Smart meters

The thing is do you pay D/D monthly or a variable D/D ?
I'm not sure who they use she did say but I wasn't taking that much notice.

She's not the kind of person to let them get away with much so I'm sure she will sort it out, but it just shows that the energy companies are trying every angle to get their hands on your money in advance.
The customer is the cash cow.

 

Most things like petrol/diesel, clothes, food shopping etc use this model of payment, which is the same as a pre payment meter, you pay and then you use the goods.
Not many things are paid for after consumption; food in proper restaurants, utilities (for many people).
You could quibble about HP and other forms of credit, but the supplier gets their money from the credit provider.

 

Not quite the same though Nigel, you might buy clothing etc. And then use it, but once you have paid for it it is yours.
With energy they are helping themselves to your money in advance of the energy becoming yours, especially in the summer months.
I think it would be interesting to know how much money energy companies have,of their customers ,for which they have not yet supplied energy.

 

From the beeb:

Charities have said they are hearing rising reports of smart meter anxiety.

Age UK and disability rights charity Scope have told the BBC that although smart meters can help with budgeting they can also have a negative impact on people's mental health.

 

I've always thought this, its one thing knowing your running up a massive bill, its another thing watching it happen every hour of the day.

 

I check mine about once a month to see if I need to add any more money for the electricity.
I notice when the light changes from green to amber to red but I just think, that's the kettle on or, that's the oven on. It certainly doesn't phase me (pun intended).

 

Energy suppliers point out that if customers are allowed to build up unaffordable debts, then this money would eventually be recouped from everyone's energy bills.

That's fine by me. A couple of quid extra on my bill will make no difference whatsoever - but it will make a huge difference to someone else who would otherwise be left without energy.

Money, money, money - that's what it's all about - paying extra divi. to shareholders.

 

I just wonder how energy suppliers are actually doing, I doubt they are on skid row, but its the companies who they buy their energy from who are the real villains of the piece.

 

That sounds OK but how many more will get pushed over the edge paying the extra?
Probably not that many but to anyone who is just keeping their head above water a few extra quid in order to help out others who are in an even worse situation is not going to help.

 

But that's because you know you can afford it.

 

I don't want a smart meter, why, well we get enough power cuts in a year we don't want someone else doing we'll cut them off to save some eleey, with the amount of cuts we've had it will add up to more an a few hours and we don't get paid for it