OT: OVO pricing

Nothing like dinner at midnight! Great for the digestion!

No sign in my online Severn Trent account that the billing section realises that the shovel section fitted one here about 6 months ago.

Well, you are asking for two entirely separate departments within an organisation to communicate with each other. It's like the news item today that the guy who was released earlier this year for being in prison for 38 years when he wasn't guilty is still trying to get through the paperwork to get his compensation. See also: Horizon postmasters. The Blob rules.

Most, if not all, washing machines have a delay start function. In this household the washing is timed to come on at 5/6am so that the cycle is finished when its light enough to put it out on the line to dry, assuming that it's not raining :)

Yes, but that does not allow for the extra rinse cycle to be started. I get over the rain problem by using a dryer. The guy in the flat bought a combination laundry/dryer, he says it's great. Before, there was a horrid hanging powered heated tent that filled the flat with condensation. Now it just goes down the plug-hole. I'm happy with what I have.

How much discount do these night-time tariffs give?

Aside from the ability to pick from wider variety of suppliers and tariffs, there's also the in-house display, showing real time consumption of electricity, and (usually) half hourly gas.

Knowing what you're using /might/ affect your patterns of consumption.

Bosch say that the "easy care" 40C cycle on my machine uses 0.70 kWH which is less than 20p, so what's the point?

Don't knock it until you've tried it. SOP in this house.

I don't how you washing machine works but on mine the extra rinse adds about 10 to 15 minutes to wash cycle and is automatic when selected. Wash, spin while emptying water, first rinse, empty plus spin, second rinse, empty plus long spin

Probably not worth it for just the washing machine. I'm on a tracker tariff so washing can be done when the electricity price is predicted to be lower. For those with an EV or whole house battery the EV tariffs etc. could have 75% discount (off peak) and it doesn't matter how you use the electricity.

This may not suit your circumstances but is just an example of how some tariffs can cut you electricity bill if you have all electric heating, an EV or invest in a battery to charge a cheap rates to use when electricity is more expensive. They all require a smart meter. Note: these newer tariff are not like economy 7 of the past, which these days are not that price competitive.

If people are convinced that they don't need a smart meter then it's their choice but it may prevent them getting the more competitive tariffs in the market place if they change suppliers. Competition from suppliers to gain the customers they prefer has been hotting up recently but the better (cheaper) tariffs seem to require a working smart meter and direct debit payment.

Why would using a 'smart' meter give me a wider choice of suppliers?

When Octopus installed the 'smart' meters at the flat, they couldn't get the IHD to work.

I thought some suppliers required a smart meter - I could be wrong. It's happened before ;-)

Yes, if it's out of range for example it might not work.

So if you don't want access to different tariffs, and it is impossible to fit an IHD in your situation, I can't see how a smart meter would benefit you.

It might be of benefit to the supplier/grid in general, in that they can establish patterns of use for example. But I don't think that matters to you.

Mine too (a low-mid Bosch). Sounds as though the OP's doesn't have that facility.

The amazing thing is that the distance between the electric meter and the IHD is only a few feet.

At last, somebody understands why I can't see the benefit to me!

Correct.

It can delay its start time, but it can't then start a new separate rinse cycle on its own. Nor can it move the laundry to the dryer without manual intervention.

Foil backed insulation board between the meter and the IHD? That was enough to block the signal in my old house. In this new place it (just) works 2 floors (so 6m) up.

No. The meter is in a cupboard under the stairs, which contains several other 'smart' meters. The room is one floor above, and about 10 feet horizontally away. There is one wall between the cupboard and the meter location. Most strange. The building was constructed in about

It sometimes takes a few days to kick in, but I assume it hasn't happened..

Whilst you can't see the data in realtime there are ways to see it. Most use mobile apps so you will need to share your data ....

Unless they change their usage [pattern, the same amount of electricity is going to be used smart meter or not.

And the cost of buying it will be the same, So there should be no penalty for not owning one

The only advcantage is that they don't have to read the meter. But they get you to do that anyway,. EDF or eastern power have nor read my meter in about 15 years,.