On 25/12/2018 10:30, mm0fmf wrote:
On 25/12/2018 01:31, Michael Chare wrote:

Smart meters clearly cost more to make and they have quite high
operating costs because of their use of mobile networks.

It's a good idea poorly implemented. Smart meters use GSM networks to
communicate back to the providers. That's great apart from the fact that
the mobile network providers (in the UK) wish to switch of their old GSM
(2G) networks and move everyone to 3G/4G. They are forced to pay
spectrum access fees and are run for profit hence they want the
government to pay if they have to maintain GSM networks against their
business wishes.

Someone will pay and it wont be the mobile network and it wont be the
government.

The single overriding reason not to have a Smart Meter is the remote
switch off feature. The energy companies have shown they are incapable
of running accurate billing systems in so many cases that it is
inevitable they will make a balls up and remotely disconnect someone for
their billing mistakes. Or worse, remotely disconnect the wrong meter
through error even when they do have the everything else correct.

The energy providers claim this wont happen. Of course everyone has 100%
confidence in them based on their performances to date.


I also don't want to possibly have to pay more to cook an evening meal,
nor would I want anyone to be able to work out when a property is
unoccupied. One of the government's mistakes was to make the energy
companies responsible for installing the meters. They of couse chose
meters which would only work if they remained the supplier.


--
Michael Chare