Smart or not?
Introduction of predictably obsolete technology gets rubbished by the UK’s ‘Queen of the Select Committees‘. What a waste of money.
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Billpayers will be forced to foot the cost of upgrading seven million smart meters which will become obsolete in less than 10 years, the spending watchdog has warned. — The Telegraph reporting.
In a damning report highlighting a number of failures in the smart meter roll out, the Public Accounts Committee said seven million smart meters would need to be replaced before the 2G and 3G networks they use are switched off in 2033.
It warned that the financial burden of replacing the redundant smart meter hubs will be ultimately borne by energy bill payers and could be “very significant”, exceeding previous estimates.
The report went on to say that demand for the smart devices, designed to help consumers monitor their energy use and cut bills, had dried up.
It said many customers were turning against the devices over fears they allow suppliers to remotely switch them to more expensive prepayment plans.
Smart meters were also said to be most likely to benefit rich, old men who own their own houses, the report said, while low-income renters are at risk of being “left behind” because blocks of flats pose a headache for installers to fit the devices.
It comes as the net zero scheme, which aims for 80pc of homes to have a smart meter by 2025, lags far behind official targets, with millions of the smart devices not working properly.
Ministers are also facing growing questions about its purported money-saving benefits to households, with Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the committee, saying the evidence of whether smart meters in fact benefited consumers was “unclear”.
She said: “Smart meters have serious reputational obstacles to overcome with the public. Our inquiry has found that consumers’ enthusiasm for adopting one has been understandably harmed by recent shocking reports of forced installations.”
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Some three million smart meters in the UK are already “dumb” and do not report accurate usage to consumers, the report said.
It revealed that smart meter displays, which allow customers to view their daily usage, are only guaranteed to work for a year and suppliers are under no obligation to replace them if they break after that time.
Full report here.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
Oh but but but … the public ENJOY having things which NEED ( sarc – hence the bold ) upgrades and of course another loss with the repurposing of the purchased lands for HS2, it seems. Plenty da manee. I bet many feathered friends have good nests out of all that.
And BTW O/T but we had a new Scottish off-shore windfarm being commissioned last week: How’s it doing? Tumbling-down Creak or? Demand is up quite a bit this now but wind output ? Waiting for the mist to clear and see what’s not to be seen in places. Our Donald may be having a good laugh then.
Would still love to know how a smart meter can save you money, when the things that are switched on are on for a purpose and would be on even if I had a smart meter (which I don’t – simply ignoring my supplier’s occasional ‘invitation’ to have one fitted).
Some power deals/offers etc. are only available to smart meter users e.g. time of use discounts (subsidised by the ‘refusers’).
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Homes stuck with millions of faulty smart meters in botched net zero rollout
Nearly one in ten smart energy meters are not working properly, report reveals
14 June 2023
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Suppliers told the NAO that they are finding it increasingly difficult to persuade customers to accept smart meters and that they had already plucked all the “low hanging fruit” of households who are willing to install the meters.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/homes-stuck-with-3m-faulty-smart-meters/
A bit like EVs, the willing go for it (or get pushed) while the rest stand back and wait for the inevitable problems to show up.
Well, Oldbrew, what are you telling us? should we succumb to the blackmail? I have not, and I do not take kindly to the idea either – they are “Disrespecting me” … but who do I punch in the face ,etc etc as seems to happen nowadays in response to being disrespected ? ( I hate that phrase )
Sorry, I updated my comment before seeing any replies 🙂
Don’t get mad, get even – keep ignoring their empty pleas, demands etc. [computer says blah blah…]
ilma630 says: ‘Would still love to know how a smart meter can save you money’
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At least you can be outraged by the cost at the time of use, instead of waiting for the bill.
If they can’t get the relatively simple matter of replacing meters right – hardly a technically challenging task – how are they going to cope with the vastly more complex task of rolling out umpteen million heat pumps?
Reddit – Air Source Heat Pump Theft
PollyTing says:
I have had mine for 3 years and unfortunately it hasn’t been stolen.
What happens when the 2G wireless connect fails?
Does the power still flow? In which case can the supplier charge you what he thinks you used?
Big thing about BT and its LAND lines shifting from copper, and isn’t 2G being killed off too? https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/policy/2g-and-3g-switch-off
So is THAT the reason for upgrading the meters? I thought they use d the powerline for transmission anyway – so no need for “any G” ?
saighdear, I seem to remember that the 2G and 3G were necessary to allow switching of individual meters whereas the power line link allowed the switching of a large group of meters.
The concept of ‘smart’ meters was an attempt to allow net zero power generation from the unreliable W&S when they should have been building new nuclear and CCGT power stations but the mess is because of the climate change fear of a trace gas in the atmosphere that is necessary for all life on earth.
The scheme started with a lie – that meters are free – was justified with a lie- that “they” would save you money, when in fact you had to monitor the meter closely and turn things on and off to save money – and then was pushed via blackmail – the lowest tariffs required a smart meter. Green tech at its finest.
Government and tech. A recipe for disaster.
What happens when the 2G wireless connect fails?
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It’s up to the power supplier to provide a working meter.
…. and when the ball’s in their court ? ….. aaah! Peace at last 😉
[one way of getting a better phone signal after 2G]
Can anyone provide a link to the report (I’ve tried just can’t find it) with reference to who and where it states “Smart meters were also said to be most likely to benefit rich, old men who own their own houses, the report said”. If I can get that both sexist and ageist remark verified I intend to take action against the authors. It is completely unacceptable language and intend to use their own “wokeness” against them.
Ray S – I think it stems from the PAC report.
See Conclusion 2 where it says: ‘If consumers are older, male, on high incomes, or homeowners then they are more likely to have smart meters.’
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/41730/documents/206773/default/
Hi oldbrew, just discussed this with my wife who remarked “how do you define “rich”, “old” and even ” man? Is the last one a person without a cervix?!
Thanks for the link.
‘Older’ may mean older than the Committee 😎
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Zerohedge says: The entire energy transition to renewables is cracking and never was sustainable.
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/lights-out-solar-power-stocks-crash-after-demand-warning-across-europe