I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club) and I may
get the option for their Smart Meters.

If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters? Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

Davidm wrote:
If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters?

No. If they can't use the "smart" feature for remote readings they just
fall back on eyeball-based meter readings.

Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

Yes. But you may have to push a button to see the numbers
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

On 15/12/2015 11:08, Davidm wrote:
I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club) and I may
get the option for their Smart Meters.

If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters? Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

BG ave just knocked on the head a deal they had with Sainsburys. 60
nectar points for every manthly reading supplied (gas or elec). Not a
lot (£7.50 per year) but better than nothing

Malcolm

Malcolm Race wrote:

BG ave just knocked on the head a deal they had with Sainsburys. 60
nectar points for every manthly reading supplied (gas or elec). Not a
lot (£7.50 per year) but better than nothing

£3.60 ITYF ...

On 15/12/2015 12:24, Andy Burns wrote:
Malcolm Race wrote:

BG ave just knocked on the head a deal they had with Sainsburys. 60
nectar points for every manthly reading supplied (gas or elec). Not a
lot (£7.50 per year) but better than nothing

£3.60 ITYF ...


Dual Fuel = 24 readings per year

On Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:00:08 +0000, Malcolm Race wrote:

On 15/12/2015 12:24, Andy Burns wrote:
Malcolm Race wrote:

BG ave just knocked on the head a deal they had with Sainsburys. 60
nectar points for every manthly reading supplied (gas or elec). Not a
lot (£7.50 per year) but better than nothing

£3.60 ITYF ...


Dual Fuel = 24 readings per year

== £7.20...

On Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:18:55 +0000, Malcolm Race
wrote:

On 15/12/2015 11:08, Davidm wrote:
I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club) and I may
get the option for their Smart Meters.

If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters? Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

BG ave just knocked on the head a deal they had with Sainsburys. 60
nectar points for every manthly reading supplied (gas or elec). Not a
lot (£7.50 per year) but better than nothing

Malcolm
I was on the Sainsburys fixed price to Feb 2016 deal, but as the BG
offer was running out at the end of Nov 2015 I switched a bit early
(no exit fee as the Sainsburys deal was basically BG anyway). Get £30
cashback as well by switching via the MSE Cheap Energy Club. The
switch happened very smoothly, about 9 days, and didn't even have to
supply readings.

Davidm wrote:

I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club)

What region and what tariffs?

Well, I was talking to EDF the other day and they said, if you believe it,
that all the various smart meters are compatible as far as the supplier is
concerned, relaying the info via a cellular system to a central hub, where
the companies can get hold of it. as far as customers are concerned the ones
I've seen seem to come with a king of touch screen remote ting that gives
various options to read and set things for calculating the costs.
I asked them as in the next year they are supposed to be doing my area, and
I had a moan at them for not making the devices speak as this would once
again mean I could not read my own meter

Bah humbug.
What is the matter with these people, they have the same issue with
thermostats as well. Now I happen to know that there is a talking thermostat
for central heating and there is no reason on earth not to put voice on the
meter as well, The speaking controller at cost price is much the same as the
non speaking one soonce again bah humbug.
Brian
--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
Remember, if you don't like where I post
or what I say, you don't have to
read my posts! :-)
"Davidm" wrote in message
...
I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club) and I may
get the option for their Smart Meters.

If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters? Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

Brian-Gaff wrote:

I was talking to EDF the other day and they said, if you believe it,
that all the various smart meters are compatible

I suspect some of the early ones might not play nice ...

I had a moan at them for not making the devices speak as this would once
again mean I could not read my own meter

Once the meter has reported the readings back to base, you could access
them from your supplier's web site, where presumably your screen-reader
could speak them?

Assuming they do not tart up the screen using java or some other kind of
flashy meter look alike. I'd like to think this would work but wonder if it
will be real time. Apparently ou can view real time usage on these little
marvels, and it would be nice to have that.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
Remember, if you don't like where I post
or what I say, you don't have to
read my posts! :-)
"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...
Brian-Gaff wrote:

I was talking to EDF the other day and they said, if you believe it,
that all the various smart meters are compatible

I suspect some of the early ones might not play nice ...

I had a moan at them for not making the devices speak as this would once
again mean I could not read my own meter

Once the meter has reported the readings back to base, you could access
them from your supplier's web site, where presumably your screen-reader
could speak them?

In message , Davidm
writes
Also, do these smart meters still allow me to take my own readings for
consumption?

I thought the reason for smart meters was to give the supplier full
control over supply and pricing on a minute by minute basis.
So on a cold, still winters evening they can put the price up or switch
you off altogether as, I understand, they do in California.
--
Bill

In article , Bill
writes
In message , Davidm
writes
Also, do these smart meters still allow me to take my own readings for
consumption?

I thought the reason for smart meters was to give the supplier full
control over supply and pricing on a minute by minute basis.
So on a cold, still winters evening they can put the price up or switch
you off altogether as, I understand, they do in California.
When the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining and the French have
sold all their nuclear power to the Germans.
--
bert

On Tuesday, 15 December 2015 11:08:22 UTC, Davidm wrote:
I've just switched to British Gas for gas and electric ( Collective
Fix December 2016 via Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club) and I may
get the option for their Smart Meters.

If I go for this option is this likely to make it difficult to switch
to another supplier in a years time, eg. they say that they can't use
the BG Smart Meters? Also, do these smart meters still allow me to
take my own readings for consumption?

Isn't it just a matter of time, when all meters have been moved to the smart variety, that the gas/electric companies start charging extra for peak time use as a ruse to extract more money from us (as clearly they aren't making enough from domestic customers already)?