Smart meters

That's cos you is a veggie innit :rasp:

 

Although it seems everyone is knocking smart meters I would have one fitted if offered:
1) I like gadgets
2) It would avoid letting a complete stranger into my house every 6 months to read the meter.

My meters are in a cupboard with not a great deal of access around.

Does anyone know if the smart meter is bulky?

 

@Loofah I realise you have had one fitted, was it just a like for like space wise?

 

Dumb people with smart meters


Apologies Loofah (and me if I get one)

 

It should be solar powered but bet it isn't.

The monitor for my solar panels is solar powered (logical) and the info is downloadable to a spreadsheet showing power production every ten minutes.

I wonder how a smart meter would cope with me using my own electricity and distinguish between that and the power I may be using from the grid.

Nobody has read my meter for over five years! They did try to arrange a time to call when I would be in but wouldn't give me closer than a four hour window. I pointed out that they must be able to give me a 'first call of the day' if we had enough notice. They arranged a 9 a.m. call and I drove off at 9.30 without them having turned up. Four weeks later they phoned me and told me that I must allow them to come and read the meter and I replied that I had allowed them to do so but they didn't turn up. They didn't turn up for a second appoimtment so, when they called me, I told them they had their chance and in future they would just have to chance their luck with me being in. That was two years ago Not a word since.

 

Oi!
Right, it seems most people aren't that interested in these new fangled meters... I figured that after 5 missives inviting me to have one fitted (they know how to burn through cash these utility companies) and the absolute certainty they will be forced upon us sooner or later, that when they called I agreed to have it done. Checked, double and triple checked it was at no cost to me while I was at it. The cost of powering the meter is around 70p per year they say...

Space wise John, the meters are not that big. Gas was the same size as I had previously and the leccy slightly larger. They're stuffed under the stairs so I can't see them behind all the 'useful stuff' that's usually in there!


The monitor itself is tiny and lets you flick through usage in terms of cost, kWh etc and you can compare historical use too. It's powered from internal battery that's charged via USB-b (phone charger size)

My house is costing about £3 a day to run apparently

 

How does that compare to potting compost value?

That's a lot less than mine because Gaz and Leccy go mad in our house.

 

Thanks @Loofah. I have a bit more space around my electric meter so that will not be an issue. But my gas meter is very tight on the sides, going by your photo it looks like they have just added a new module on the front. Did they take out the whole unit or just replaced the bit on the front? Presumably there is a tiny battery in that new module on the gas meter?