It's important that the consumer makes their voice heard regarding Smart Meters, otherwise we might all get shafted by the Power Companies. 
SEE: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/13/smart_meters_not_so_smart/page2.html
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kevinwilson
Pro - Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 11:05:31
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Munzly
- http://poppycock.blog.co.uk/
- Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 11:36:08
But can it be read remotely? And do you get a readout inside the house?
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Munzly
- http://poppycock.blog.co.uk/
- Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 20:58:04
For some reason people keep assuming the article is about water meters - it's not it's about Electricity and gas meters!
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kevinwilson
Pro
- Thursday, 14. May, 2009 @ 10:22:25
yes, i know...
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Munzly
- http://poppycock.blog.co.uk/
- Thursday, 14. May, 2009 @ 10:50:36
I was hoping to engender some revolutionary anger from people. Are we all just going to roll over and play dead as our freedoms are eroded?
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Middleagedbloke
Pro - Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 14:25:48
Great article Munzly, thanks for bringing it to our attention.
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menhir
- Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 20:11:26
As usual, there is so much bumph, I saw three PDF's to select and a research project to complete. How can anyone make an informed judgement with so much garbage thrown at you. In addition, so much scientific knowledge is required together with a need to know more about production and commercial confidences, to make assessments. It is enough to turn off people. Such public consultations are not truly democratic because they are beyond the comprehension of a vast majority.
Smart meters are dubious. I had two for my gas use. The first one, a radio signal device on the 'pig' (tank) miserably failed and we were left without sufficient fuel in the coldest snap. Why did it fail, because the tanker driver only had enough gas to deliver less than half of what was required for the period. He was supposed to notify his depot admin about this. He left me a note. The system at their end registered we had half a tank at a point when less was expected to register, our priority was therefore reduced. The inevitable occurred.
A new smart meter was installed on the tank using our phone link, this time. It didn't fail in the 18 months we continued to use gas.
We had no direct costs with these meters, but of course, we paid the going rate for the fuel, plus quarterly service charge, which increased by about £1.50. I assume the water use will register in much the same way as our gas did, and the consumer will be charged accordingly.
There are already the means to register utility usage apart from water, unless people have voluntarily installed meters, inherited them or moved into houses with them built in. My thoughts dwell on how the data will be interpreted and what the information will be used for, apart from pricing, which will be the end point, no doubt.
I agree that more must be done to deal with old infrastructure (it will cost a fortune) and that pumping stations must be seen to put their own houses in order.-
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Munzly
- http://poppycock.blog.co.uk/
- Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 20:56:17
I would point out that the main theme of the article is Smart ELECTRICITY and GAS metering, not water metering or for oil tanks.
The point is that the consumer may find themselves with less control over the way they are billed for POWER and the tariff used, unless they make their voice heard.-
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menhir
- Wednesday, 13. May, 2009 @ 21:42:06
I did have gas, I said that in my reply, but probably it is not the kind of gas these articles or surveys refer to.
I now have a different fuel, which is cost effective for us and we have a 'talking meter' but again, that isn't covered in this consultation. We don't live urban life with direct fuel piping for all fuels.
Our electricity is already metered in the usual way. My comments on the efficiency of fuel supply stations (and water plants for that matter, as there is already a drive for metering there)were relevant.
I need to know more in a manner which I can understand. So, will a lot of other people. I did hear a feature about this on the radio and I am no further on. -
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i'm already on a water meter.
so far, so good.