How on earth do they calculate electricity and gas bills...

In the modern world I would be in a cave cooking roots over a bonfire if I wasn't willing to have DDs!

Neil

Would not work in our village then as there is no phone reception on any network. To use my mobile I have to pay O2 extra each month to have a boost box connected to the ( very unreliable) internet, but it does not allow me to use the phone in my shed or in the garden due to range from the router.

Neil, you miss the point. DD is for a FIXED amount. Electricity and gas companies use VARIABLE DD's and then make it very difficult for you to reduce the amount. Nathan.

Scottish Power even admit this when you question their phone operators, and then instantly drop the DD amount when you question the amount of interest that Scottish Power are making on your in credit account.

Sam that is just one of the downsides of Smart metering, it isn't universal as you say where there is no mobile coverage it won't work. I won't be having a Smart meter until forced by legislation, the only advantage that gives the consumer is to be able to monitor consumption, what use is that I only use energy that I need to and monitoring isn't going to change what I use. There appear to be a number of advantages that suppliers potentially can benefit from and I don't feel that benevolent towards them.

Dave W

According to OFGEN, Scottish Power are the worst of all of the domestic electricity suppliers in the UK.

I agree completely Dave. The other point is that the expected £12 billion cost of installing meters countrywide will of course be passed on to customers.

I did read the Germans were not going down the smart meter route as it was too expensive and of no benefit to customers.

Well Neil, if some smart alec at one of these companies decides to clean out your account, you might find yourself cooking over that open fire anyway. It could happen by accident or deliberately. If enough people refuse the direct deduction thing they will have to find other ways to allow people to pay them money. We did have one once, but had the payment come out of a separate account, but that was a fixed amount. Long term we changed company and now pay everything via Internet banking. They will put pressure on you to do the DD thing, after all, the financial whizz kids must just love the idea of a regular cash flow that they can jack up at will to cover any shortfalls from their stock market gambling.

The cost of those smart meters should be covered by the saving on people driving around reading meters. When I was in the cell phone/mobile data business, that was the main selling point. Of course we were trying to sell the idea to the power providers.

John

You can't vary a DD without notifying someone - that's how I picked up what they were planning!

I have a multitude of DDs many of which change at an annual renewal.

Can't say I stress about it, the DD guarantee works.

I've stopped worrying about the cost of electricity now.

Mrs B got me a 2500W oil filled radiator for the shed, uses about a fivers worth a week keeping the shed warm all the time.

I would rather have a warm shed than a couple of pints....

Also Mrs B takes care of the bills..............

Jim

The so called 'Smart Meter' is not so smart after all. Once it's computerised it is a prime candidate for a bit of fun **LINK**

My own meter (here in Oz) is not even encrypted and there are many threads on the net about how they work

* Danny M *

That item concerned the system in Spain. This article **LINK** describes the security approach in the U.K. System. **LINK** is a possibly slightly out of date discussion of security vulnerability.

.

Thanks for that, John

The author has a chatty style, and yet inspires confidence that we are 'in good hands'.

That's very good writing !

MichaelG.

If they decide that we have to be fitted with a smart meter does that mean we will get a decent mobile connection ?

I have also been plagued by EON to have a smart meter. They do not seem to understand my concern of an outdated smart meter. As for DD I stopped mine several years ago because when I asked why they were going to increase my payments as the account was in credit the answer was " because we can". You can imagine what a grumpy old goat like me replied. I now pay online when I am ready every quarter. I usually wait for notification and pay 2 weeks later.

Smart meters what a load of crap, I don't need one of those to keep my electric in check, i've been careful with electric all my married life never ever leaving lights telly etc on(ask the kids & grandkids) same with the water as well. I just can't stand unnecessary waste.

Tis just another product they can sell, and it shouldn't necessarily supersede the current metering practices.

I beg to differ.

Without one I would either have to submit readings every month (not easy when you are in a wheelchair and the meters are in a 2' high cupboard under the stairs) or be willing to pay on the basis of wildly inaccurate estimated readings for up to two years between meter readings.

Brian

Do they have smart meters for three phase supplies

Colin

.

Not necessarily ...

**LINK**

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/media/341298/15595_dcc_fact_sheet-coverage_v7.pdf

MichaelG.