has anyone got a smart meter

No problem with mine which I have for both gas and electricity. I persuaded my supplier to only bill me for what I use each month. They weren’t keen to do this, claiming that I’d face large amounts to pay in Winter. I retorted that at my age I am well able to manage my finances to budget for the heavier costs incurred in colder months.

I refused to have a smart meter. I really don’t need one to tell me how much energy I’m using. I’m very careful about what I use, as I have to be, and I don’t have a problem taking a minute out of my day every so often to read the very accessible meter.
It’s just another big brother as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve had one for years,too. They just put them in, didn’t ask. It was free.

my cost did go up a little but so convenient that I do not have to read or leave my gate open. My water meter has just gone smart too.

One of the advantages is that I get off-peak discounts, and by running my dishwasher and washing machine overnight using the built in delay switches, I saved £10 last month. It does show what the p per unit is currently and I vacuum and iron when the number goes down (Mostly Saturday). I par-boil the dinner spuds before 5 because the display showed me the unit rate goes up between 5 and 6.

The disadvantage is that I do these things where before I did not even think about this, and I do have better things to occupy my mind.

Had nothing but problems and Octopus have been useless. Ended up at the ombudsman, still not resolved. As soon as this is sorted we are switching supplier

what would happen then If they said your meter was out of date but you didn't have a mobile signal and couldn't install a smart meter

We applied for one when they first approached us about it. Stayed in for them to come and install, the guy turned up, and realised that we had a very slow internet connection and no mobile signal, so he couldn't fit it.

We've since moved house, but our internet signal regularly drops out, so I'm not sure it's worth trying again.

I got the same message about being out of date almost two years ago. I had to cancel the appointment because my HA decided to do some work at the same time. Then other things including my health got in the way. Octopus have not contacted me since. My sister decided to have o smart meter fitted about 6 months ago and she has been very happy with it. I will get round to it eventually.

Pably15 Just like so many others I was worried about changing but now don’t give it a thought. I have a water meter too.

We've had one for years with not problems. Would hate to go back to the old metering system.

Never had a problem and yes had one for years. I live by myself, so save a lot of money by have my usage metered.

When we moved here 6 years ago we tried to get a smart meter but they said we needed wiring sorted luckily below ground and they'd have to come back. They did quite quickly. The meter was obsolete so had new fitted. At first I used to keep checking but it been in a cupboard for 5 years now. So much more convenient than scrabbling around trying to take a reading

jenpax

We have a smart electric meter and its no problem! I can access the readings away from home via the app and adjust or amend my payment levels. Sadly (for some technical reason I didnt understand) British Gas were unable to swap the gas meter which is very annoying

Like you I have smart meter for electricity but they were unable to fix it up for the gas meter for some mysterious reason. Every month I have to take a gas reading and submit it online.

Just ignore it...more bully boy tactics to get there own way

Had one since 2009 for both electricity and gas. No problems at all. Only look at it near the date direct debit is due to be taken. No idea why I do this, just a habit suppose from when it was first installed.

I’ve had one for years never had any issues with bills or anything else.

We have a smart electric meter and its no problem! I can access the readings away from home via the app and adjust or amend my payment levels. Sadly (for some technical reason I didnt understand) British Gas were unable to swap the gas meter which is very annoying

Yes I have - I don’t bother to read it, I suppose I should. .They gave me a little screen thing, so I could keep a track of my usage. I couldn’t understand all the numbers on it.
I told them, I dumped it and suggested they send someone to read my meter regularly.

Thanks for the clarification M0nica

We've had them for some years, you can get special deals from some electricity suppliers such as Octopus with free power for a couple of hours at the weekend.
But for me the main bonus is that nobody needs to read your meter, so you don't have estimated bills.
I don't actually use the little "consumer" screen that you plug in to see how much power you are actually using at that moment or during that day, I don't think that it's worth the trouble.

I’ve had one for a few years, no problems. Saves having to read meters. Can’t say it’s saved me any money though.

I was 'persuaded' into booking for the replacement.
I told the service man that I really didn't want it. He told me I was NOT obliged to have one and went away. He told me that the companies are paid £1000 by government for each one they install, hence the bullying tone of the emails I got! Amazing if true.

MrsSquirrel

It's only true of the older first generation smart meters that you are trapped with the current supplier. The newer ones are fine with any supplier.

There was a smart meter here when we moved in and they fitted a new one last year. I changed suppliers recently without any problem. I could see all our usage on the new supplier's app by the second day.

Even with the 1st generation smart meter you were not tied to that supplier. The meter simply ceased to be a smart meter.. We had a first generation smart meter and changed supplier and that is what happened, we simply read the meter and sent the reading to our new supplier.

I succumbed to pressure recently and got one. Means I don't have to read the meter anymore and I get reduced charges on Sundays. I wont have the digital display thingy showing usage, minute by minute though, that would drive me up the wall

I’ve had a smart meter for years - when I changed to Octopus 5/6 years the meter was compatible. I did have a problem which was easily resolved, and I think, even from this thread that the good tales outweigh the bad (sorry MD).
The display gizmo is still in its box and I use the Octopus App and have built up a decent credit for the Winter months. I’ve found Octopus very flexible in changing my monthly payment or returning a credit if wanted. I’d rather pay a set DD, than send in monthly readings and risk a nasty surprise.