Smart meters again -Eon

The very knowledgeable folk at EDF told me that the latest meters now are able to be used by all energy companies, but the older ones were not. Not only that but apparently they are easy to hack into as well, no doubt designed a long time ago, so I guess whatever happens all those early smart meters are going to end up on the scrap heap in favour off the new improved all singing ones, till the next problems surface.. Cynic, me? Brian

Brian Gaff (Sofa 2) expressed precisely :

Eon and others have several times that they don't replace the meters, they will just update the software. Whether they can do that in the field or not, they didn't say, but I would not have thought so - it would be easier for them to just run and exchange scheme.

My meters were fitted by eon, originally they were on the "will be upgraded" list, but now it seems they're no longer on the list.

Andy Burns formulated the question :

I'm thinking that once the SM's are installed, working as SM's or not, they have fulfilled the governments need to have them fitted.

The old meters cannot have their problems fixed as its part hardware and part firmware according to EDF. I'm glad now I have waited till now. I think mine is pencilled in for next Spring. I just hope the units are not interference causing devices that is all. Should be simple as I only have the electricity and will need the talking remote unit. I'd rather like a system where I can control it with alexa though, but they said not yet. Brian

Brian Gaff (Sofa 2) wrote on 28/11/2019 :

I would rather like ones where I could optionally tap into their data via my LAN.

Won't that enable the energy company to have access to your network?

Max Demian brought next idea :

No reason why it should..

I'm not aware of any smart meter that provides for network consumer access to data. I think there's too much worry the risk (or at least the perception of risk) to think of wifi access. Even the Netherlands only mandates a physical port (115200 baud ) - though of course that's streets ahead of what we get here as it offers second by second data.

Would you give a random person your Wi-Fi password?

Would you know how to secure the hard drives of connected PCs?

Do you spend all your spare time moving accounts back and forth between various banks and building societies too ?.

That's a good reason NOT to have a smart meter.

In message <qro7ss$sep$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, Harry Bloomfield <?.?@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk.invalid> writes

If forced to have one, I'd be happy with one that I could read automatically. Surely not beyond the wit of the engineers to allow it transmit, and for the customer to be able to read the data stream. As it is, I can see it being a case of sticking a webcam in front of the display unit, and then carrying out some form of OCR on the image, I suppose at least that way there is an air gap.

Adrian

Andrew wrote on 28/11/2019 :

Heads ought to roll for the money wasted, I agree.

Did they really not expect customers would wish to change suppliers? They work fine, if you stay put, but the whole system falls apart as soon as you move.

Andrew brought next idea :

When there is a worthwhile advantage to a move, yes!

Harry Bloomfield, Esq. expressed precisely :

I also swap telecoms providers, insurance providers too, when it worthwhile and usually its very worth my while.

They use ZigBee to the IHD, and it is possible to get Consumer Access Devices (CAD) that tap into the data feed. The main issue currently is certification - to interface with the smart meter kit, for security a device needs to be certified by the network operator and enabled by the supplier. Some are, for instance:

All the old style Smart Meters will be fitted in order to meet the meter replacement targets! Waiting this long to get a Smart Meter is no guarantee that one of the new style will be fitted!

Soon it will be time for all those meters with batteries to start failing to be smart!

What is there to control? For you a talking display unit would be beneficial but I'll bet like most people it is totally ignored once the novelty has worn off.