone any money. We agreed it wouldn't save us any as we don't leave lights onall over the house and if we need to heat or cook that is what we do.

Bob - if you've forgotten to turn off a light how does the meter tell you because, surely, you'd spot the light on on the way to check out your smart meter.
As to the flapping bush and the outside light - just remember the story of the shepherd boy and the wolf.

I don't think that the meter itself Costs you anything extra................
but the idea is that alerts you to an expense
,ie that light that you forgot to turn off..maybe turning the oven off a short while before the joint is cooked even an outside light that is spuriously triggered... by a flapping bush or something...

The sse keep nagging us to have one but we don't want one, has anyone actually saved money with them, for what it is worth I think the price will go up when it is realised that they are losing money because of them.