Utilities and smart meters

[meriad]

I've just received an email to say that they're increasing my gas / electricity direct debit by £10 a month. Now I know I have a few things that are running 24/7 but I'm really not home all that much and didn't think I use all that much to warrant the increase; it's going up to £80 per month

A friend this weekend mentioned that they've just had a smart meter installed and her electricity bill apparently has gone down quite a bit. Admittedly, I'm not quite sure how or why given they'd charged on a meter reading, but I was just wondering whether that's something I should be looking into.

Has anyone here moved onto a smart meter and found it makes a difference?

[saundra]

I don't have a smart meter so I can't help but what does annoy me is when these companies can just increase your DD as if they are doing you a favour

[JoM]

We haven't got one but I think one of the theories is that you can keep an eye on exactly what you're using and how much it's costing so I suppose you can then cut back on usage if it's running high and you're able to, of course. They send an accurate meter reading in too I think so it cuts out estimated bills.

That seems like a big monthly increase Ria, and in fact you're paying a lot full stop. You're out all day and are in a flat. There's usually someone in here, we're in a three-storey house with 12 rooms (plus the hall, two flights of stairs and two large landings) and are paying a combined amount of just over £60.

[meriad]

I also sometimes feel like I'm paying a lot Jo... the things that are on 24/7 are

Fridge Freezer
Freezer
Aquarium pump and heater
pond pump and UV filter
bedside alarm clock
cat water fountain
DAB radio
outside security light but it uses low energy bulb
the oven is connected so it displays the time but I don't use it much

So besides the first two items none should be drawing a huge amount of electricity. When I'm home I switch on a string of LED lights in the bathroom (it's an internal bathroom so no window)

But that's about it for electricity

hmmmmm

[saundra]

Have you tried a price comparison site like USwitch I really wanted to go to OVO but at the time they only did DD which I won't use for anything I'm with Scottish power now

[Gal]

Npower tried to increase my DD to £128 from £80 recently!! I took my own meter readings and they must have recalculated and worked it out differently so now I am paying £81 a month!

I have this issue every summer with them, they increase my payments to what THEY think I will use over the next 12 months, I soon put them right.

They emailed me to say they were installing smart meters nationally, but I'm not a fan. I don't especially want to see the money going round thank you! I'll just try to remember to read the meters monthly and send them my own readings.

I have a three bed detached house, I don't think I pay too much tbh, not sure what others pay - am I paying over the odds? Been with npower years, if they don't like what I pay, I phone them and we come to an agreement. Seems to work ok.

[saundra]

Think they all try to charge what they like and can get away with to be honest I was with n power for years but they never sent bills out on time it's a mine field really

[lissie]

We have just had a Smart Meter installed and it was explained by the fitter that you never have estimated bills again and you can keep an eye
on what it using most power and gas.
A tracker is plugged in and shows consumption all the time of both gas and electric.
At the moment it seems to cost about £1 a day and the dearest thing is the electric oven.
I really don`t understand it properly but he said the information goes direct to your provider.
So far it has made me more careful about using the washing machine--i now make sure it is full
up whereas before i would do a wash as and when i needed.

[meriad]

I'm tempted to go for it - I'm bad at remembering to take readings and submitting them so purely from that point it may be a good thing.

Saundra - I'll also have a look at the comparison websites; I've got time to do so at the moment so may as well make the most of it

[saundra]

I never have to send a meter reading in with Scottish power
My biggest problem is leaving my main pc on standby when I hardly use it but I also charge my kindle every night