Smart Meter Installed!

Thanks for that, I am being chased to have a smart meter fitted, perhaps I should succumb :-)

Who is your supplier?

British Gas!

Hmm…

Defer washing machine and dishwasher to 11am on Sunday. Could get 3 washes and two dishwashes done in that time, at 1kWh each, totalling 5kWh.

Total saving 0.5x5x28p=70p for a totally ruined Sunday clearing the piles of saved-up dirty dishes and heaps of laundry.

Frankly, I’d pay the 70p not to be arsed around by an electricity meter.

You do know that your tariff doesn’t have to change just because you have a smart meter? You can stay on the same old tariff that you’re used to.

If though, your circumstances change in the future, you’ll be in a much better position to change to a smart tariff quickly.

Tim

Generally, having a 'smart' meter installed would open up several lower tariffs than were otherwise available without, certainly with British Gas. The only reason I am having 'smart' meters installed is to access these lower tariffs. I don't propose to change my habits. Also, I'm changing supplier.

I charge my EV in the overnight discount time. I think I save the best part of £1000 in a year by doing so. Sometimes the dishwasher is set off the too, but only if its relevant.

Was it working before he left, or did you have to trust that it would start working later?

Quite so, I estimate I will save £10 per quarter due to Peak Save, this without really changing the useage pattern.

That's alone is worth it to me.

I could change to a fixed tariff and still retain the Peak Save option.

It was working when he left but took about 24 hours to be fully functional.

Probably the worst. Be prepared for massive bills and visits from debt collectors.

Why? They have been my supplier for over 2 years now, since my previous supplier went bust, without any problems.

The Smart meter installer and I checked the old meter final readings and then before removal I took a time and date stamped photo of those readings.

Do you have personal experience of such problems or is it just hearsay?

Just watch your bank account when you quit them. Any contract exit fee correctly or INCORRECTLY applied will NOT appear on your final bill. If you pay by DD they will take the outstanding amount on the bill but then take another amount for the exit fee(s). In my case very many years ago when I quit BG it should have been without an exit fee as my contract was finished. They however took the exit fee for both electricity and gas but didn't bother to inform me. I only found out by looking at my bank statement. I did get the money back after I complained.

Yes I am aware of that possibility by as I am not in CONTRACT with them there should be no exit fee anyway but thanks for the heads up.

I don't like the idea, as (when enough households have them), they are likely to make electricity much more expensive at peak times (just when you want to cook, wash, etc.) and put the cost of non-smart tariffs up to force people onto smart ones.

However, we do have smart meters, purely as we have an EV and charging overnight at a quarter of the normal cost is a big benefit.