ESB new smart meter

monseiur · 19-09-2022 11:49am #1

Had a letter from ESB that they'll be calling to replace my old meter with a smart one. Just looking for the opinion / experience of those who have a smart one for some time - should I get one or reject and stick with the old one. Electric useage is average, oil fired heating, gas cooking + solid fuel range, washing machine, dryer, immersion in summer only - very little night time use just TV, fridge/freezer, light etc. ESB bills were reasonable until the obvious recent increases of course which has very little to do with the actual meter.

Thanks.

ELM327 · 19-09-2022 11:54am

REJECT REJECT REJECT

Smart meters do not benefit the consumer, they allow punitive pricing.

Atlantic Dawn · 19-09-2022 1:17pm

If you get one they will have the ability to bill you based on time of day usage, they could charge those with meters 5 times the price to use electricity between core times of 5-7pm.

Never get one.

kirk. · 19-09-2022 3:14pm

Im scheduled to get one but it in no hurry

Whats the crack though with the new tarriffs and how long before they start punishing those who don't get smart meter fitted ?

In theory assuming the meters are reading accurately there should be no change with smart metering if u stay on existing plan and pay the bill?

Gooser14 · 19-09-2022 3:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119637948#Comment_119637948

Can you stay on the existing plan? When you want to change supplier can you stay on a day/night plan or will you have to move to a smart plan of day/night/peak? I have not seen any smart plans with day/night rates only.

kirk. · 19-09-2022 3:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119638074#Comment_119638074

Doubt there's any smart plans with just day/nite

Smart will have a minimum of 3 rates with the peak rate(5-7) I presume ?

Trigger Happy · 19-09-2022 3:53pm

I have had a smart meter for the past few years but only recently opted to move to a smart tarrif.

The rates I was on, prior to the last increase. are:

Day (8am to 11pm) = 25.44c inc Vat.

Night (11pm to 8am) = 18.79c

Peak (5pm to 7pm) = 30.99c

For me it made sense to move to the smart tarrif.

kirk. · 19-09-2022 3:56pm

How many providers are doing the free day with smart plans ?

I saw theres usage limits on the free day too

Gooser14 · 19-09-2022 4:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119638119#Comment_119638119

I presume that prior to getting the smart meter you were on a 24 hour rate. If that is the case I can see the benefits of changing to a smart plan. I currently have a day/night meter (Nightsaver) & as far as I can see I would be paying more if I had a smart meter & a day/night/peak type smart plan.

johnnyskeleton · 19-09-2022 5:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119637323#Comment_119637323

Typically at the moment the 5-7pm price is about 10% higher than the standard day rate. Your 500% higher rate seems excessive.

I have a smart meter and am still on the 24h tarriff with no problems. Smart tarriffs will only become mandatory if and when theyve fully rolled them out, in which case expect more competition between providers as this will be the normal tarriff.

Gooser14 · 20-09-2022 12:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119638599#Comment_119638599

Looking at the SSE smart plan standard unit rates the price differences are:

Peak period rate is dearer than day rate by 26.35%

Peak period rate is dearer than night rate by 94.77%

Day period rate is dearer than night rate by 54.15%.

SortingYouOut · 20-09-2022 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119641119#Comment_119641119

Feck, why is that? I have recently gotten a smart meter installed, but i'm not on a smart plan at the moment and won't be going onto one if that is the outcome. I'd rather just note my consumption with a pen and paper.

magicbastarder · 20-09-2022 12:17pm

BG seem to be doing a plan at the moment offering new customers free electricity for the day on saturdays. subject to fair usage limits, i suspect.

ELM327 · 20-09-2022 12:27pm

"Free" electricity is subsidized by through the nose rates on other days.

For contrast, my non smart rates are 28c day and 7c night (9 hours a night 7 days a week)

pauly58 · 20-09-2022 12:29pm

I had an electrician in to fit a changeover switch for the coming blackouts & I asked him about smart meters, he said don't get one, they want them fitted to be able to charge a higher rate for the peak hours.

POBox19 · 20-09-2022 12:48pm

I'm not sure if there is a direct correlation, but my standing charge, from EI, in January was 31.26c/day before the 'smart meter' was installed. It is now 68.38c/day plus VAT! That is before the cost per kw went through the roof.

Gooser14 · 20-09-2022 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119641306#Comment_119641306

Current EI standing charges (incl VAT) are:

24 HR Meter & Smart Meter

Urban €302.92 pa, 83c per day

Rural €380.46 pa, 104c per day

Nightsaver (Day/Night) Meter

Urban €396.89 pa, 109c per day

Rural €483.71 pa, 133c per day

The above standing charges are not changing with the EI unit price increases effective 1st Oct.

monseiur · 20-09-2022 3:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119641154#Comment_119641154

Hi, (I'm the OP)

As someone who knows very little about different smart meters, is it possible to have a smart meter fitted and have the option to stay on 24 hour system as per the old meter I have at present. I assume the standing charges, tariffs etc. will not change. I'm with Electic Ireland.

SortingYouOut · 20-09-2022 4:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642261#Comment_119642261

I'm assuming so. I've just locked into a 12 month contract on a non-smart 24 hour tariff but i'll let you know for sure in 30 days. The tech said it takes that amount of time for the provider to be informed of the change.

tiredblondie · 20-09-2022 5:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642261#Comment_119642261

I have a smart meter and am on 24hr tariff - i had a look at the smart meter plans but to be honest there was too many and i was a bit lost with it!

I WFH half the week and in the office half the week so i don't THINK it's worth changing from the 24hr plan....

I vaguely remember getting the letter about them changing over the meter but then thought no more of it - then i got a knock on the door about a year ago and the technician was in the middle of changing it over and knocked to say he had to knock the power off!! I was like, hang on a second there pal, at least let me save my work before you do anything more!

Commoner · 20-09-2022 5:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058264054/esb-new-smart-meter

I am thinking of rejecting and sticking with the old meter because my ESB meter was installed in 2008 and that's fairly modern enough to me. 😀

Gooser14 · 20-09-2022 6:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642752#Comment_119642752

I'll be rejecting it. Our old black mechanical meter was changed about 2 years ago for an electronic day/night meter. It was changed because the timer clock was faulty.

Regarding the smart meter, I have seen some posts stating that once you opt for a smart plan you can't revert to a non smart plan, a day/night plan in my case. I don't want to lose my day/night plan as it currently costs less than a smart plan.

johnnyskeleton · 23-09-2022 1:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119641119#Comment_119641119

Where are you getting these figures from?

From their website as of 1st Oct, including VAT and without discount (as this varies from customer to customer), the standard 24 hour rate is 33.22 cent per unit. The peak smart meter is 36.99 cent, a difference of 11.34%. The smart daytime rate is 34.68, so the peak is 6.66% above that.

Similar patterns from other suppliers.

The point I was replying to was the suggestion that the peak rate could be 5x the standard rate, ergo dont get a smart meter. This is sensationalist as while it could theoretically be anything, including lower, in reality the peak rate is approx 10% above the standard rate so is hardly punitive