I’m one of those refuseniks. I even blocked the number used by the contractor as I became pissed off by the repeated phone calls.
Energy suppliers are calling for powers to force households into having a smart meter installed if their traditional device breaks down.
Because asking us didn’t work and they won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
Firms have fallen behind strict installation goals, as the Government aims to have smart meters in 80 per cent of homes by the end of 2025.
Not in mine, you ain’t. Okay, there may come a time when I have no choice when the old one has to be renewed, but I’ll hang out until the bitter end.
In March, it stepped down from its original target of installing the devices in all households.
Oh dear. See also those ridiculous heat pumps. Over my dead body. I’ll use politicians for fuel before I have one of those contraptions.
This is the third time the deadline has been extended after it pushed back plans to meet this target by 2020 then 2024.
But energy suppliers have warned that they have now exhausted the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of households who want to use the devices, making it difficult to meet this deadline, according to a report today from the National Audit Office (NAO).
Tough shit. ‘What part of my house, my rules’ do you not get?
Consumer rights expert Martyn James says that allowing energy suppliers to force households to install smart meters when traditional ones break would be a ‘terrible idea’ as he fears suppliers would misuse the power.
Well, duh. Of course they will.
‘Given that during the initial smart meter roll out the energy companies made such a mess of it with meters that didn’t work and extremely aggressive tactics to get people to sign up, I’m not convinced that they can be trusted,’ he says.
They can’t. Hence my previous statement. I refuse. I intend to continue refusing.
If smart meters benefitted the consumer they would not need to have targets or underhand tricks or need to suggest compulsion; they’d be flying off the shelves.
Absolutely. The same applies to everything that the government tries to push using subsidies, bribery or coercion. Smart meters, wind and solar power, electric cars, heat pumps, you name it. All shit products that don’t stand on their own merits.
Is it correct that if I am with supplier A and they fit a smart meter then if I wish to switch to supplier B then a new smart meter may be needed? Or has this problem been solved?
I’ve always assumed that it was the smart meters that led to the blackouts of some of the houses in my street. (My meter is about 70 years old.)
I only noticed because my neighbour came knocking on my back door and asked if he could hook up sufficient power to keep his fridges going.
About four years ago I was getting regular mails and letters trying to force a stupid meter on me. The last of these stated that my current meter was not safe and needed immediate replacement.
So I called and said, fine arrange a date then but I want a “dumb” replacement as “smart” was not compulsory.
I didn’t hear from them again, but now they are having another go. This time, it not unsafe, but is no longer verifiable, i.e. they are claiming it may no longer be accurate (it’s about 35 years old now, but old style eddy current meters last forever).
I shall continue ignoring them, but if they start getting more insistent, I’ll again insist on a dumb replacement.
I’m not sure if they might have changed the law and can force these things on people. It’s something I need to look into.
It may be that one will eventually be forced on me but I’ll hold out as long as I can.
No need to hold out – let them fit the smart meter. Then as soon as they have gone, enclose said meter in a faraday cage. As long as its not touching the meter they can’t do sod all about it. If the meter is in a cupboard, simply lining the cupboard on all sides with tin foil will suffice. Just make sure there are no gaps or holes. Conductive paint can also be used.
My supplier used to send emails on a regular basis saying they’d call on X day to install one. I was never in so no idea if they called. They eventually stopped though and I’ve not heard from them since. TV licensing are more persistent with their letters but no sign of any of their salesmen on the doorstep as yet.
The word ‘smart’ when used by the Government to push something is a clear red warning signal, see smart motorways. I seem to have been refusing a smart meter for years now: the endless efforts to set up an appointment get a bit tedious but there is mild amusement to be had from their feebleness.
It’s not the meter as such. That is just a monitoring device. Even the variable tariffs don’t really bother me (bit like milk floats really. The enthusiasts will be whining the loudest when it starts to affect them. Too late then morons!) I will just use the electricity I need, when I need and fuck the bill.
It’s the control, the ability to switch power off to people, which is my base objection. This is what is being denied (actually not even being mentioned), which is, of course, a strong indication of it being the real intent.
Variable tariffs they can argue (not arguments I would accept of course) but turning power off for a grid that is better and more flexible than dinosaur, planet killer poison power?
I don’t know when or where they will try this first (but bound to be some genteel white, middle class locale) but it will be fascinating to watch the excuses and reactions when they do.
As I say, I will resist as long as I can.
Eon have a solution to this. When I started I was told I wouldn’t be forced on to a *cough* SMART meter. My meter broke down a few weeks ago and they won’t install a replacement. Seems they are out of stock and have no plans to replace them so it is a SMART meter. As it takes 8 weeks to move to OFGEM I’m waiting for that.
Yet another cut. I’ve several thousand now.
SMART is another weasel word. There doesn’t appear to be anything SMART about them and like honest politician and good cop they are few and far between.
I used one of two replies. Either “I rent the property and the lease states I can’t have a smart meter”, or “A regular visitor has a pacemaker and the microwaves used in a smart meter could kill them. If that happened, would they take reponsibility?”. Result is I no longer receive phone calls or emails.
I moved into a rental apartment a year ago and found that it has a PAYG meter which required me to go to the nearest PO to top up the credit. When I found that I could have a PAYG smart meter I had one fitted and can now top it up using my phone, much more convenient. I’m not worried about them using the smart meter to cut me off because if they really want to the meter cupboard with the main fuse is outside my front door.