'cos it's easier to look at the smart meter in the kitchen than climbing over the bench in the garage to look at a steam meter..

To me a, "steam meter" conjures the image of the pressure gauges on steam engines, either full sized or the model ones built by various members of my extended family starting with my later grandfather. An uncle has just gotten the one he built running again after many years.- a 1/4 scale model steam roller that he used to use on his lawn.

Why did you guys ever accept a smart meter?

'cos it's easier to look at the smart meter in the kitchen than climbing over the bench in the garage to look at a steam meter..

This debate isn't helped by poor Government terminology.

A 'meter' measures things - no more, no less. The thing in your kitchen isn't doing that: it's a short-range radio receiver, a calculator, and a display panel. All of those functions require raw materials to manufacture, and extra energy to run. And in what way are they 'smart'?

My energy supplier wanted to push me onto the program. So I rang them up and asked them what degree of smartness was included in the metering systems currently being installed? Could they, for example, communicate with switching systems which would turn individual appliances on and off, perhaps at particular price points at different times of day?

No, they can't.

Any 'smartness' remains with users, reading and acting on the information displayed. I declined their offer, and I'm reading my own meters monthly and sending the readings to their website.

One plus of the smart meter and its app, I caught secret micro use of gas by my central heating system. It was pre-heating tap water so that when I asked for warm water, it would come earlier.
I'd seen that before, as when I went on vacation, it would daily use 0.25 cubic meters of gas. No one home.

So I thought I turned that off, but this central heating apparatus then has a secret mode that still pre-heats some water once a day, showing on the app as using 0.02 to 0.09 cubic meters of gas on days I didn't use warm water at all. It took a service mechanic to shut that off, and since that time the app shows me on the days I don't use warm water: 0 cubic meters of gas used. Glory!

Same here, but why monthly, I do it when they ask, every 6 months. Also I just never responded to any smart meter requests. I throw the mail in the bin and block all text and phone numbers calling about it. [checks phone] FIFTY TWO calls blocked from that number now. Why are they so keen? There has to be something dodgy going on for them to be that pushy.

My particular band of spivs and hucksters likes to have them monthly. Why the pressure? Because it's a Government scheme, and the Government pay them a bonus for shifting some quota of meters.

No space on meter tail, that has one for the gadget to divert extra generation above what I am using into immersion and another that the installer said I had to have to limit the amount I put back onto grid as they say you are not allowed to export more than I think 3.8KW and I have a total of 5.2 on the roof.

"Smart meters" only came in after the current bunch of misfits gained power. Certainly the widespread use of them is much more recent.

The thing in your kitchen isn't doing that: it's a short-range radio receiver, a calculator, and a display panel. All of those functions require raw materials to manufacture, and extra energy to run. And in what way are they 'smart'?

Colour me dumb, but I've wondered about that. Are they mains powered or battery operated?
Either way, additional costs.

You again fail to comprehend what others post.
I KNOW THAT.
The question was: ARE the "gadgets" one have in their home to "monitor" usage mains or battery powered?
Got it now?

ROFPMSL.