Testing an Electricity Meter

[Kayos]

what a lot of balonni

if your careful with your usage and are aware of what is on, why do you need a smart meter to tell you that cods wallop

as goes for tarrifs they should be available for everyone wether you want a smart meter fitted or not instead of refused to have a tarrif as you dont want to fit a smart meter

just wait until the new peak and offpeak tarrifs comes for those smart meters

then just wait until your charged for them collecting that data as an extra charge on your bill

I already have off and on peak tariffs with my smart meter

Saves me a fortune

 

[reb78]

what a lot of balonni

if your careful with your usage and are aware of what is on, why do you need a smart meter to tell you that cods wallop

as goes for tarrifs they should be available for everyone wether you want a smart meter fitted or not instead of refused to have a tarrif as you dont want to fit a smart meter

just wait until the new peak and offpeak tarrifs comes for those smart meters

then just wait until your charged for them collecting that data as an extra charge on your bill

It would have helped me Gaz. We have the house, the annexe, workshed and four cottages all on a 3p supply. I don't even know whether there is a time of day when our usage is high. Even if I turn off all the high loads amd the cottages are empty we can still end up with a silly bill.

 

[J1nx]

I find it much easier to manually keep track, gets a bit boring sat between the fridge freezer and heater to track the duty periods but what else could I do better with my time Thinking about it I might sit the better half outside to keep track of the PIR lights.

 

[Agroshield]

Thinking about it I might sit the better half outside to keep track of the PIR lights.

Don't sit her within range of the sensor or the bill will go up.

 

[brightspark]

The old method used by the Hydro out here was to have two meters running on the same input and compare the readings.

yep fit a temporary meter as well as theres on the tails you can pick them up for under 230 quid and compare the readings

 

[cheb]

Are 110V ones cheaper?

 

[Anguz]

I checked a local farmers new 3 phase meter with a fluke power logger... left it on for 4 days and it was spot on....

 

[aesmith]

I've saved hundreds of pounds

as goes for tarrifs they should be available for everyone wether you want a smart meter fitted or not instead of refused to have a tarrif as you dont want to fit a smart meter

Some tariffs rely on the smart meter data. For example we're billed for each day at a rate which depends on that day's wholesale price. To do that without a smart meter they'd need a meter reading at midnight every day.

Other tariffs charge based on half hourly data. And there are things like the "free electricity 13:00 to 14:00 tomorrow" offers, or the "Saver Sessions" where you're paid £3 for each kWh you reduce your consumption at certain times of day.

It's correct that any tariff using fixed times of day for rate changes, could be done with timeclock and multi-rate meter(s). But suppliers are under pressure to push on with the smart meter rollout, so it makes sense for them to make certain tariffs conditional on having a smart meter, even when there's no technical link.

 

[gaz1]

suppliers are wanting the smart meter as its in there best interest to do so

at the same time there sacking the meter readers who visit your home to collect said data reading

as already said business already get charged for the collection of data but it wont be long before the home user gets charged to collect this data

we complain about the disgraceful daily charge being increased the standing charge

now imagine being charged on top of your bill the data collection charge

so instead of it being 2 charges like it is now it will be 3 charges

your usage charge
standing charge
data collection charge

who pays for it the householder not the companys

 

[Kayos]

When is this data charge scheduled to come in?

I have around 100 meters on various sites that send data for m and v reports, not had any mention of a data charge, and we have some that will be sending data for 10 years

 

[aesmith]

I think we're verging into conspiracy theory territory now. Charges for data collection for example. We're already all paying for the smart meter rollout, everyone whether you have a smart meter or not. Given the industry and the government all want smart meters everywhere there's no way there's going to be a surcharge that's not levied on those without a smart meter. Similar with tariffs. If time of use billing become universal then it's much more likely that non-smart meter customers will be on a high rate 24/7.

 

[Kayos]

I think we're verging into conspiracy theory territory now. Charges for data collection for example. We're already all paying for the smart meter rollout, everyone whether you have a smart meter or not. Given the industry and the government all want smart meters everywhere there's no way there's going to be a surcharge that's not levied on those without a smart meter. Similar with tariffs. If time of use billing become universal then it's much more likely that non-smart meter customers will be on a high rate 24/7.

It reminds me of the cash argument, people forget cash isn't made by a magic man in the sky, govts have just as much control over it as they do debit and credit cards

 

[gaz1]

When is this data charge scheduled to come in?

I have around 100 meters on various sites that send data for m and v reports, not had any mention of a data charge, and we have some that will be sending data for 10 years

they do and im going to point to it

but first off back to what i was saying at moment we only pay for

standing meter charge and your bill

with a smart meter they can add these charges to your bill

Data Collector (DC) and Data Aggregation (DA) charges

business get these charges

Half Hourly Meter Operator Charges Explained - Tritility

If your business has a Half Hourly Meter, you are required to pay Meter Operator Charges. Here we explain what they are, how they work and who has to pay them.

www.tritility.com

EDF Charges too expensive - Data Aggregator and Data Collector

Business electricity users may experience that EDF Settlement and Agent Charges are expensive and might be getting double charged for MOP, DC, DA.

directpower.co.uk

British Gas MOP/DC/DA charges - double charges - Direct Power

A warning for all British Gas business customers to check there bills to ensure they are not being double billed for MOP/DC/DA.

directpower.co.uk

data is already being collected

Smart meter data collection: Government reverses course after ORG raises concerns

Last year, on 1 October 2022 the Government quietly announced that smart meter data would be collected in order to assess the bills reduction scheme following energy price hikes last year.

www.openrightsgroup.org

 

[Kayos]

Kirkland Signature Foodservice Foil - Premium Quality Aluminium Foil 30cm x 200 metres https://amzn.eu/d/h8CuGXT

Special offer, seems some are running low

 

[aesmith]

with a smart meter they can add these charges to your bill

Data Collector (DC) and Data Aggregation (DA) charges

business get these charges

Those are charges for a Half Hourly Meter, not a SMETS1 or SMETS2 smart meter where data collection is via DCC.

 

[My Old Landy]

To the OP, I questioned my meter (Eon) and they put one in parallel to test. As the old one was incorrect by a small amount they corrected my bill and fitted a new meter. They did warn me, however, that I would be charged if it was found to be correct.

 

[gaz1]

Those are charges for a Half Hourly Meter, not a SMETS1 or SMETS2 smart meter where data collection is via DCC.

i know that but theres nothing stopping them changing it to householders being charged for the collection of said data

id read in a pdf document that they had plans to implement charging household customers for collection of data on top of there bills that they receive already

 

[dave h 2]

Surely there must be a fairly easy way of testing it yourself?


If you have a volt meter and an amp clamp you could do it more accurately.
Or get one of those plug-in power monitors for <£20 and use that with the kettle test

And, there's the easy answer, go round all your appliances and check they are still using what the tag says they should be.
When you find your fridge or chest freezer is sucking more than it should, just buy a new one. I halved my fridge freezer draw that way.

 

[aesmith]

i know that but theres nothing stopping them changing it to householders being charged for the collection of said data

The difference is that HH Meters have always been expensive with extra charges not levied on businesses without. It was just part of the deal for being on a peak load tariff, or having peak demand over whatever the current threshold.

On your other point there's equally nothing to stop "them" applying a higher standing charge to those without smart meters, reflecting the higher admin cost and financial risk for suppliers. They probably won't because at the moment demand for smart meters outstrips supply, and in the medium term meters reaching end of life and the RTS shutdown will flush out the rest.

Incidentally I've already seen one supplier who's terms and conditions allow them to terminate a customer's supply if they refuse a smart meter.

 

[aesmith]

When you find your fridge or chest freezer is sucking more than it should, just buy a new one. I halved my fridge freezer draw that way.

Same here. Our freezer had a defrost malfunction, it used to sit for hours drawing 70W in silence. You'd never know without measuring.