Are Eon sneakily installing Nazi smart meters?

[biffvernon]

But electricity supplies have always had remote switch offs - they've just been whole substation areas at a time.

[RenewableCandy]

I've just checked my new meter. It is reading 48KWh after 7 days.

About 60% higher than I expected - and we weren't even at home for two days

I am going to check it again after another two days away.

Either they've given you a random number generator, or else accidentally wired you up together with your street-lighting (this has been known to happen!).

[woodpecker]

One hot topic of discussion among computer security people on the topic of smart meters is how vulnerable any resultant smart network would be to outside interference. How easy it would be for external forces to completely shut down power supply across large areas.

[adam2]

One hot topic of discussion among computer security people on the topic of smart meters is how vulnerable any resultant smart network would be to outside interference. How easy it would be for external forces to completely shut down power supply across large areas.

No chance with the meters proposed since they do not have a remote cutting of facilty.
Hackers might attack the system, but could only interfere with the billing system and produce improbably large or small bills.
This would have to be handled by estimating the use, as is done now in case of meter failure.

There is some risk of cyber attack on the grid due use of the internet to control substations etc. Cause for concern perhaps, but not due to smart meters.

[woodpecker]

Exactly. That was 'smart network'.

[adam2]

Some consider the grid to be at risk of attack, see here
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... ber+attack

This is however not due to the proposed adoption of smart meters, it refers to possible vulnerabilities in existing systems,

[RenewableCandy]

Apparently one has no right to prevent the installation of such things...except, one can always "be out"

[SleeperService]

Just had my meter changed by two contractors from PowerGen. Old one was making a horrendous buzzing noise. The new meter is tiny with a built in isolator switch so I don't need to call them out if the house is rewired etc

The interesting bit was that they have to be changed by law every so often to ensure they stay within an acceptable error range. The new ones need changing much sooner than the old ones!!! Progress?

Smart meters apparently know how much you've used and WHEN. This means the price goes up if demand is high( or profits need a boost) and drops when demand is less. I'll believe that last bit when I see it. What's next? A big display with the current (pardon the pun) price in every home?

As things stand remote planned disconnection isn't possible or legal on an individual basis without court papers. Area blackouts are another matter.

[monster]

Vortex - my suggestion is switch supplier to Ecotricity

[clv101]

A big display with the current (pardon the pun) price in every home?

You haven't got one yet? We've had ours a couple years, it's great!

[rue_d_etropal]

I know pre-paid cards/meters are not popular, mainly because they cost more, but given we tend to pay for a lot of other things, including fuel in advance of using it then maybe this might be a idea to help people use less power. Obviously have to be some safeguards to stop people dying in fires caused by candles etc, but it might focus people minds to realise how much it is actually costing them, rathe than making it look all nice and cozy by spreading cost over the year, and the energy suppliers sneeking in price increaes when it suits them.

[SleeperService]

A big display with the current (pardon the pun) price in every home?

You haven't got one yet? We've had ours a couple years, it's great!

I didn't even know they existed until I saw your post God, I've a lot to learn...

[Pepperman]

No chance with the meters proposed since they do not have a remote cutting of facilty.

Are you sure about that? British Gas seems to suggest that they do:

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/SmartMe ... harter.pdf

And it features as an option in the smart meter spec and Ofgem has the following to say:

2.44. At present, when suppliers are looking to disconnect a property for unpaid charges they typically carry out a site visit prior to disconnection and a site visit at the point of disconnection. With smart metering, site visits will no longer be needed for operational reasons to physically disconnect supply. While the site visit at the point of disconnection is only one of a series of checks that suppliers carry out, it remains an important backstop opportunity to identify vulnerability.

2.58. The new functionality of smart meters enables suppliers to offer new approaches to disconnection for unpaid charges. The government has specified that the smart metering system must support load limiting (also known as „trickle disconnection‟ where the customer is able to use limited levels of electricity to cover basic needs such as lighting and the fridge/freezer). Smart metering also makes credit limiting (also known
as „managed credit‟ where customers are automatically cut off if they owe more than a pre-determined amount) an option. In addition, the facility for remote disconnection and reconnection allows time limited disconnection. Some of these approaches could also be used for PPM customers as an alternative when credit runs out (and when the customer currently self disconnects).

I'm in favour of smart meters although I think it's been badly managed and I'd be interested to know whether the financial savings which the energy companies will achieve have been adequately factored into the charges to the householder (if they have at all).

[energy-village]

No one has changed my meter these last 10 years. Perhaps I've been forgotten.

[Little John]

I know pre-paid cards/meters are not popular, mainly because they cost more, but given we tend to pay for a lot of other things, including fuel in advance of using it then maybe this might be a idea to help people use less power. Obviously have to be some safeguards to stop people dying in fires caused by candles etc, but it might focus people minds to realise how much it is actually costing them, rathe than making it look all nice and cozy by spreading cost over the year, and the energy suppliers sneeking in price increases when it suits them.

We have prepayment card meters on both gas and electric. It wasn't by choice as they were already installed in the house when we bought it. However, 4 months in and I find I like them. A lot.