"A Waste Of Energy!" Mike Graham HITS OUT At Faulty Smart Meters Overcharging Customers

[@thehairygolfer]

Octopus tried to force me to have one. They said my current ones were out of certificate and dangerous. I asked how would they know seen as you have never visited my house to inspect them? I said no.

[@johannabarry4672]

That happened to me too. Sadly I fell for it.

[@Julieoscar1]

Yes I have that letter… and it’s still NO

[@keithawhosoever5384]

I'm with Octopus and haven't been pressured to get a 'Dumb Meter' ...yet . 🧐

[@kevinwestk7958]

I was SMART by not having one of those meters fitted distrust anything with the word SMART in it Smart Motorways are a classic example refuse to have them it's not mandatory

[@nadinelee9343]

I won't even drink Smart water 😁 👍

[@Dat-yi4iz]

This is why I don’t care if I’m the last person in Britain to get one and then it will only happen if I have to by law

[@Thanksforbeinere]

🐱

[@richtee9888]

You won’t be the last , I will be 😂

[@spike178]

Probably will be law soon.

[@ssb2341]

😂

[@Paul-zz1cr]

Main reason for them is to ration the electric when the system cannot provide enough. If you have not got one you will not sit in the dark.

[@DavidGetling]

I've just made a similar comment.

[@action1976]

I keep getting pressured into getting one. I just keep ignoring them.

[@unitysprings3631]

Residents in Denver found that the energy company could override their thermostats, via the smart meter and limit their AC use. Dont get one if you want to decide how warm or cold your home will be

[@sbeasley1785]

I will NOT have a “smart meter”.

[@joginns778]

Now that's being SMART😅😅,

[@spike178]

Scamming electricity companies.

[@cliffordbuttle4529]

I dont believe it they would not be that evil would they 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@macraghnaill3553]

EDF keep pestering me to have a Smart meter, I keep saying "NO" now they have changed and say my meter is old and needs replacing, in a house built in 1970 both meters were replaced around 1998 so probably do need replacing, so far I am keeping EDF at bay

[@Azureecosse]

I spoke to an electrician about this and he stated he has never heard of meters going out of date its a fallacy and the energy companies think they can use it to bully you to accept a meter, keep saying No, NO ,No don't give into them, the reason they want us all on smart meters is the government has already signed of a bill that means house holder will need to buy smart white goods in their homes that can be switched on and off when demand is high these meters will communicate with your smart washing machine , Fridge and freezer, you ain't seen nothing yet, its big brother in its entirety, house builders are already incorporating this tech into new build houses and you cannot say no because its now law thanks to the Tories who sneaked this bill through.

[@macraghnaill3553]

@@Azureecosse also different tariffs for different times of day on Smart meters, that was in an article I read this morning about offgen. I know meters are replaced due to reliability issues after 20 plus years, as I said mine were replaced around 1998

[@Ngo750pp]

Spy in your house

[@shaunbat5097]

I stopped my direct debit as they took £280 out when i only used £48....i email them the readings and ask what they are charging... Rip off standing charges.

[@Martyn-ey9lw]

Standing charges are the big problem for me, £365 per year for something I don't use

[@richard1342]

Getting money back from a supplier when you are in significant credit is near impossible. I was told that they they will only refund when the amount is more than 2 months - who made up that rule???

[@Martyn-ey9lw]

It used to be if you were more than £100 in credit they had to refund if requested although that has probably changed now.

[@AlanRobson-vl1ew]

You can have your bill payed by direct debit every quarter so they never hold any of your money in their bank

[@loonaticsrunningtheassylum]

They're robber barons.. what do you expect??

[@deanpartington792]

I read mine, they send me a bill i send them a cheque, job done!

[@grahamthacker6498]

ME TOO, SIMPLE ISN'T IT.

[@justwayne4785]

Tell them you don’t have an internet connection.

[@Martyn-ey9lw]

They don't need you to have an internet connection, they set up their own via mobile networks.

[@darthgardner]

@@Martyn-ey9lw correct usually o2 here in the uk which is the network of choice.

[@billmitchell7904]

The smart meter is a con, thanks for highlighting this.

[@thetruthwillwinoneday]

As a conspiracy nut, branded by others, i said this years ago! Smart meters have done nothing but increase bills.

[@DavidGetling]

What most people don't know is that smart meters allow your supplier to cut off your energy remotely at the touch of a button. That's why I've avoided getting them.

[@HA05GER]

I mean if you pay your bills it isn't going to happ n only other time if some kind of war or something stupid. It's very easy to bypass a meter anyway so I wouldn't worry too much.

[@glennclayton9900]

They cant just cut off your supply. It’s against the law. So that blows your argument out of the water.

[@paulsmith982]

When I lived in a flat, I always ran my washing machine during the day, on the grounds that people in the flats around me would be awake or at work. It they make daytime electricity more expensive, I would have to run it at night and tough luck for the people near me.

[@PaulBrunt]

With smart meters tariffs aren't limited to cheap rates at night. There are now tariffs where you can get cheap rate between 1pm and 4pm.

[@aib0160]

I was pestered into having a smart meter. I wish I never did as it doesn't help me at all but it helps the supplier loads. It's a means of control down the track and forcing you to live a different lifestyle or get penalised for non-compliance.

[@bobp6742]

I'm with ovo and my meter is now out of date, I've been inundated with letters from them telling me I have to now have a smart meter, I've told them I'm happy to have it replaced but not a smart one, they say (Indian call centre) they only make smart ones which is a lie as there's plenty of companies that make non smart digital electric meters, I even gave them some names but I've been told "no it had to be a smart one as that's all they make" so what can I do.

[@bernardm2312]

My meters are about 40 years old so must be well out of date, but I don't want smart meters. You can ask for smart meters to be provided in 'dumb' mode, but I imagine that the energy company could put them back into smart mode any time they liked.

[@Martyn-ey9lw]

@@bernardm2312 If you request a smart meter be fitted in dumb mode just make sure they don't fit the comms unit, the comms unit fits on top of the electric meter, not sure if this is the case for all makers, but without the comms unit they can't remotely change it to smart.

[@Stivsnest]

My pre pay gas meter went faulty and i was told by British gas that if it was not repairable on site then I MUST have a smart meter or if I wanted a old meter it would cost me £80 . Thanks that it was the card that was faulty ....

[@colin_a]

We need to understand why we are even discussing all this. Back in the early 2000s, Tony Blair altered the trajectory of energy development from GAS to NUCLEAR over to GAS to RENEWABLES. Scientists warned that this would not be feasible, as the costs would not align with the returns. Here we are in 2024, faced with a disordered energy system, which is on its knees. Consecutive governments, following poorly conceived Green Climate policies, have created significant energy deficits, which is why we now have to pay double to import energy from abroad. Vote these individuals out and let energy specialists manage complex systems like this. We need referendums on this topic because we cannot trust the politicians we elected to do the job correctly.

[@loonaticsrunningtheassylum]

Politics is theatre. Selected not elected... That's why NOTHING EVER CHANGES

[@6brman224]

SMART is an acronym. Self Monitoring Automatic Recording Technology. There is one already fitted where I live but I find an enclosure made of code 4 sheet lead works wonders.

[@scaf121]

I got them to take mine out.

[@user-dv3rb6nl4c]

They won’t let me take it out.

[@allenp920]

“Keep reading your meter” He’s obviously not heard of smart meter anxiety

[@roddymcniven8734]

I hope that’s a bad joke

[@williammore558]

Which is why I refuse to install a smart meter in my home despite the utility company pushing and pushing because I know what will happen once it's installed.

[@robtheplod]

Octopus keep pushing me to get one but their 'smart' tariffs are more than I currently pay so I'll stay with my old dumb meter thanks....

[@susanmills4843]

I’ve got a smart prepayment meter with Scottish Gas. I can’t run up huge debts with this system hopefully.

[@leehenry5764]

Another tory disaster!

[@josephberrie9550]

yawn

[@jonshadow4052]

There is nothing to do with the tories ,it's energy company.

[@leehenry5764]

@@jonshadow4052 They gave contract out in April 2017 within 2 years everyone was supposed to have a smart metre. After 2 years wasn't even close to be half the homes in the UK. I guess you think the delays in the roll out of Universal credit has nothing to do with tories either. And the roll out for that was supposed to be April again 2017. 7 years later still not fully rolled out.

[@roddymcniven8734]

😂😂🎉

[@djtaylorutube]

@@jonshadow4052 Forgotten how the energy provision in the UK was sold off by the Tory's? A now privatised company in the form of Centrica, then chooses to close Rough Gas Storage Facility, leading to low reserves, which when coupled with the invasion of Ukraine spiking the demand for alternates to Russian gas, then leaves the UK hugely exposed. Now factor that although the UK has about 40% renewables, there's little derived benefit because the same Tory government has enabled the price of electrical energy, directly hard coupled to the wholesale price of gas. Gas goes up, electricity goes up in lockstep. Absolutely everything to do with the Tory government.

[@thakery5720]

Smart meters have no real purpose if you do your own readings every month. I pay by direct debit and clock up a credit over the summer months, adding an extra payment if needed during winter but it rarely needs it. If an energy supplier bumps up your direct debit 'in line with estimates and predicted rises' then all you do is cancel the direct debit - sure you pay a little more by settling the bill monthly but you do not let the buggers empty your bank account by agrreing to let them ! I did this and my supplier lets ME decide what mothly payment I make because I do not get into arrears - I settle the bill every month if it needs it.... is that simple enough to understand ? Do this and your supplier will love you for it, it's when you don't give regular readings and let arrears amount that is the problem.

[@bruceelliott3518]

Having trouble with sse now ovo because of smart meter not able to connect, astronomical bill now involving ombudsman

[@gregoryhamblett9071]

Since moving in October last year.. the new meter is a smart meter.. and straight away started paying more.. and I'm very careful with what I use.. and it no more than before I moved..

[@rlw85]

These smart meters will lead to triad tariffs and electricity will cost a lot more between 4 and 7

[@itnahtapohcysp]

Secret Military Advanced Residential Technology

[@russbarrington3790]

How come ofcom aren't investigating and doing the company's...

[@ebxo269]

so how can you refuse if your landlord says they are fitting them,??????????

[@DJDJ-fl2nv]

I’ve tried to understand who owns my current ‘dumb’ meter...it seems in most cases the current supplier did not and does not own the meter...they only supply the energy to the point from the meter to the property ... not the supply side, before it gets to the meter...hence the huge issue with purported ‘standing charges’ billed by the utility companies, how are these standing charges calculated ( what are they for?) or relating to, as the excessive profits of energy companies are significantly bolstered by these opaque charges we have no control over, even when we reduce our energy consumption???

[@28train36]

Edf won't even supply me with an stage 2 update. Stage 1 does not work.

[@paul-t-geist4245]

Our utility supplier keeps pestering me to get one fitted but I can't see the point, they send a text saying meter reading due, I read it and send it straight to them online job done.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Read your own meters, gas, water, electric, every month and record the readings. Better still, take photos.

[@MENSA.lady2]

Do not agree to a direct debit. Have a standing order instead. That way you are in control of your money.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

For years I sent in meetings when requested and was billed on those actuals. Recently, BG has been adding estimates to thise bills - not that I pay that excess. Take care.

[@kpc5]

I WAS "FORCED" to have a smart meter fitted because they said my old meter was Dangerous and not safe, i told them it would not work but they fitted it, guess what,,, it does not work because the meter is in my cellar and UNDERGROUND, then i got a letter from them saying i HAD to send readings in every month, i told them that i did not work for them and part of the Standing Charge was for them reading the meter so i told them (Eon Next) no chance that i was reading there meter??

[@brega6286]

No choice in apartment complex.Myself and neighbors bills have soared to a heat or eat level. About to do my own study by monitoring daily use and KWs' used. I am highly suspicious as several residents (same size units) getting SAME $$ bills. Coincidence ?

[@magnuswalker7957]

Surely they just monitor your usage, they don't set the tariff. We unplugged ours not long after it was installed.

[@mrwoodward273]

According the the 2023 UK Energy act, passed into law in October 2023, in 2025 smart meters will be mandatory - smart meters will also be able to mediate your energy use. Check out our wonderful government's act.

[@malp78]

I live in a small village which does not have mains gas. I have electric storage heating and pay for Economy 7 (cheaper rate during night time). The change over at night and then back in the morning is triggered by a radio signal. This signal is being withdrawn shortly. As a result, the electric energy companies are threatening that the Economy 7 tariff will only be available via a Smart meter i.e. change your meter or everything will be charged at the day rate. Legalised blackmail!

[@SaulidSnake]

I've never had issues with mine, I never have to worry about estimates either.

[@essiefowler9775]

Absolutely they’re just another way of getting overcharged

[@ReggieChump]

This is like modern engines... Just F. Off... Just want a simple car that works!

[@MENSA.lady2]

Simple solution. Refuse to have one. In the UK yes you can.

[@DavidCooper-rv6wg]

No such a thing as a smart meter or a smart motorway one big joke

[@peteraston4753]

My in house reader has not worked since it was installed 3 years ago last year i had £1,700 refunded after i claimed it back

[@HA05GER]

I have one but a prepayment i really cant fault it. You can check your usage on the actual meter and submit resdings if your that concerned. Also check your bank daily if you have a stupid direct debit taken you can ring the back and they will return the direct debit.

[@kevgray.]

Guy Martin, as done a few videos about the energy 👍very interesting how they have to buy energy at different times of day... sometimes it can be in the 10s of thousands of pounds .....

[@lestersmyth692]

I don’t have them after all it’s not compulsory although they try to tell you otherwise. Quite happy with my meters no mistakes and no hassle.

[@bparkinson5397]

We were forced to have a smart meter and both do not work. We can't even read the meter (we could read the old meter) so are scared to switch the heating on and have no idea how much energy we are using. At the mercy of the energy company (British Gas)!

[@kazpaul75]

Same here, they claimed our meters were old and dangerous after a house call to so called check the meters. We've had nothing but trouble since they were fitted. They even tried to ruin our (near 100%) credit score by lying and marking it with non payments but admitted we owed nothing and yet wouldn't resolve it until the ombudsman stepped in and they were made to remove the false marks against us plus compensate us. Still have to contact them about every bill because they keep overestimating it so we have to give the readings, which I wouldn't trust them not to falsify the numbers from their end, I imagine it's possible that they're able to do that and we'd have no proof.

[@davidfalconer8913]

A ( smart ? ) meter allows remote disconnection ( quite annoying at any time of the day / night ) .... a brand new , fully calibrated ordinary digital energy meter costs just £20 , which is a LOT cheaper than some " smart " overcharging .... it is SO easy to read your meter ( torch + pen + paper etc.. ) takes 30 seconds , which is a LOT less time than contacting your supplier to report a ( faulty ) smart meter ..... ( tried - n - tested ) ............. DAVE™🛑

[@skilfulCOM]

I have wrote for years about smart meters e.g. power factor being added on electricity bill for domestic users as 'green tax'. It is currently used as an extra tax on business users - they will want to increase your bills to be 'fair to business'. Income inequality is used to ration energy based on a families income and their ability to pay. BTW: Inequality worsens every year - Gini coefficient is statistical con - poorest 20% are not compared above average income.

[@Martyn-ey9lw]

Sorry what do you mean "power factor" being added on electricity bill

[@pstanyer1]

The smart metres are not faulty they are simply in dumb mode they still record the units used.

[@colhonk2916]

Who`s electricity are they using to run them??hmmm.

[@darrylwigginton1067]

Funny how their profits are 4x what they were before & if werent making profit in 1st place then wouldnt be in biz in 1st place

[@mjsullivan5607]

But try changing supplier if you don't want a smart meter or to pay by Direct Debit, even on the the so called neutral price comparison websites, the results of searches are...nothing, thy say can offer nothing. So you're stuck with your existing supplier who woll gradually tighten the thumbscrews.

[@Gary-le7dz]

Smart meter brilliant I know exactly how much had one 4 years and it’s never been wrong ….. honestly Mike Graham is permanently furious and with his morbid obesity is not advisable

[@malp78]

Never been wrong. How do you check it? - Genuine enquiry.

[@Gary-le7dz]

The bills never estimated , and the bills always been what I use …. Plus it lets you know how much things are costing especially when showering etc , I m not tied to it but I do find it handy but of accurate kit

[@malp78]

Cheers Gary. This is what I suspected. Comparing electrical usage on the new Smart meter bill against usage on the old meter bill at the same time of year, is all you can "check". Many thanks anyway. @@Gary-le7dz

[@douglasgosney9172]

Mine didn’t work from day one waste of time

[@defmax29]

You can grow smart meters?

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Dumb people use smart meters. Smart people use dumb meters.

[@bill-2018]

Oh, 700 hundred quid. I had to put subtitles on because I couldn't understand what he said. I had about £3 something in my account. Scot. Power informed me they were reducing my direct debit by some £20 per month. That should work out about right as summer comes in.

[@vulgar_scabby_beaver]

Mike I can never get all of the toothpaste out of a pump dispenser without a a vise, drill and angle grinder, you need to do a story on this WEF designed packaging, it makes my blood boil....and yours too, if you let it😉