Smart meters

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Loofah, Nov 14, 2017.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    I'm curious as to how much other people get charged for a detached house per day and I'm REALLY curious as to how my bills look after this change. They should remain constant but will they..?

    They replace the whole thing, old unit out new unit in. I assume there's a battery or some such in there, maybe a mouse in a wheel.

    I understand that many are sceptical of these devices but really they do offer the consumer the opportunity to see what and when their costs or usage go up and therefore the chance to reduce consumption.
     
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    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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      The problem with that being the supply chain for utilities is too volatile and subject to constant change.
      It's incredibly easy to change companies now; the Uswitch app lets you scan your bill QR code and tells you in seconds if you can save cash. You press a button and it's all done.
       
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      • "M"

        "M" Total Gardener

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        I'm going to slap you (stand back! This will hurt me far more than it will hurt you :snooty:)
        :slaphead: :heehee:
        :waggy: Put your capitalist head on, just for a moment (don't get queasy now :pathd: )
        Why charge *once*, when you can charge *twice*? :rolleyes:
        Patronising the common man is a very lucrative business ;)
        "This is how much your energy costs, per unit used :) ...
        ... but *this* is how much you need to pay for the on-going maintenance of supplying it (pipelines etc., ) and the upkeep/replacement of your meter (which records the units you have used)" :)

        See? Now that clump of box shaped metal in your under stairs cupboard has a *value*. It is now precious ;) You are paying for the privilege of having it plus the means of getting those units to you and recording it via your meter.

        Perception of value is one of the biggest marketing ploys, EVER! ;)
         
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        • "M"

          "M" Total Gardener

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          While I agree in today's markets, the standing charge existed prior to energy being privatised. The current supply chain volatility wasn't an issue back then.
           
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            Agreed @"M" - I just believe that necessities such as gas, electric and water should NEVER have been privatised; railways etc, to some degree I can understand, but essentials - no. Besides, capitalism is really working well for the world so far, isn't it? :whistle:
             
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            • "M"

              "M" Total Gardener

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              Again, put your business head on: to have kept them as public enterprises could only have meant one thing - higher taxes! Just look at what is happening to the pubic service sector!!! I dread to think just how high our tax rates would be had they been kept on the public purse strings *shudders* :oops:

              Putting them out and onto the free market, in theory, should have kept the prices down - but, without any real comparison .. how do we know it hasn't? :scratch: :dunno: Who's to say that the cost (per unit, or otherwise) would not be a great deal higher than it is currently?
               
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                So if our taxes all those years ago were paying for the NHS, gas, electric, water, drainage, roads, schools, telephones etc -- what are they paying for now? NHS is screwed, roads are a mess, schools forever are holding out the begging bowl as they are underfunded, and the rest are privately owned - so why the hell am I paying all this tax?
                 
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                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                  Just for the shear hell of it?
                   
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                  • Loofah

                    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                    Fun aside... Privatisation was the same as any business off-shoring work; govt couldn't dedicate the resources to manage it either due to incompetence or the genuine belief it would be better if in private hands. Afterall tge monopolies commission existed so competition would drive down prices, right?! Well we're seeing that really the govt are simply poor at running stuff. Huge shock. The MPs put in charge of each dept aren't qualified in the field so really what do we expect?
                     
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                    • CanadianLori

                      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                      I agree with lots that's been said here except the bit about depreciation. I've never seen that appear as a cost of sales item.....:scratch:
                       
                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                      It is always there, in one form or another - normal businesses however simply include it as an overhead. My company has over 1000 vehicles at an average purchase price of £250m each, therefore depreciation has to be taken into account; we would NEVER dream of showing this as a daily charge on an invoice though.
                       
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        Our meter was installed in 1953.

                        We don't have any stairs.

                        Conclusion:- If you don't have stairs then as far as the power company or the government are concerned our meter not only doesn't have any value but it probably doesn't exist. 'Analogue Meters Rule'. :snorky:
                         
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                        • CanadianLori

                          CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                          However, it is not an item that is listed under cost of sales. It is an annual write down. Our balance sheets must work a little differently. Perhaps your generous ledgers have different means of recording items as well :)
                           
                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          On the accounts Depreciation is normally shown on a lower section of a Profit and Loss Account and reflected in the Balance Sheet, but is calculated into customer pricing incorporated into general expenses (with things such as insurance, accounting, rent, rates, advertising etc.).
                           
                        • CanadianLori

                          CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                          @shiney I agree that everything goes into the bottom line however over here Profit & Loss statements do not include depreciation. It is in the balance sheet yes, but not ever itemised in the P & L. The same as other items such as intangibles. Everything affects the bottom line particularly when it comes to tax time :) Amazing how different your accounting systems categorise various items.
                           
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