The national roll out of smart meters is getting nearer and many people have already had the opportunity to have a meter installed – they’re getting on really well and saving money!
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Regular readers may remember that in October last year I gave some tips on how to cut down on your energy bill and, as part of that post, I talked aboutsmart meters and the national rollout taking place between now and 2020.
Smart meters are going to be offered to all of us over the next few years so I thought I would share some more information on this new technology. Plus research has recently beencarried outby Populus on behalf of Smart Energy GBwhichshows how people who have already upgraded really feel about smart meters.
What are smart meters?
Smart meters are just like your normal gas and electricity meters except that they transmit your actual meter readings directly to your supplier allowing them to prepare an accurate bill. The smart meter display that comes with the meter upgrade shows you in near real-time how much energy you are using and how much it’s costing in pounds and pence.
No more estimated bills, no need for me to submit meter readings and no more unexpected visitors asking to read the meter (and still making the odd miscalculation!)
Do people like them?
Yes! Those who have already upgraded to a smart meter are more satisfied with their energy supplier, the accuracy of their bills and control they feel when compared to those still using the old analogue technology.
Over 10,000 people across the country were surveyed and it is overwhelmingly clear that people feel more in control of the energy they use and are saving money by using the smart meter display to monitor and reduce their consumption.
Here are some of the key facts from the survey:
More than half (52 per cent) of people with a smart meter say their new meter is helping them save money.
Eight in ten (80 per cent) of people with a smart meter have taken at least one step to reduce how much energy they use.
Eight in ten (79 per cent) of people with a smart meter would recommend them to others.
85 per cent of those using smart meters say they have a better understanding of what they are spending on energy.
People using smart meters are more confident in the accuracy of their bills (81 per cent) when compared to those with traditional meters (64 per cent).
Three quarters of people with smart meters (75 per cent) say that they understand their energy bills, while just 61 per cent of people using traditional meters said the same.
Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of people with a smart meter say that they have the information they need to choose the right energy tariff, far higher than those with traditional meters (57 per cent).
Does having smart meter fitted save me money?
The smart meter itself doesn’t automatically save you money, but seeing your energy in real time and in financial terms, should nudge you along to stop wasting energy.
Think how many times you have boiled a kettle only to walk away and then re-boil it a few minutes later when you remember, or left a light on in a room thinking that it’s cheaper to leave on rather than switch it off when you leave? It all adds up in the end when the bill pops through from your supplier.
As a very visible reminder that using energy costs money, smart meters can help us all to be more energy conscious – and that can’t be a bad thing.
Where can I get one?
Smart meters come at no extracost to you, so your supplier will not make any charge for the device when they come to install it.
Between now and 2020, every home andmicrobusinessin England, Scotland and Wales will be offered the chance to upgrade to a smart meter. Your energy supplier will get in touch with you when they are installing in your area, but you can pre-empt this by registering your interest.
Visit your energy supplier’s website or give them a call and you might be able to upgrade sooner rather than later.
Do you already have a smart meter? I don’t have one yet but am really looking forward to getting mine.
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You'll have to be proactive to reduce your energy costs. The best way to do this is to use the digital 'in-home' display (IHD) that you'll be offered with a smart meter to keep track of how much energy you're using. You can then try to reduce it.
So, you may have problems getting one fitted. This doesn't mean all homes want them. Many people have refused over concerns about the amount of insight this gives energy suppliers. There have also been concerns around smart meters being targeted by hackers.
It will send your consumption information to your utility every 15 minutes to one hour and eliminates the need for a meter reader. In addition to reporting your energy usage, the smart meter can inform the utility immediately if there's a power outage in your area (like Texas smart meters, for example).
Most smart energy systems are designed to do three things: help you save money on electricity costs, optimize your solar panels' output and provide you with a visual of your home's energy consumption. But you'll need an electrical panel upgrade.
It uses a very small amount of energy and costs between 70p and £1 a year to run. In fact, smart meters usually save you money. This is because they can inspire changes to your household habits that leads to a reduction in energy consumption.
Prepayment, sometimes called pay as you go, lets you pay for your energy in small amounts. If you have a smart meter, your supplier can switch your meter from paying by credit to prepayment remotely. If you have an old-style credit meter, you can swap it for a smart meter in prepayment mode.
The chief concern of smart meter critics, besides the cost, is the potential privacy concerns that come with a household's data being transmitted to a supplier. Although smart meters send meter readings to your energy supplier, they do not store your name, address or bank details.
If you do end up with a smart meter and you really don't want one, your only option is to request your supplier puts it into 'dumb mode'. This means it won't have any 'smart' functionality and will work as a traditional meter does.
Smart meters use an entirely separate, bespoke wireless system. You don't need Wi-Fi in your home for it to work and it won't use your Wi-Fi if you have it. Your smart meter and in-home display communicate via a secure national network which is solely for smart meters.
If you get a smart meter, it will be just as accurate as the meter it's replacing. If you believe that there's a fault with your smart meter you can report it to your energy supplier in the same way you would with a traditional meter.
With your smart meter in-home display, the energy usage of any household appliance can be measured. As long as that appliance is connected to your gas or electricity supply. Always make sure to keep note of what your usage is before you turn on the appliance you're checking.
So, do smart meters save money? Just having a smart meter installed doesn't automatically save you money. But having a smart meter can help you take action to save money. The IHD keeps you informed of how much energy you're using, so you can use it to help you save energy, and reduce your energy bills.
In other words, how well did consumers like their electricity plan and how happy were they with how much it cost them. SmartEnergy is reviewed 27th among all of our providers with an average score of 1.00 out of 5.00. The average plans & pricing review is 1.76 out of 5.00.
There is no additional charge for upgrading your meter. Like other meter upgrades, the cost is included in your existing charges for use of the electricity network.
If you use the information shown on your smart meter in-home display to reduce your energy use, you could reduce your energy costs. Smart meters also mean accurate bills as they bring an end to estimates, so you can be confident that you're only paying for what you've actually used.
Smart meters will only reflect the electricity you've actually used. By providing you with greater access to accurate information on your energy usage, you will have greater control over your energy consumption.
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