Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???

Subject: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 08:50 AM

Getting bombarded by letters and texts offering:

"free ugrade to smart [electricity] meter, installers are still in the area ready to fit yours..."


What are your experiences, opinions, waryness, etc...

Genuinely worth getting one installed, or just a new mess of potential problems to deal with...???

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 08:54 AM

I've resisted it. All the benefit is to the supplier. You'd have to be a moron to need a smart meter to tell you you use more electricity if you have more lights or appliances on. Many press stories about problems with them and about the out-of-date technology they use.
Just my 5p worth.
RtS

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 09:08 AM

I think it may tie you in to the supplier that fitted it for an extended period as well. But I could be wrong.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: DaveRo
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 09:38 AM

Don't get a first-generation (SMETS 1) meter installed - they do tie you to a supplier.

The main advantage, eventually, should be electricity tariffs that vary by time of day - and not just day/night. Until they're available the only advantage is you get feedback on your consumption. I shall get one.

There are privacy and security concerns though - e.g. if people hack into them they could tell if you're away - or likely to be.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 09:51 AM

We've had "smart meters" here for years, but in the US electricity rates are regulated by each state. My electric company is called "MidAmerican," one I chose almost two years ago now to get a good introductory rate. I'll probably change at the end of that contract to get another good introductory rate if this company offers to continue but at a higher contract rate (we have a web site called "Power To Choose" where all of the offers and some of them with very confusing offers appear). But regardless of what company I choose to pay for my electricity, there is another larger company that actually is in charge of the electric lines and the meters, called Oncor. So they installed my meter and I can address it to see when I'm using the most power, and if I do things like set up my washer on the timer so it runs at 4am instead of in the middle of a hot afternoon, then some companies offer free or cheaper power overnight to lure people to use off-peak power and not strain the electric grid. The company I'm with now has a remarkably jargon-free list of conditions to do with contracting for their power and they offered all of the usual things I wanted - the ability to pay by check, by debit card, or by credit card (what I prefer), and not have a convoluted pricing structure of "if you use 0-500kW the price is this, then from 501-1000kW it jumps to this rate, and 1001-2000kW it is this rate. . ." Seriously - there are companies that pull these big math switcheroos, so you pay a minuscule price up to 500kW but then it jumps way high (and the result is it averages out between the two rates) and then it comes down for the third rate. But it's higher math to figure out what your bill might be. You need to look at all of your past year's bills and figure what each month would cost to see if they're actually offering a bargain, and generally they're not, they're hoping people won't look past the first low price.

If you're still with me, there's more. Every year or two, depending on how long you signed up for an introductory rate, if you haven't signed up for a new company or a new contract with the old company, the rate then jumps up to whatever the high rate is that the local "default" electric (TXU) is charging. So paying attention to contract periods is critical. Every January 1 I know I have to download spreadsheets after I've eliminated the offer periods and types I don't want, then do the math.

Smart meters don't make a difference as far as what company is offering the rates, but they do let you look at your usage if it matters because of the plan you chose, if you got sucked into one of those "free nights and weekends" plans, etc.

Your electric bill has several parts. It has the total cost (lets say it is .8 per kWh) then .3 of that will automatically go to Oncor (the folks with the wires and meters and who come out when the power is out in a storm) and that doesn't change, no matter what company. The next .5 goes to the company, but they have to pay a fraction to the state, to the federal government, and to a couple of funds that are there for various big state projects or to cover indigent homes that can't pay the bill but have individuals with health problems so the power can't legally be turned off.

By the way, you've probably heard of Warren Buffett. His company owns this power company, and I'm sure that is the reason their contract and offer and methods of operating are so transparent and easy to understand. He just doesn't appreciate the bullshit most of the companies pull, so if their regular (after the introductory offer) rate is competitive, I might extend my contract, just to support the company because of its business practices.

Now, the question of a smart meter doesn't sound so complicated, does it?

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 11:05 AM

Everyone else - cheers..

I'm reluctant to get one installed and just need more reasons to feel I'm not being a Luddite...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 12:55 PM

We're with EDF. We'd never get a smart meter.

1. They tie you in to the company that installed it, and you can't do comparisons to find a better deal unless the meter is changed.

2. Concerns about 'spying' and 'hacking'.

3. Concerns about harmful waves - people say they get migraines.

4. People also say they hum and make an odd noise.

5. No benefit at all. One would put the cooker on anyway, turn on a light etc. What's the alternative? Light a candle and a campfire?
Nobody is going to go round the house turning off stuff that is needed.

6. If you're so thick you need complicated technology to find out which appliances cost more to run, you're a fool.

Several of these points have been raised by posters above, but I thought I'd offer my own thoughts.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:00 PM

Btw.. Senoufou is worth her weight in gold to this community..

Observer is not even worth his weight in shite...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:08 PM

Isn’t it just a disingenuous con to get you all paying in advance for your power, since they must make millions in interest out advance payments rather than maintaining accounts in arrears?

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:16 PM

Hahaha pfr, my weight is considerable! hee hee!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:38 PM

2 more texts from EDF since i started this thread...

I'm exceptionaly cautious who I give my phone no to..
So either they caught me out with a very plausible pretext when I was weak and ill...

or the bastards are cold calling from a data base i have not knowingly permitted to sell my mobile no...???

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Iains
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:51 PM

The electricity suppliers would like a world where consumption is fairly uniform. In the real world there is a daily cycle of peaks and troughs and seasonal variation. Smart meters and variable pricing is a way for the company to even out the highs and lows of demand by using a variable tariff. In theory it should be win win for all but there is one winner and a rake of losers unless careful legislation, policing and auditing comes in the same box as the meters.
That seems an unlikely scenario to me.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 01:54 PM

They tried this on me, I phoned up and said was it a SMETS2 one. Humm..hahh... well maybe not. So I told them to phone back when the could guarantee that it was. They are trying to get rid of their old stock before getting the good ones in.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Jos
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 02:55 PM

Having different companies is a big con anyway. Whichever you are with you are getting exactly the same electricity or gas through exactly the same wires and pipes. Changing 'fuel' supplier is really just changing 'fuel bill' supplier. I have better things to occupy my time than searching all the bill suppliers to find an introductory offer to change to, just for one year before the price goes up unless I go through the whole process again.

I won't be bothering with a 'smart(?)' meter. It's the things that produce heat that put the bills up so I'll just use less hot water and not bother with ironing except for special occasions.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 03:06 PM

they are still purveying old models that would lock you in to whoever installs them. Despite Offgen wagging a useless finger at them.

And yes you could save money in an ideal world. But are you going to run the washing machine while you are in bed? And have it keep you awake. Not turn on the lights until 1am? It is not the meter that saves, it is you. The meter merely sets the rules. And that becomes a way of life. If on a tight budget, you would watch everything anyway.

Taking a shower would probably save over a bath, but if the wife likes to soak, you ain't gonna save much.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 03:34 PM

That is indeed maddening when companies obtain one's telephone number surreptitiously.

We're Ex Directory and guard our landline number like rottweilers. I ask for all communication to be by e mail or the post.

The fact I don't even own a 'phobile moan' throws them sideways though.
They get very hissy about that!

I'm quite happy to trawl through various comparison sites towards the end of an 'offer' to get a better deal. It's surprising how much one can save.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: DaveRo
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 03:42 PM

Mr Red wrote: But are you going to run the washing machine while you are in bed?

We've just moved from Hertfordshire, where we had a dual day/night rate meter, to Kent where we don't.

Yes, we used to run the washing machine, tumble drier, breadmaker, dishwasher, overnight. (It feels really odd running these machines during the day.) No, it didn't keep us awake.

I would expect future tariffs to reward you if you avoid, e.g. the evening peak cooking hours. But no such tariffs exist yet AFAIK, so I'm guessing.

Apart from the hacking aspect, I can see no good reason for not fitting one. You don't have to take any notice of it. You won't get a future choice of tariff without.

SRS: interesting. In the UK also you need to keep changing supplier/contract to not be ripped off.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 03:47 PM

They don't reward loyalty do they? Only 'new' customers get the deals.

We wouldn't run machines during the night as our village is as silent as the grave. No traffic, everyone in bed by 11pm at the latest. Utter peace and quiet.

You can hear it at night when someone over the road visits their toilet and flushes it, so a washing machine whizzing round would be a major disturbance.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 06:25 PM

Jos, think again.

My electric bill was in the range of $350 a month in the summer (one month it was almost $500) and $250 in winter. Since I've done the switch every year or two I haven't had a bill higher than $150 in the summer (there are usually only two or three of these in a year) with spring and fall usually being around $50.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 06:43 PM

We pay the equivalent of about $55 USA per month all year round (£42).
But our heating is oil-fired, so only the pump is electric. And we have a tiny bungalow, which is well-insulated, with cavity walls and loft insulation.
We don't need a smart meter to tell us how to economise.

What I do object to is that often the monthly payments accumulate quite a sizeable amount of credit in the account, but trying to get EDF to refund this, or reduce the monthly payments, is like drawing teeth. By law, they have to refund any money which is not owed for power used.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Sep 18 - 08:04 PM

The main concern is about electromagnetic radiation, which is why we refused to let PG@E (Pacific Gas & Electric, California) install one at our house and now pay a surcharge for the privilege of not being irradiated.
Of course if you have WiFi or any wireless devices in the house, you get hit with way more radiation than the smart meter generates.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Jos
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 03:31 AM

For those who do the calculations every year and change 'suppliers' - how long does it take you (in hours) to trawl through all the sites and make your decision? And how much are you saving in a year? So how much are you earning for each hour's work. That will tell you whether it was worth it - and I would be interested to know.
Of course, if you enjoy doing it then it's worth it anyway, but I would HATE it.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 04:03 AM

We use comparethemarket.com and it does it all for you. Up come several companies from the cheapest down. But the first on the list are always companies I've never heard of, so one has to use a bit of discretion.
The site makes the change for you, it's very straightforward.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 09:04 AM

Our bill for gas and electricity (we're on a dual-fuel tariff) runs out at around £1,200 p.a., which we pay at around £100/month.

Our summer usage is considerably lower than winter (unlike SRS's) but, like the vast majority of UK-dwellers, we don't have A/C, only CH.

We're on a two-year fix which runs out in February, so I'll be checking out the comparisons after Christmas. We also belong to MoneySavingExpert's 'Cheap Energy Club' which from time to time comes up with members-only fixes unavailable through the usual comparison sites - we got the one we're on now through the club, IIRC.

I really don't need a smart-meter to tell me that we're using a lot of electricity when the tumble-dryer or dish-washer are running, I've got a smart-brain to do that for me.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 09:13 AM

Exactly Backwoodsman, anyone with half a brain knows which appliances cost more to run. But short of washing everything by hand, lighting the house with oil lamps and getting husband to wash all the dishes in a bowl of water, one can't get away from machines and the power they use.

Our oil (kerosene) has gone up alarmingly. I just bought 500 litres for £300. We have about three lots, so that's not far off £1000 a year.

I can see why the more traditional folk in our village zoom round with tractors and lug rotten tree trunks home, saw them up and use them for their sole heating source!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 10:14 AM

"I can see why the more traditional folk in our village zoom round with tractors and lug rotten tree trunks home, saw them up and use them for their sole heating source!"

Hey Sen, wielding a large axe and chopping a tree-trunk up might be a good way to lose the weight you keep telling us about! :-)

(Exit Stage Left, ducking and weaving...)

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 12:10 PM

You naughty boy Bwdsmn. Mrs & Mrs Smack will soon be paying a visit to Bottyland! :)

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 12:11 PM

The site Power To Choose offers many options, but after the first time through it's pretty straightforward.

I answer the three questions (you can use an old zip code of mine - 76123, to run through it). How much power do you use? (Don't know); 2) Plan type (fixed rate); 3) Contract length (12 - 24 months). There are 3 and 6 months plans but through the year the rates change so you can end up selecting a new plan when rates are higher. I think it's a better use of time to do it just once a year. It took less than a minute to reach 86 results.

Next, when you select view plans, on the far left are tools to reduce this more: I select "do not show pre-paid plans" and "do not show time of use plans" (those evenings or weekends free are more expensive, when you do the math, so I automatically exclude them now.) Choose rating of company, I choose 4 and 5 star companies, eliminating those that have more customer complaints. I don't usually toggle "renewable energy" but I do keep that in mind when I look at the resulting spreadsheet. Refreshing this list, that took less than a minute to bring up, I now have 23 companies.

If you scan down those results you see the big number shows the rate from 1000-2000kWh, what is probably the most typical amount used. I have a printout of my last electric bill that shows me the usage of each month over the last year and I can see that I fall into this zone more than half of the year or less than half of the year. If I have more time in the 500-1000kWh range, then the first number is perhaps more relevant. These rates, offered at this time, are about one and half cents higher. I typically calculate my new company in January, so the rates reflect the lower usage and generally a bit less expensive power costs of the recent autumn weather. But it may simply be that costs have gone up and the rates I see in January will be a bit higher. TXU, at the bottom of this list, is highest cost, and is the default power provider in the area.

I download the spreadsheet, and this is where there is a bit of a glitch, because for some reason it doesn't offer just results, you get everything. So I look at column V for "rating" (I chose rating 4 and 5 stars) and I then had to select on the left each line, one at a time, and delete all of the lesser offerings. Five minutes.

There are columns that I already selected out, such as Prepaid - this shows on all as False, as is Time of Day. Zip code, etc, can all go because they're all the same. Click on the column heading to highlight the entire column, the right click to bring up the dropdown menu from there and select "delete." Other columns can now be expanded out. I want to look at the prices at 500 and 1000kWh, I want to see the cancellation fee, and if you have to be a new customer to take advantage of the new customer plan. There are a few companies I've used in the past that for whatever reason don't appear on this list, and I might pull them up individually to take a look.

I'd hazard a guess that this whole process took under an hour. Averaging the bills I'd say I save $100 or more a month. Since the last time I set this up I opted for a two-year contract, that hour was very well spent.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 27 Sep 18 - 12:17 PM

It is possible to view energy usage without an energy co provided smart meter. Owl for example do some where no one else needs to know what you are using but you can see at a glance the power comsumption* and are compatible with home automation if wanting to do that as well.

Have one of the Owls at home. It can alert us to something on (left a ring on cooker on but that has a light anyway) but I've never gone that far with it.

Energy consumption is not that brilliant here. We are all led lights which made a huge improvement but there are various bits of computer equipment (eg. swithches and an always on PC doing allsorts and I've never sorted out a better layout for this L shaped bungalow, phone line in one end and needing to keep some things alive the other), cheaper than BWM (although for heating in one room we use wood and a woodburner - not counted in this) but could be lowered one day

Scottish Power ATM.

But back to other thoughts...

You might fill the kettle less but your not (I hope) going to forego the vegetable cobbler because the microwave meal works out (I guess) cheaper for a 5 minute frozen meal rather than baking in the oven

Plus I'm cynical enough to feel that the more energy usage is cut down on, the higher it will need to be priced to maintain profits for share holders in private companies...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 09:25 AM

We're not with EDF, but British Gas dual fuel. I make sure we're never on standard tariff, which is the most expensive, but switch to a new fixed price tariff before the previous one runs out. I do look at price comparison websites, but I also subscribe to "Which" (Consumer Association) and read their customer satisfaction reviews. So very often, the companies offering the cheapest tariffs seem to be the least reliable/most complained about! (And incidentally, same applies to cheapest broadband/phone/TV packages!)
I am therefore not convinced that repeated switching is a good thing: too many tales of no sooner have you switched than they put the price up, and also people ending up being billed by both companies and having to go through months or years of wrangles with the switched-from company to get their money back. We have only rarely had any problems with our supplies in over 30 years in the same house and with same suppliers, and any service required has been good and prompt, so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
We do have a smart monitor, but it wasn't very smartly sited by the engineers who brought it: frequent drop-outs as it was too far away from the meter. After moving it twice, it is now somewhere among the clutter on my husband's desk, but now only 3ft and one brick wall away from the meter, but it rarely gets looked at! Haven't noted any significant reduction in our bills, but then we always were careful about switching things off.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 09:43 AM

E D F - Makes a lousy chord.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Jos
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 10:49 AM

I have seen a strong, intelligent woman reduced to tears when the supplier she had switched from continued to send her bills and tried to take her to court for the money she didn't owe them.
That is why I have always been reluctant (along with the fact that the whole system of separate companies is contrived and artificial - as I said before, you are getting the same gas and electricity and just changing to a different bill supplier).

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 10:53 AM

"E D F - Makes a lousy chord."

but it makes a pretty good riff.. loadsa fuzz and reverb...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Sep 18 - 10:55 AM

ps.. probably wouldn't want to know how much leccy a hot valve guitar amp uses...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Sep 18 - 04:30 PM

Think you and I agree on this Jos!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: ripov
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 08:23 PM

Smartmeters don't currently do anything that couldn't be done previously by sending a small boy into the cupboard under the stairs with his father's watch, a torch or candle, and the instruction "see how long it takes for the wheel on the meter to go round" any advantage is in computer software which makes the task of analysing consumption easier.
My worry is the remote disconnect facility - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5607490
The energy companies may say they would never use this; but what about in ten years time, when it's all watched by the same computers that automatically decide now that you haven't paid your bill (don't you ever get those erroneous letters?); and in the future may turn your supply off without any human intervention? Have you ever tried to argue with a computer?
Of course catters may be able to help each other with instructions on how to hack into the utilties computers!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 08:51 AM

Can we also consider to what extent this puts door to door meter readers out of work on the dole...???

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 02:09 PM

Thats a ship which has sailed PFR, most people read their own meters most of the time, as they get a discount for doing so. Smartmeters will save them the effor of going outside, and they will be permanently peering at an app on their smartphone instead. My grandfather was for a while a meter reader, having lost his job in the depression when the coal mines closed down. But currently its not a major career path.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 02:29 PM

I haven't got a smartphone and don't even know what an 'app' is :( Also, there's no phobile moan signal in our village.

I like our meter reader, very nice chap. The meter is in the garage, but it's not hard to pop in there and note down the digital number. (they changed the old dials one, which was a bit complicated to read) then phone it through. The reader man comes about twice a year to verify our readings.

Does a Smart Meter need a phobile moan signal then? Or does it work from the Broadband thingy?
(Old lady with no technical knowledge at all!)

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 03:01 PM

Broadband thingy, Eliza. If you have a tablet you cab do it on that as well.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 03:34 PM

No DtG, thats not entirely right, to transmit data to the supplier it uses GSM which is a 2G cellular network. Probably not the same as your mobile phone uses. But here is the clever thing, if it can't find a GSM network, the information can hop from meter to meter until it finds one. I am not sure whether the meter to meter hopping uses cellular technology, or the power lines themselves.

The broadband comes in when you what to read the data yourself, then you need to connect with the Data Communications Company, or possibly your own supplier. Not sure whether you have direct access to the DCC, probably not.

The whole thing seems to be run by Capita PLC. What could possibly go wrong?

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 03:59 PM

That's sounds extremely complicated to me. We're definitely not having a Smart Meter!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 04:07 PM

Talking of 'apps', we went to make a Western Union money transfer a while back, and the chap in their little bureau said his computer was down. I thought he said, "You need a nap!" and I agreed, saying yes, I was feeling rather tired. He doubled up laughing and tried to explain what an 'app' is, but we decided to press on to another WU bureau and made the transfer successfully there.
Then we went home and I had an app!

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 06:03 AM

Thanks David - I learn something new every day :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 11:03 AM

I'm definitely not getting one then.. thanks mudcat mates...

..and from our point of view where is the potential for songs about smart meters..???

We need good old fashioned door to door srvice workers for real inspiration...

"Good morning missus, I've come to read your meter... ooer... etc.."

Where would the likes of George Formby fit into this dull high tech digital world...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 12:34 PM

"I'm leaning on my laptop..."

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 12:49 PM

".. in an internet cafe
In case a certain transgender comes by"...

Sen easily wins mudcat post of the week...!!!

imho...

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Oct 18 - 08:12 AM

I got a letter this week telling me they were going to fit a metre soon! So I rang and asked which version of the metre and it turned out to be the old version.

Autocracy and mendacity. They always went hand in had! I had to know to ask. It seems the only advantages are to the utility. We could check our usage with it, as if the average hedonist is that nerdy!

I told them not to bother till V2 comes out.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: DaveRo
Date: 29 Oct 18 - 02:34 PM

The SMETS1 end date has been put back until 5 December 2018: Ref.

Subject: RE: Tech: EDF Smart Meter - pros & cons...???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 06:23 PM

wanna look inside a smart meter...???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32NYQpvy8Q&t=33s

Big Clive's youtube disassembly video...


"bigclivedotcom
Published on Oct 26, 2018

A look at the insides of a modern smart meter with wireless modem.
This meter was found amongst a pile of fly-tipped building materials.
The company named on it was contacted but failed to respond, so that means we can take it to bits.
I've covered the serial number as I usually do with shady things, to avoid the wrath of angry midgets.
While I'm inside I also investigate the conspiracy theories about:-
Government spy microphones. (Like Alexa for instance.)
Chemtrail brain control chemicals.
Spy cameras.
Brain irradiating 5G death waves.
The ability of the meter to be programmed to read apparent power and apply peak demand pricing."