Join for free
Page 16 of 36 « First < 6 14 15 16 17 18 26 > Last »
JBR's Avatar
JBR
Chatterbox
JBR is offline
Cheshire, UK
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 32,785
JBR is male  JBR has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-10-2017, 12:37 PM
151

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by shropshiregirl ->
The other morning there was a knock on my front door. When I opened it there was a man standing there from my electricity supplier (Scottish Power) asking questions about my meter. He asked if I was on a payment meter for our electricity. I told him that it was a payment meter that had been here already when we moved in years ago and I decided to keep it, buy £30/£40 of electricity a week and feed it rather than receive a large bill. (I know, I pay more this way but I still prefer it).

Anyway, this obnoxious man then informed me that I would have to go onto a Smart Meter! Before he could continue I informed him that "No I don't", Smart Meters being installed are voluntary, not compulsory and there is no way in heaven that I am having one installed thank you".
His reply: "Madam, It is compulsory, the Government are rolling this out throughout the country and you will have to have a Smart Meter installed". I then said: "What utter crap! is this what you are telling all householders? if so, you ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself!, it is voluntary, not compulsory". He replied: Madam, I'm not going to argue with you, you will have to have a Smart Meter installed" and then he walked off.

Since then I have been plagued by telephone calls and texts from them. I have blocked most of the numbers but they really are a pain.

I think it is disgusting these obnoxious salespeople calling at homes, are lying to householders about having to have Smart Meters installed.
That is disgusting.

I believe that he is guilty of false representation and you should certainly make a formal complaint to his company. Ideally, I would have asked him for his name for that reason, but nevertheless, it should be quite possible for his bosses to trace his identity from time and place details.

Mentioning it to the media wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Bruce's Avatar
Bruce
Chatterbox
Bruce is offline
Wollongong, Australia
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 15,218
Bruce is male  Bruce has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-10-2017, 01:46 PM
152

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by Realist ->
You're still spouting theory not reality. The reality is people DO NOT CHANGE THEIR ENERGY USAGE HABITS as a result of having a Smart Meter. The evidence is out there. The studies have been done.

Thus no-one is going to save money from Smart Meters and in reality the vast majority will see a MASSIVE INCREASE in their bills for exactly the same energy usage.
Calm down, all this excitement can't be good for you.

You have given no facts to back up your claims, they are obviously made up - these are FACTS from a report compiled for the World Energy Council which summarised:

Smart bills can be a cost-efficient and effective way to engage an entire customer base, promote energy efficiency and foster conservation behavior. In the case studies reviewed as part of this report, smart bills were responsible for reducing household electricity consumption by between 1.1% and 2.7% and gas consumption by between 2.2% and 2.8% while at the same time proving cost-effective compared to other feedback and energy efficiency programs;
This report studied smart meter results in:
Case Study: USA - California
Case study: Republic of Ireland
Case study: Sweden
Case study: Australia - Victoria
Case study: UAE - Abu dhabi
Case study: Chile
Case study: South Africa
Case study: PRC - Hong Kong

It didn't look at the UK possibly because with usual British flair you will stuff up the roll out of such meters with the Luddites being put in charge. The report warns that the roll out needs to be effectively managed otherwise costs outweigh the benefits. "Effective Management" is not really something you associate with the UK is it?
Ffosse's Avatar
Ffosse
Chatterbox
Ffosse is offline
Edinburgh
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,043
Ffosse is male  Ffosse has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
28-10-2017, 02:26 PM
153

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by shropshiregirl ->
The other morning there was a knock on my front door. When I opened it there was a man standing there from my electricity supplier (Scottish Power) asking questions about my meter. He asked if I was on a payment meter for our electricity. I told him that it was a payment meter that had been here already when we moved in years ago and I decided to keep it, buy £30/£40 of electricity a week and feed it rather than receive a large bill. (I know, I pay more this way but I still prefer it).

Anyway, this obnoxious man then informed me that I would have to go onto a Smart Meter! Before he could continue I informed him that "No I don't", Smart Meters being installed are voluntary, not compulsory and there is no way in heaven that I am having one installed thank you".
His reply: "Madam, It is compulsory, the Government are rolling this out throughout the country and you will have to have a Smart Meter installed". I then said: "What utter crap! is this what you are telling all householders? if so, you ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself!, it is voluntary, not compulsory". He replied: Madam, I'm not going to argue with you, you will have to have a Smart Meter installed" and then he walked off.

Since then I have been plagued by telephone calls and texts from them. I have blocked most of the numbers but they really are a pain.

I think it is disgusting these obnoxious salespeople calling at homes, are lying to householders about having to have Smart Meters installed.
I would switch away from Scottish Power - greedy and arrogant bar stewards.
Moscow
Senior Member
Moscow is offline
Scotland
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,928
Moscow is male  Moscow has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
06-12-2017, 09:36 PM
154

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by Bruce ->
Calm down, all this excitement can't be good for you.

It didn't look at the UK possibly because with usual British flair you will stuff up the roll out of such meters with the Luddites being put in charge. The report warns that the roll out needs to be effectively managed otherwise costs outweigh the benefits. "Effective Management" is not really something you associate with the UK is it?
Brucie-no mates making a c**k of himself, as usual!

Scottish Power texted me about 6 times asking to discuss installing a Smart Meter and I texted No the first 3 times and ignored the text the next 3 times .
Then they phoned me in person and I told the salesman that if he was Smart he would've worked out by now that I wasn't interested .

I think that did the trick as I've not heard from them since which is good because I don't want an intrusive, radiation emitting, fire hazard installed in my house, thank you!
JBR's Avatar
JBR
Chatterbox
JBR is offline
Cheshire, UK
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 32,785
JBR is male  JBR has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
07-12-2017, 01:21 PM
155

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by Moscow ->
Brucie-no mates making a c**k of himself, as usual!

Scottish Power texted me about 6 times asking to discuss installing a Smart Meter and I texted No the first 3 times and ignored the text the next 3 times .
Then they phoned me in person and I told the salesman that if he was Smart he would've worked out by now that I wasn't interested .

I think that did the trick as I've not heard from them since which is good because I don't want an intrusive, radiation emitting, fire hazard installed in my house, thank you!
They can mither me 'til the cows come home if they want.

We are not obliged to accept smart meters and they may not install one without our acceptance.
galty's Avatar
galty
Chatterbox
galty is offline
rainham essex
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,080
galty is male  galty has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
07-12-2017, 05:29 PM
156

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by JBR ->
They can mither me 'til the cows come home if they want.

We are not obliged to accept smart meters and they may not install one without our acceptance.
The Gov has told the power supplies to get their customers to have these meters installed by 2020 in all houses.

Think in 2021 they will be laws will be enacted to have them installed.


Bye the Bye to you luddits I had one put in last year and its no different either way, you just don't have some person knocking on my door...YOU still have to pay.
Mr Magoo's Avatar
Mr Magoo
Senior Member
Mr Magoo is offline
London
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,400
Mr Magoo is male  Mr Magoo has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
07-12-2017, 07:11 PM
157

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

I’ve just found this very interesting thread. I’ve also refused to have a Smart Meter installed. What originally alerted me was the frequent advertisements about them. That convinced me that this is a good deal for the companies and therefore no doubt a bad deal for me. I had my first phone call a few days and had my message already prepared…
Realist
Chatterbox
Realist is offline
UK
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9,184
Realist is male  Realist has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
08-12-2017, 12:51 AM
158

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by galty ->
The Gov has told the power supplies to get their customers to have these meters installed by 2020 in all houses.
Yeah about that. It needs qualifying. It in no way means that smart meters are mandatory. Absolutely NO-ONE needs to accept a smart meter.

Here's the clear statement on the British Gas site:

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and...art-meter.html

"The Government requires suppliers to roll out smart meters as standard to homes and small businesses across Britain by 2020 but there is no legal obligation on individuals to have one. At British Gas we’re committed to upgrading all our customers by taking steps to reach everyone.

What if I don’t want smart meters?

Just let us know about it. If one of our customers informs us that they’re opposed to having smart meters installed, we’ll simply take them off our roll-out list."

Worth noting also that British Gas were running a "Charter" which was hugely misleading and implied that smart meters would be compulsory. Complaints were made to OffGen who agreed that BG were being misleading.

And if anyone was at all in any doubt about whether they have to have a smart meter, this clear statement from OffGen is all they need to read. Categorically NO, NO-ONE HAS TO HAVE A SMART METER.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/h...rs-your-rights

Originally Posted by galty ->
Bye the Bye to you luddits I had one put in last year and its no different either way, you just don't have some person knocking on my door...YOU still have to pay.
I'm sorry you had one put in Galty, sincerely. Whilst you may not see the difference just yet (because we are still in the roll-out period) you WILL ultimately see the changes and I'm afraid they are not going to be good.

Smart Meters are really about one thing and one thing only.

That is, TIME RELATED BILLING

i.e. There ARE going to be different charging rates for energy used at different times of the day.

Currently you just get charged for the total number of energy units used each quarter. Doesn't matter if you switched your kettle on at 1:00am, 1:00pm or any other time.

With Time Related Billing all this is going to change. The day will be divided into time zones and there will be different charging rates for the energy you use in each zone.

Can we guess which time zones will be the most expensive ones? Of course.

The "peak" time zone will be the hours from around 5pm to midnight, the time when most people come home from work, put the kettle on, cook dinner, watch TV and so on.

Where you currently use say X number of units each evening, you will suddenly be charged 2 or 3 times the amount for those same X units in that peak period.

It will almost not matter at all what energy you use at different times of the day because the amount you will be stung for in that peak time zone will vastly outweigh all the rest of your energy usage.

Your energy bills will, in this way, double or triple over time.

This is why smart meters are being rolled out. They enable the energy companies (and all related capitalist cronies) to earn literally £billions more in revenues from unfortunate customers, whilst at the same time they reduce the company's overheads (no need for meter readings etc).

There is nothing, literally nothing for you the hapless customer here. You'll get a device strapped to your house irradiating you and your family 24x7, you'll have energy companies tracking all of your energy usage (and they know what type of devices you are using from the signals) and will generate a profile of your usage. You'll have hugely inflated bills.

Worst of all, YOU will have no idea whatsoever whether your smart meter is recording things correctly or not. It's no longer a case of just looking at a number on the meter box. It's about units used at every different minute of the day.

They could bill you absolutely anything, and even if it seemed high to you, you wouldn't be able to contest it.

Customers will lose £billions, energy companies will make £billions.

Like I said, I'm sincerely sorry you fell for the scam.

There's no going back to an old meter I'm afraid.
Realist
Chatterbox
Realist is offline
UK
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9,184
Realist is male  Realist has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
08-12-2017, 12:58 AM
159

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Article here about the failings of smart meters, incorrect bills etc

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...h-study-finds/

And more horror stories about colossal bills:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39169313
galty's Avatar
galty
Chatterbox
galty is offline
rainham essex
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,080
galty is male  galty has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
08-12-2017, 07:14 AM
160

Re: Energy: SMART Meters

Originally Posted by Realist ->
Yeah about that. It needs qualifying. It in no way means that smart meters are mandatory. Absolutely NO-ONE needs to accept a smart meter.

Here's the clear statement on the British Gas site:

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and...art-meter.html

"The Government requires suppliers to roll out smart meters as standard to homes and small businesses across Britain by 2020 but there is no legal obligation on individuals to have one. At British Gas we’re committed to upgrading all our customers by taking steps to reach everyone.

What if I don’t want smart meters?

Just let us know about it. If one of our customers informs us that they’re opposed to having smart meters installed, we’ll simply take them off our roll-out list."

Worth noting also that British Gas were running a "Charter" which was hugely misleading and implied that smart meters would be compulsory. Complaints were made to OffGen who agreed that BG were being misleading.

And if anyone was at all in any doubt about whether they have to have a smart meter, this clear statement from OffGen is all they need to read. Categorically NO, NO-ONE HAS TO HAVE A SMART METER.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/h...rs-your-rights



I'm sorry you had one put in Galty, sincerely. Whilst you may not see the difference just yet (because we are still in the roll-out period) you WILL ultimately see the changes and I'm afraid they are not going to be good.

Smart Meters are really about one thing and one thing only.

That is, TIME RELATED BILLING

i.e. There ARE going to be different charging rates for energy used at different times of the day.

Currently you just get charged for the total number of energy units used each quarter. Doesn't matter if you switched your kettle on at 1:00am, 1:00pm or any other time.

With Time Related Billing all this is going to change. The day will be divided into time zones and there will be different charging rates for the energy you use in each zone.

Can we guess which time zones will be the most expensive ones? Of course.

The "peak" time zone will be the hours from around 5pm to midnight, the time when most people come home from work, put the kettle on, cook dinner, watch TV and so on.

Where you currently use say X number of units each evening, you will suddenly be charged 2 or 3 times the amount for those same X units in that peak period.

It will almost not matter at all what energy you use at different times of the day because the amount you will be stung for in that peak time zone will vastly outweigh all the rest of your energy usage.

Your energy bills will, in this way, double or triple over time.

This is why smart meters are being rolled out. They enable the energy companies (and all related capitalist cronies) to earn literally £billions more in revenues from unfortunate customers, whilst at the same time they reduce the company's overheads (no need for meter readings etc).

There is nothing, literally nothing for you the hapless customer here. You'll get a device strapped to your house irradiating you and your family 24x7, you'll have energy companies tracking all of your energy usage (and they know what type of devices you are using from the signals) and will generate a profile of your usage. You'll have hugely inflated bills.

Worst of all, YOU will have no idea whatsoever whether your smart meter is recording things correctly or not. It's no longer a case of just looking at a number on the meter box. It's about units used at every different minute of the day.

They could bill you absolutely anything, and even if it seemed high to you, you wouldn't be able to contest it.

Customers will lose £billions, energy companies will make £billions.

Like I said, I'm sincerely sorry you fell for the scam.

There's no going back to an old meter I'm afraid.
IF you are going to quote my post then quote all of it.

Very important to do that.

The last part of your post shows that you are mentaly unbalanced.

How the hell are smart meters going to cost us Billions.
 
Page 16 of 36 « First < 6 14 15 16 17 18 26 > Last »

Thread Tools


© Copyright 2009, Over50sForum   Contact Us | Over 50s Forum! | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top

Powered by vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.