Smart Electricity meters - Should I want one

[Terry Fields]

Wish I did, but that would mean keeping a searchable record of all news items I read, and I don't know anyone that does that.

This describes the approximate equivalent in the US:

"Deposit insurance systems insure each depositor up to a certain amount, so that depositors' savings are protected even if the bank fails. This removes the incentive to withdraw one's deposits simply because others are withdrawing theirs.[1] However, depositors may still be motivated by fears they may lack immediate access to deposits during a bank reorganization.[6] To avoid such fears triggering a run, the U.S. FDIC keeps its takeover operations secret, and re-opens branches under new ownership on the next business day.[21] Government deposit insurance programs can be ineffective if the government itself is perceived to be running short of cash.[20]"

The secrecy to which I referred might not relate to a failing bank per se, but the BoE/government's actions in preventing said bank collapsing. In any case, it stops the queues of wrinkies because they don't know their bank is going under.

Anyone know any different?

[John Rumm]

And how many of them will support remote upgrades one wonders?

[Gazz]

what's wrong with a couple of 6 inch nails, rubber gloves and a jump lead if/when they do a remote disconnect? :)

[dom]

The hackers will get rich offering "remote re-connect".

[Dave Liquorice]

Bit obvious when they come and read ... oh smart meter no need to physically read it so they won't be sending a meter reader round as that is expensive.

Currently isn't there a statutory requirement on the suppliers to physically read the meter at least every six months? Wonder if that will change if you have a smart meter and if it does how long before they "voluntarily" start "reading" smart meters so they can spot such obvious thefts...

[Andy Burns]

Not so much as a whisper from either gas or elec meter readers since mine were fitted 15 months ago.

A few weeks before that that they'd played the "we need to do a safety inspection" card after I let too many estimates happen in succession, they turned up on the agreed date, I asked are you here to do a safety inspection, he said "no mate, I'm just here to read the meter" ... ok probably they have a cursory safety glance at every meter they read.

[fred]

I think it's every 2 years although I have seen that slip when met with, "you can read it at 8am on the NNth, after that I will be out of the country for 6mths", guess what, no visit and no more reminders.

[harryagain]

So it was you responsible for them going bust?

[John Rumm]

Same here... I have a friend who had quite a large amount trapped in there for a while - took many months to get it back.

[SteveW]

It is every two years and they're strict about it, getting pushy as it approaches ... until they fail to turn up for the appointment they've made with you and you've taken time off work for, when suddenly, they magically don't need to see it!

SteveW