Smart Meter question

[Viktoria]

Thanks Stan,wonder how effective that willi be?
Viktoria.

[LizzieW]

The Government, or Civil Service is well known for "gold plating" EU directives. Other EU countries not so much, including France

 

[GrahamH]

The Government, or Civil Service is well known for "gold plating" EU directives. Other EU countries not so much, including France. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22277927

Stan

Typical of so much that came out of New Labour. Working in IT I used to cringe every time Blair said "we'll have a database" (or words to that effect) because he patently didn't understand what he was talking about. NPfIT was, perhaps, the biggest disaster before "smart" meters.

[a chesters]

Here in Sydney, our power meters are located on the outside of the house, and read every quarter, by a meter reader who goes to each house to read the meter/s.

Being the old curmudgeon that I am, I refuse to use direct debits for any of that sort of thing for the reason that they can "adjust" what they take out of your account, without your permission. I pay by cash, as it is non traceable

In January this year, we got a letter, old style, from the power company, stating that our meters were due for maintenance or replacement.

I rang to find out what the go was, and was told that as the meters were "old" (agreed, as they were here when we moved in in 1971!) they would probably need replacing. I asked would they be "smart meters" , and was told they would be "like for like", but probably digital, not analog.

I was also told that I was not on a "plan" which would require a smart meter.

As I understand it, the Victorian government is forcing the replacement of dumb meters with "smart" meters, but NSW has not been that stupid, (yet)

AC

[Wiggy]

As I understand it, the Victorian government is forcing the replacement of dumb meters with "smart" meters, but NSW has not been that stupid, (yet)

Correct - I have a smart meter and it hasn't made any difference to my bill so far - and I watch it like a hawk and ring them up if there seems to be a discrepancy. 

[GrahamH]

I refuse to use direct debits for any of that sort of thing for the reason that they can "adjust" what they take out of your account, without your permission.

Strange. That can not happen in the UK. Businesses can only vary DD amounts if the customer has previously agreed to them doing so.

[Jebber]

I refuse to use direct debits for any of that sort of thing for the reason that they can "adjust" what they take out of your account, without your permission.

Strange. That can not happen in the UK. Businesses can only vary DD amounts if the customer has previously agreed to them doing so.

They have to give you fourteen days  notice of any change.

[PaulineJ]

On a quarterly plan, paid by DD, your payment is variable.
On a monthly DD, it's fixed (unless you agree to any change(s))

Both are available in the UK, monthly is more usual, simply to spread payments over the year

[GrahamH]

On a quarterly plan, paid by DD, your payment is variable.
On a monthly DD, it's fixed (unless you agree to any change(s))

Both are available in the UK, monthly is more usual, simply to spread payments over the year

Both are what the customer has previously agreed.