Old gas and electricity meters are gradually being phased out and replaced by Smart Meters. The ongoing Government, smart meter scheme, ensures that energy companies must offer their customers smart meters by 2020.
You might have been offered a smart meter, or you might already have one, Or this is the first time you have heard about this scheme.
Smart meters are not mandatory the energy companies and the government can’t force you to have one but the offers on the table.
Should I get a smart meter?
To answer this question lets first get into what a smart meter is and is not
What A Smart Meter Is
A smart meter records your gas and electricity usage in real-time, you can see in front of your very eyes where the energy’s used in your home. All information about your energy usage is shared with your energy supplier who’ll use this information to bill you.
What A Smart Meter Is Not
There’s a common misconception that a smart meter acts as a remote control also so that you can control your gas and electricity from the comfort of the sofa. You can’t; a smart meter is not a remote control; it’s a means for you and your supplier to closely monitor your energy usage.
Advantages Of Smart Meters
The main advantage of a smart meter is you can always see where your energy spend is going, pointing out unnecessary waste (i.e. leaving the TV on standby) and where you can make savings.
The smart meter displays energy usage in cost, so you know exactly what your bill will be (no one likes a ‘surprise’ energy bill).
Your supplier can bill you accurately every month, no more over-estimated bills, no more submitting meter readings.
For those that top up manually, you can keep an eye on your gas and electricity credit, no more running out of credit.
Smart meters are designed to help the user create better energy habits, lowering usage and bills, doing their bit for the environment.
Are Smart Meters Expensive?
No, smart meters are included in your energy costs you are in effect already paying for one.
Your energy supplier covers the cost of installing and maintaining the smart meter and digital display.
Beware though that some smart meters only work with certain energy suppliers, this could make it a pain to change suppliers (which you should do each year to save money).
Before having a smart meter installed, make sure it’s compatible with other energy suppliers (talk to your energy company).
What Are The Disadvantages Of Smart Meters?
The only disadvantage of Smart Meters is data privacy. Your energy company will gather your energy usage every 30 minutes.
Energy companies have to follow strict data protection laws and will do everything they can to protect your data.
If the thought of an energy company having vat data on your energy usage bothers you, then don’t get a smart meter.
Otherwise, what are you waiting for?