Ok. I think they have won!

My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.

They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
quarterly billing based on consumer readings.

Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
subsidies I decided to ignore it.

29/09 They posted a likely increase of £532/yr for gas/electricity
based on average user consumption.

21/10 They posted my new plan would be £111/month Electricity and
£121.month for gas.

07/11 They advised my new plan would be £268/month Electricity and £339
for gas.

15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically confirming
the 07/11 figures!

I rather suspect OVO are hoping I'll jump ship!

Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
--
Tim Lamb

On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
> Ok. I think they have won!
>
> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>
> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
> quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>
> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
> The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
> information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
> subsidies I decided to ignore it.
>
> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of  £532/yr for gas/electricity
> based on average user consumption.
>
> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be £111/month Electricity and
> £121.month for gas.
>
> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be £268/month Electricity and £339
> for gas.
>
> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically confirming
> the 07/11 figures!
>
> I rather suspect OVO are  hoping I'll jump ship!
>
> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?

The shift of SSE customers (I was on quarterly billing by variable
direct debit) to Ovo monthly fixed direct debit has been a complete
dog's dinner. I've had multiple e-mails about the new levels of monthly
fixed direct debit, corrections, updates. It's awful. I look after 3
different properties (all, as it happens, with dual fuel gas & elec
SSE/Ovo so I have seen a pattern). On one property, the estimates of
the fixed monthly DD are reasonable, on the other two, they are way
over-inflated. And trying to get through to customer service on the
phone has a wait time of between 10 and 50 minutes (thank goodness for
hands free). I hope it settles down. I don't suppose any other company
is much better. I quite liked the quarerly biling and variable direct
debit, and SSE were one of the last of offer it, so I'll probably have
to fall in line with giving SSE/Ovo a nice free loan.

The very first e-mail I received from SSE about the change on 21 Oct
said "We're always working to make things simpler for our customers.
Most of our customers who have a Direct Debit pay a set monthly amount.
It makes it easier for them to spread their energy costs over the year".
I was very happy with quarterly variable direct debit: the process has
*not* been "simpler" and it does *not* make it "easier" to spread the costs.

[Rant over]

On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
> Ok. I think they have won!
>
> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>
> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
> quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>
> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
> The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
> information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
> subsidies I decided to ignore it.
>
> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of  £532/yr for gas/electricity
> based on average user consumption.
>
> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be £111/month Electricity and
> £121.month for gas.
>
> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be £268/month Electricity and £339
> for gas.
>
> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically confirming
> the 07/11 figures!
>
> I rather suspect OVO are  hoping I'll jump ship!
>
> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?

I don't think you need to pay direct debit.

My company appears to be treating direct debit as a free loan. Their
estimates and consequent Direct Debit are nonsense, on the high side.

With the advent of smart meters, the Energy companies should offer Pay
as You go, like a mobile, for no additional cost.

The payment system technology is mature and pay in advance eliminates
credit risk.

Pancho wrote:

> I don't think you need to pay direct debit.

But if you don't you'll probably get a more expensive tariff

On 16/11/2022 11:29, Pancho wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>> Ok. I think they have won!
>>
>> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>>
>> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have
>> been quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>>
>> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct
>> debit. The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
>> information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
>> subsidies I decided to ignore it.
>>
>> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of  £532/yr for gas/electricity
>> based on average user consumption.
>>
>> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be £111/month Electricity and
>> £121.month for gas.
>>
>> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be £268/month Electricity and
>> £339 for gas.
>>
>> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically
>> confirming the 07/11 figures!
>>
>> I rather suspect OVO are  hoping I'll jump ship!
>>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
> I don't think you need to pay direct debit.
>
> My company appears to be treating direct debit as a free loan. Their
> estimates and consequent Direct Debit are nonsense, on the high side.
>
> With the advent of smart meters, the Energy companies should offer Pay
> as You go, like a mobile, for no additional cost.
>
> The payment system technology is mature and pay in advance eliminates
> credit risk.
>

It only eliminates risk of non-payment if you cut people off the moment
they run out of credit. I expect rather a lot of people would be
unhappy at being cut off as a result of a Direct Debit failing - eg for
lack of funds when an employer was late paying.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Surely, like EDF, the meters are monitored every 30 mins and the bill is
based on actual readings. Why should they be estimating monthly? I'm on
direct debit quarterly on the actual readings, and thus far its worked. It
will of course be any ones guess what the rates will be when my fixed rate
expires in 2024, assuming the crisis still goes on, but they have assured me
that it will still be on actual readings and with the talking in home
monitor and the accessible EDF app I will at least be able to get a pretty
good idea of costs.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Tim Lamb" <tim@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:F6UauSSmLMdjFw9d@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk...
> Ok. I think they have won!
>
> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>
> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
> quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>
> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
> The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published information
> about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt. subsidies I decided
> to ignore it.
>
> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of �532/yr for gas/electricity based
> on average user consumption.
>
> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be �111/month Electricity and
> �121.month for gas.
>
> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be �268/month Electricity and �339
> for gas.
>
> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically confirming
> the 07/11 figures!
>
> I rather suspect OVO are hoping I'll jump ship!
>
> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
> --
> Tim Lamb

Brian Gaff wrote:

> Surely, like EDF, the meters are monitored every 30 mins

Or as infrequently as every 30 days.

> and the bill is
> based on actual readings. Why should they be estimating monthly? I'm on
> direct debit quarterly on the actual readings,

I think that's uncommon, the statement should show "smart" readings with no
estimates, but most people pay on 1/12th of the annual amount per month.

Yes, how does that compare to EDFs standard variable though, or whatever
else is out there?
Personally, I tend to think they make it up as they go along. I'm lucky to
be bound by EDF contracts, but I'd have thought that any company taking over
another should be duty bound to do the same arrangement. After all you
should only pay for what you use.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Allan" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:jtjvfdFhjqaU1@mid.individual.net...
> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>> Ok. I think they have won!
>>
>> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>>
>> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
>> quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>>
>> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
>> The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published information
>> about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt. subsidies I
>> decided to ignore it.
>>
>> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of �532/yr for gas/electricity based
>> on average user consumption.
>>
>> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be �111/month Electricity and
>> �121.month for gas.
>>
>> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be �268/month Electricity and �339
>> for gas.
>>
>> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically confirming
>> the 07/11 figures!
>>
>> I rather suspect OVO are hoping I'll jump ship!
>>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
> The shift of SSE customers (I was on quarterly billing by variable direct
> debit) to Ovo monthly fixed direct debit has been a complete dog's dinner.
> I've had multiple e-mails about the new levels of monthly fixed direct
> debit, corrections, updates. It's awful. I look after 3 different
> properties (all, as it happens, with dual fuel gas & elec SSE/Ovo so I
> have seen a pattern). On one property, the estimates of the fixed monthly
> DD are reasonable, on the other two, they are way over-inflated. And
> trying to get through to customer service on the phone has a wait time of
> between 10 and 50 minutes (thank goodness for hands free). I hope it
> settles down. I don't suppose any other company is much better. I quite
> liked the quarerly biling and variable direct debit, and SSE were one of
> the last of offer it, so I'll probably have to fall in line with giving
> SSE/Ovo a nice free loan.
>
> The very first e-mail I received from SSE about the change on 21 Oct said
> "We're always working to make things simpler for our customers. Most of
> our customers who have a Direct Debit pay a set monthly amount. It makes
> it easier for them to spread their energy costs over the year". I was very
> happy with quarterly variable direct debit: the process has *not* been
> "simpler" and it does *not* make it "easier" to spread the costs.
>
> [Rant over]
>
>
>

On 16/11/2022 12:12, Andy Burns wrote:
> Brian Gaff wrote:
>
>> Surely, like EDF, the meters are monitored every 30 mins
>
> Or as infrequently as every 30 days.

With our SMETS2 meters the 30 minute readings go to the DCC but our
supplier (currently BG) only gets what we allow them to see (currently
every 30 days).

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 16/11/2022 11:56, Robin wrote:

>> With the advent of smart meters, the Energy companies should offer Pay
>> as You go, like a mobile, for no additional cost.
>>
>> The payment system technology is mature and pay in advance eliminates
>> credit risk.
>>
>
> It only eliminates risk of non-payment if you cut people off the moment
> they run out of credit.  I expect rather a lot of people would be
> unhappy at being cut off as a result of a Direct Debit failing - eg for
> lack of funds when an employer was late paying.
>

Ah, my energy supplier has £700 of mine for my own good! Mighty decent
of them! It'll be over £800 in a few days.

No, you don't actually have to cut people off, you can, but you can also
operate standard penalty/overdraft type facilities where you charge fees
for running out of credit. Banks, Credit Companies, would fall over
themselves to offer such a facility to energy companies.

Personally, I would be happy to take responsibility for myself.

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> Pancho wrote:
>
> > I don't think you need to pay direct debit.
>
> But if you don't you'll probably get a more expensive tariff

About £10pm more expensive for 'average' use.

Theo

Tim Lamb <tim@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Ok. I think they have won!
>
> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>
> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have been
> quarterly billing based on consumer readings.

How about doing something like this:

Look at your bill, it should tell you your annual consumption in kWh.

Multiply that by your unit rate, add the standing charge, that's your
expected bill for the year.

Divide it by 12, that's your breakeven monthly payment.

Look at any negative balance on your account, work out how many months you
need to clear it (let's say 3 months, for argument's sake). Add that
negative balance divided by 3 to your breakeven monthly payment.

Alternatively, make a one-off payment to clear the negative balance.

That should come up with an expected DD figure.

That should not differ massively from the DD figure they have chosen for
you. If it does, you should contact them and challenge it. Say you've done
your sums and what you expect your DD to be based on your consumption.

When the rate changes you may have to repeat the process.

(some firms profile your DD throughout the year rather than a fixed payment,
and for them this process will give you the middle figure, but not the peaks
or troughs)

> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct debit.
> The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
> information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
> subsidies I decided to ignore it.

Crazy DDs seem to arise for two reasons: having a negative balance and
needing to pay it down, or a massive mis-estimate of your usage (E7 readings
the wrong way round is a common one). Both of which are something you can
address.

If you've been with them a while they should have a good idea of your usage.
If you've been moved from another firm they should still have the annual
consumption figures, but if not your old bills will tell you.

> I rather suspect OVO are hoping I'll jump ship!

Given everyone is paying more or less the same tariff these days, I don't
really see any point in jumping ship any more. You get a different customer
service department but that's about it.

Theo

On 16/11/2022 12:30, Pancho wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 11:56, Robin wrote:
>
>>> With the advent of smart meters, the Energy companies should offer
>>> Pay as You go, like a mobile, for no additional cost.
>>>
>>> The payment system technology is mature and pay in advance eliminates
>>> credit risk.
>>>
>>
>> It only eliminates risk of non-payment if you cut people off the
>> moment they run out of credit.  I expect rather a lot of people would
>> be unhappy at being cut off as a result of a Direct Debit failing - eg
>> for lack of funds when an employer was late paying.
>>
>
> Ah, my energy supplier has £700 of mine for my own good! Mighty decent
> of them! It'll be over £800 in a few days.

A good few people like to avoid spikes in payments at and after
Christmas. What balance do you expect come April?

> No, you don't actually have to cut people off, you can, but you can also
> operate standard penalty/overdraft type facilities where you charge fees
> for running out of credit. Banks, Credit Companies, would fall over
> themselves to offer such a facility to energy companies.

Yes, but I don't see how that "eliminates credit risk".

> Personally, I would be happy to take responsibility for myself.
>

No one forces you to have a tariff with monthly direct debits. And
smart meters make it *much* easier to switch to pre-payment.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 16/11/2022 11:22, Allan wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>> Ok. I think they have won!
>>
>> My gas and electricity suppliers, SSE were taken over by OVO in 2020.
>>
>> They have finally spotted that I don't have smart metering and have
>> been quarterly billing based on consumer readings.
>>
>> Some 28/09 I got a mail advising a move to a monthly fixed direct
>> debit. The amounts seemed a bit high but given the lack of published
>> information about actual costs and not knowing the impact of Govt.
>> subsidies I decided to ignore it.
>>
>> 29/09 They posted a likely increase of  £532/yr for gas/electricity
>> based on average user consumption.
>>
>> 21/10 They posted my new plan would be £111/month Electricity and
>> £121.month for gas.
>>
>> 07/11 They advised my new plan would be £268/month Electricity and
>> £339 for gas.
>>
>> 15/11 Grovelling apology about miscommunication but basically
>> confirming the 07/11 figures!
>>
>> I rather suspect OVO are  hoping I'll jump ship!
>>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
> The shift of SSE customers (I was on quarterly billing by variable
> direct debit) to Ovo monthly fixed direct debit has been a complete
> dog's dinner.  I've had multiple e-mails about the new levels of monthly
> fixed direct debit, corrections, updates.  It's awful.  I look after 3
> different properties (all, as it happens, with dual fuel gas & elec
> SSE/Ovo so I have seen a pattern).  On one property, the estimates of
> the fixed monthly DD are reasonable, on the other two, they are way
> over-inflated. And trying to get through to customer service on the
> phone has a wait time of between 10 and 50 minutes (thank goodness for
> hands free).  I hope it settles down.  I don't suppose any other company
> is much better.  I quite liked the quarerly biling and variable direct
> debit, and SSE were one of the last of offer it, so I'll probably have
> to fall in line with giving SSE/Ovo a nice free loan.
>
> The very first e-mail I received from SSE about the change on 21 Oct
> said "We're always working to make things simpler for our customers.
> Most of our customers who have a Direct Debit pay a set monthly amount.
> It makes it easier for them to spread their energy costs over the year".
> I was very happy with quarterly variable direct debit: the process has
> *not* been "simpler" and it does *not* make it "easier" to spread the
> costs.
>
> [Rant over]

SSE/Ovo keep ringing me (on a withheld number, on a poor quality line,
with a foreign sounding accent - all the hallmarks of a scam) to discuss
my "complaint" and before they do they want all sorts of personal
information, and can't see why I'm not happy to do that. When I suggest
they provide me half the post code and I'll give them the other half, or
they give me the gas account number and I'll give them the electric
account number, they won't. It's high time these companies got wise to
improving their customer offering when making contact, instead of being
very one-sided. I've suggested Zoom or Teams, and I will be having to
eat my hat if they are able to do Zoom.

On 16/11/2022 12:12, Brian Gaff wrote:
> Yes, how does that compare to EDFs standard variable though, or whatever
> else is out there?
> Personally, I tend to think they make it up as they go along. I'm lucky to
> be bound by EDF contracts, but I'd have thought that any company taking over
> another should be duty bound to do the same arrangement. After all you
> should only pay for what you use.

Last time I was an with an energy company that got took over they put
the prices up and basically said that if I didn't like it I was allowed
to walk free from the contract!

On 16/11/2022 13:44, Robin wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 12:30, Pancho wrote:
>> On 16/11/2022 11:56, Robin wrote:
>>
>>>> With the advent of smart meters, the Energy companies should offer
>>>> Pay as You go, like a mobile, for no additional cost.
>>>>
>>>> The payment system technology is mature and pay in advance
>>>> eliminates credit risk.
>>>>
>>>
>>> It only eliminates risk of non-payment if you cut people off the
>>> moment they run out of credit.  I expect rather a lot of people would
>>> be unhappy at being cut off as a result of a Direct Debit failing -
>>> eg for lack of funds when an employer was late paying.
>>>
>>
>> Ah, my energy supplier has £700 of mine for my own good! Mighty decent
>> of them! It'll be over £800 in a few days.
>
> A good few people like to avoid spikes in payments at and after
> Christmas.  What balance do you expect come April?
>

Well, my current direct debit + government contribution is about equal
to the current cost of my maximum usage for any month in the last 3
years. So, if nothing is done, I would expect my credit balance to go
up. So I'm building the enthusiasm to complain, again.

My initial response was to attempt to change supplier, but all the
comparison sites have shut down.

>> No, you don't actually have to cut people off, you can, but you can
>> also operate standard penalty/overdraft type facilities where you
>> charge fees for running out of credit. Banks, Credit Companies, would
>> fall over themselves to offer such a facility to energy companies.
>
> Yes, but I don't see how that "eliminates credit risk".
>

The energy company transfers the risk to the banks and credit companies.
Thus, it eliminates credit risk.

It is astonishing how much credit companies will pay to enter into a
credit agreement with a new customer. Usury pays!

Obviously, there would need to be rules to regulate the maximum penalty
fees and interest. Much as there are for credit cards and pay day loans.

Personally, I think just cut them off, is a fine solution, but if people
don't like it...

>> Personally, I would be happy to take responsibility for myself.
>>
>
> No one forces you to have a tariff with monthly direct debits.

Well, they coerce, they over-charge for non-monthly tariffs.
In my case, the standing charge is an extra £60 per year + 4% and 2%
bump in tariffs.

This isn't representative of the costs to the energy supplier, costs
over and above a correctly administered flat monthly rate. Mobile phone
companies can operate such prepayment schemes for buttons. In the past,
they overcharged for Pay as you Go, too. I'm not sure what changed,
competition or regulation.

The real advantage to a company of DD is typically that it reduces
customer control. Reduces customer scrutiny of accounts, reduces
customer's ability to combat over charging, mischarging. DD has very
negative side effects.

Good competitive markets should maximise customer ability to make an
informed choice of supplier. DD/long contracts impact this ability to
make an informed choice, and large companies naturally abuse this to
their advantage.

>  And
> smart meters make it *much* easier to switch to pre-payment.
>

They should, yes. However, My electricity smart meter hasn't been smart
for nearly two years. I guess the government incentivised the energy
companies to install smart meters, but doesn't incentivise them to make
them work.

On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:

>
> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?

I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
SMART metering.

rick wrote:

> Tim Lamb wrote:
>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
> I don't have and don't want SMART metering.

I had smart meters (many years ago got pissed-off with the number of meter
reader visits requiring days at home) but they went dumb after e.on started
having expensive fixed tariffs, instead of cheap, and I moved supplier.

In no rush now to get another smart meter, as working from home is now a thing,
and meter readers seem to be extinct.

The only good thing about smart meters is the IHD, no more having to go and
tangle with the spiders to send an online reading.

In message <tlj98u$1kpa$1@gioia.aioe.org>, rick
<rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> writes
>On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
>
>I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
>Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
>SMART metering.

I now have one! Install and instruction took about 30 minutes. OVO now
have no reason to charge the ridiculous direct debit that SSE notified.
Watch this space ( )

--
Tim Lamb

rick <rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> wrote:
> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>
>>
>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>
>
> I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
> Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
> SMART metering.
>

You view might change if/when you have an EV. My smart meter saves me a
lot of money.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

Tim Lamb wrote:

> OVO now have no reason to charge the ridiculous direct debit that SSE
> notified.
Bwahahahaaaa!

They'll still be estimating based on a siberian winter.

On 22/11/2022 20:03, Tim+ wrote:
> rick <rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> wrote:
>> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>>
>>
>> I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
>> Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
>> SMART metering.
>>
>
> You view might change if/when you have an EV. My smart meter saves me a
> lot of money.

That's why we are having smart meters fitted tomorrow (after an ongoing
battle that ended up with Ofgem telling Eon Next to get their finger out
and sort out merging our gas and electricity accounts). The EV charger
goes in the day after.

Pity the car is not due until August!!! However, it is a Motability car
for my wife, so we may ask them to change it to the new MG4 EV Long
Range, which has just gone on the list and we could get around the end
of April.

On 22/11/2022 20:02, Tim Lamb wrote:
> In message <tlj98u$1kpa$1@gioia.aioe.org>, rick
> <rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> writes
>> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>>
>>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>>
>>
>> I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
>> Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
>> SMART metering.
>
> I now have one! Install and instruction took about 30 minutes. OVO now
> have no reason to charge the ridiculous direct debit that SSE notified.
> Watch this space ( )

OVO have made the local news in Hampshire for using their smart meters
to remotely cut off at least two customers, and replace their credit
payments with pre-payment. Both were 83-years old and one had been in
hospital for 4 weeks. After BBC local radio got involved, OVO restored
the credit payments and paid both customers compensation - £150 and over
£300.

(No online link to this story as yet)

I don't have a smart meter and don't want one.

--

Jeff

On Tuesday, 22 November 2022 at 20:03:24 UTC, Tim+ wrote:
> rick <rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> wrote:
> > On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
> >
> >
> > I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
> > Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
> > SMART metering.
> >
> You view might change if/when you have an EV. My smart meter saves me a
> lot of money.

How does it do that ?

>
> Tim
>
> --
> Please don't feed the trolls

On 23/11/2022 13:26, whisky-dave wrote:
> On Tuesday, 22 November 2022 at 20:03:24 UTC, Tim+ wrote:
>> rick <rick_hughes@_remove_btconnect.com> wrote:
>>> On 16/11/2022 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Any takers for consumers not willing to accept smart metering?
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't have and don't want SMART metering.
>>> Was moved to E.ON when my supplier sent bust, no noises form them on
>>> SMART metering.
>>>
>> You view might change if/when you have an EV. My smart meter saves me a
>> lot of money.
>
> How does it do that ?

If you pay any attention to it (and haven't had a realtime display
before) then it can show you where energy is being wasted and if some
high usage device like an immersion heater has been left on.

The one in our Village Hall has saved us a fortune by preventing people
walking away leaving a plate warmer, oven or hot water system still on.

No matter how often you tell them people leave things on by accident.
Checking the display at the door as you lock up is almost fool proof -
although the odd fool still manages to ignore it. We have a lower
electricity usage as a result (still rather big now due to ~3x
increase). No cap on VH prices - treated as a business.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown