They talked about smart meters on the news this morning. They mentioned the bit about them being tied to a company so when you switch they become ‘dumb’ again. the person pushing smart meters, he ignored that point.If you are going to switch - make sure it's to a second gen Smart Meter. Lots of companies are only offering the original version which is then pretty much tied to the company that supplied it. Second gen links to a national network which means that any supplier to take over receiving the data.
Surge pricing. Price can change every 30 minutes, if you opt in.Don't get one, the energy firms will have you by the short and curlies.
There is a hidden agenda’ which is time-of-day pricing. You will all be moaning when you find that you are paying a lot more for your gas and electric when you get up in the morning, when you come home from work and at weekends.
Surge pricing. Price can change every 30 minutes, if you opt in.
Paying for a costly product in a way that is linked to the cost? Paying for an environmentally damaging product in a way that is linked to the extent of environmental damage? Pray tell me, why is that a bad thing?Don't get one, the energy firms will have you by the short and curlies.
There is a hidden agenda’ which is time-of-day pricing. You will all be moaning when you find that you are paying a lot more for your gas and electric when you get up in the morning, when you come home from work and at weekends.
Three price rises this year for their customers. Possibly another before the year end.So make sure you get a good, ethical supplier. Bulb seem to be pretty good so far, with honest pricing and purchasing energy from renewable sources. I'm impressed with them. I think more people are going to move away from the big companies, due to this sort of behaviour.
Three price rises this year for their customers. Possibly another before the year end.
Sold in its first year.
Paying for a costly product in a way that is linked to the cost? Paying for an environmentally damaging product in a way that is linked to the extent of environmental damage? Pray tell me, why is that a bad thing?
The average thinking person can reduce their consumption (the research evidence shows that providing even thinking people with data on their consumption triggers further reductions, and it did for me, but i’m happy to credit you with being more rigorous and rational than me). They can’t do so in response to real time factors. There is cloud covering Devon and Cornwall, so solar generation is reduced, but it will clear in an hour or two’s time, so could I delay running my washing machine or charging my electric car please? Not without smart meters.It's not a bad thing per se. But as aforementioned, it's unreliable, prone to obsolescence when changing providers, and gives power companies the ability to change pricing on the fly to maximise their profit opportunities, and that may be at odds with environmental protection.
The technology is immature and open to commercial abuse. Once the technology is proven, once there is an industry standard data format and protocol, and once there is legislation to properly govern how the suppliers use the live data, then I'll be elbowing my way to the front of the queue. Until then, I'll minimise my consumption without their help, which is quite feasible for any thinking person.
...now trying to fund operating expenses by putting up direct debits so customers are paying in advance.
I'd not expect the amount taken via Direct Debit to match what was used.Not really true. All price rises have been communicated in advance, and all customers can leave at any time without penalty. The direct debits are based on the cost of energy. Mine are pretty exact on what I've used and actually are usually slightly under rather than over - my account is usually in debit rather than credit. When they roll out SMETS2 Smart Meters then the direct debits will be for exactly what has been used. They are on a pilot at the moment but deliberately did not roll out SMETS1 Meters.
Not really true. All price rises have been communicated in advance, and all customers can leave at any time without penalty. The direct debits are based on the cost of energy. Mine are pretty exact on what I've used and actually are usually slightly under rather than over - my account is usually in debit rather than credit. When they roll out SMETS2 Smart Meters then the direct debits will be for exactly what has been used. They are on a pilot at the moment but deliberately did not roll out SMETS1 Meters.