Smart meters yes or no?

[Generator]

I'm with the NO's! The few 'yeses' seem a bit naive to me ( or just not bothered ). Smart Meters are monitoring gone mad - why do the suppliers need that much information - unless variable tariffs are the hidden agenda, plus of course 'computerised automatic load shedding'. As plant margins on the grid get smaller (saving them money) power cuts get ever nearer. Power cuts shed governments, but I don't suppose they've cottoned on yet - it'll happen when they've retired - they think! The suppliers only need one reading a quarter for billing - so why one every quarter of an hour? - think on!
As for security, well, even the banks get hacked - so once your habits are hacked, it's a burglar's paradise!
Think I'll stick to the OWL !

 

[chrisdungan]

Dope growers that don't bypass the meter?? That's very nice of them...

They often bypass the meter, the retailer can look back at usage over several months( years) and even with the old meters get a fairly accurate picture of useage. Then co-relate that to changes in tenancy and get a pretty accurate plot of when the meter was bypassed. The "best" bypass I've seen was done by a line mechanic who stripped back the line and load insulation and twisted a bit of 16mm round the conductors giving a high resistance bypass which allowed the meter to turn a bit and thereby giving a meter advance each month but giving them mostly free power. The meter box was mounted on a hollow wall and the bypass was up inside the hollow section. My sense of humour was tested as I had been poking around with my hand up inside the hollow section to try to find the "fault".

 

[Spoon]

They often bypass the meter, the retailer can look back at usage over several months( years) and even with the old meters get a fairly accurate picture of useage. Then co-relate that to changes in tenancy and get a pretty accurate plot of when the meter was bypassed. The "best" bypass I've seen was done by a line mechanic who stripped back the line and load insulation and twisted a bit of 16mm round the conductors giving a high resistance bypass which allowed the meter to turn a bit and thereby giving a meter advance each month but giving them mostly free power. The meter box was mounted on a hollow wall and the bypass was up inside the hollow section. My sense of humour was tested as I had been poking around with my hand up inside the hollow section to try to find the "fault".

What I was getting at is, these people are not dumb. The standard house electrics would still go through the meter but the illegal stuff will bypass it. That way everything looks ok.

 

[graysonlad]

With out a doubt the public are not being told the all the facts about swapping to smart meters.
As commented on already one of the problems is data collection from consumer locations. Some time ago I foolishly fell for the installation of smart meters at three remote sites in the false belief that I would be able, either by computer or a phone call to the power supplier, to obtain up to the minute figures on consumption and thus my coatings. Nothing was further than the truth. In the first instant, data collection was by a third party. Data being sent via a Simms card to any one of three data processing contractors. At a time convenient to the data handler , this was then eventually made available to the power supplier and later to myself. Now I accept the situation described is different to a domestic user. However I believe that there is much to be done in collecting data and the use of that by others.
Another problem is what of those consumers who have installed solar panels? My understanding is that smart meter technology can't differeniate between any solar panel generated electricity and mains supplied. Because of this there is always going to be a discrepancy between the true amount of electricity consumed against the amount generated.

 

[mydigitalhome]

No, no, no don’t do it total rip off. Until they make the meter open to all suppliers leave them alone.

 

[Spoon]

No, no, no don’t do it total rip off. Until they make the meter open to all suppliers leave them alone.

Are they not open to all suppliers??? How come???

 

[FatAlan]

I’d quite like a smart meter that has a modern display showing usage but with no remote connection to any corporate rip off exploitation merchant.
Same reason I’ve thought for a nano second about putting smart wiring control systems in my house and decided that I have enough trouble keeping track of the TV remotes and am more than happy with traditional switches so will stick to old fashioned tried and tested.
The only issue is that is if everyone else wants them I should be learning about how to install them.

 

[chrisdungan]

With out a doubt the public are not being told the all the facts about swapping to smart meters.
As commented on already one of the problems is data collection from consumer locations. Some time ago I foolishly fell for the installation of smart meters at three remote sites in the false belief that I would be able, either by computer or a phone call to the power supplier, to obtain up to the minute figures on consumption and thus my coatings. Nothing was further than the truth. In the first instant, data collection was by a third party. Data being sent via a Simms card to any one of three data processing contractors. At a time convenient to the data handler , this was then eventually made available to the power supplier and later to myself. Now I accept the situation described is different to a domestic user. However I believe that there is much to be done in collecting data and the use of that by others.
Another problem is what of those consumers who have installed solar panels? My understanding is that smart meter technology can't differeniate between any solar panel generated electricity and mains supplied. Because of this there is always going to be a discrepancy between the true amount of electricity consumed against the amount generated.

They just need to change the smart meter to one that differentiates between import and export. easy peasy.
I'm a Kiwi electrical inspector who does inspections of PV (high risk inspection required in NZ) the retailer just gets a meter installer to swap the meter, either a dumb meter or a regular smart to an import/export smart.
Another point around smart meters is related to Electric Vehicles.
Your average EV fast charger is single phase with a loading in excess of 30 amps. There is discussion here that the retailers will use smart meters to control system load by having different time of day rates to shift EV charging to later in the evening into the off peak times

 

[Dunc N]

Been an electrician for around 10 years and always get asked about my view on smart meters. Which every time I’m asked I say that I’m unsure on the whole matter....

Recently moved house and in the middle of renovating it. Just had a letter through about changing over to smart meters for Gas & Electric

What are people’s thoughts on them?

 

[Dunc N]

Avoid like the plague.

 

[snowhead]

Are they not open to all suppliers??? How come???

Some of the early ones weren't suppliers had their own software.
But the "2nd Gen" being fitted now are, supposedly, as there's a common standard.

I know someone who changed suppliers while they were on an early Smart meter and the new supplier could remotely read the meter.
He changed again to SPARKS, a week last Friday, the same day Sparks ceased trading.
OVO have now taken over SPARKS accounts.

 

[snowhead]

Are they not open to all suppliers??? How come???

Some of the early ones weren't.
But the "2nd Gen" being fitted now are, supposedly.

I know someone who changed suppliers while they were on an early Smart meter and the new supplier could remotely read the meter.
He changed to another supplier and they had to fit a 2nd Gen as they couldn't get access to the original.
He changed again to SPARKS, a week last Friday, the same day Sparks ceased trading.
OVO have now taken over SPARKS accounts.

 

[DC-backfrom the past]

I'm with the NO's! The few 'yeses' seem a bit naive to me ( or just not bothered ). Smart Meters are monitoring gone mad - why do the suppliers need that much information - unless variable tariffs are the hidden agenda, plus of course 'computerised automatic load shedding'. As plant margins on the grid get smaller (saving them money) power cuts get ever nearer. Power cuts shed governments, but I don't suppose they've cottoned on yet - it'll happen when they've retired - they think! The suppliers only need one reading a quarter for billing - so why one every quarter of an hour? - think on!
As for security, well, even the banks get hacked - so once your habits are hacked, it's a burglar's paradise!
Think I'll stick to the OWL !

I'm don't think I'm naïve and cant say I'm
not bothered ..
nobody has explained what a hacker could do to my smart meter? apart from stop it working …
go faster or slower ?
re burglars
they break into houses with people inside , albeit usually sleeping .I have a house alarm and cctv as well. so they are welcome to try and then the hell hound ,I have, can have a go as well
they will no doubt move onto other houses nearby that don't have any security.

re monitoring they get what you consume in energy and maybe if someone is that interested in you, then they could see when.


a question for all you that fear smart meters. do you have a mobile phone .. that tracks and sends more info about you than any other device.
also the mic can be switched to live and your conversations can be heard. it gives your location away . need I go on?

don't fear the smart meter the mobile is your enemy lol