Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An >unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I wont be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >serviced - not by Octopus.
On 29 Apr 2025 18:34:42 GMT, Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these
checks? An unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my
boiler is serviced - not by Octopus.
I haven't had that one from Octopus but I did have the one that said
my meter is too old and possibly out of calibration but failed to say
which meter, gas or electric. (1984 & 1978 respectively, so probably
some justification!)
Anyway I ignored them.
My current supplier (Pun!) OVO sent me this
https://ibb.co/cKMdcPbT
The thing is the tariff was their basic fixed tariff when I took it
last July, absolutely nothing "Smart" about it. If there was any
mention of requiring Smartmeters it must have been deep in the small
print.
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler isserviced - not by Octopus.
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An
unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for trying.
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >> serviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money.
Tim
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An
unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for trying.
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >> serviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money.
Tim
On 29/04/2025 19:34, Spike wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An
unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
A few years ago my (different) electricity company called me to say my
meter was out of calibration, and they wanted to replace it.
"Fine", I said, "but I don't want a smart meter. Anyway it probably
won't work here as the mobile signal is rubbish."
Tap, tap, tap "Oh yes, we have has some failed installs in your area. Goodbye"
"Hang on", I said, "what about the calibration"
"Oh, that doesn't matter".
It was a lie to make me take a smart meter.
Andy
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An
unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for trying.
On 03/05/2025 21:59, Tim+ wrote:
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An >>> unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for
upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for >> trying.
They are fined when they don't achieve them...
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >>> serviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart
meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money.
Those seem to be a bit thin on the ground at present
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An >>> unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for
upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for >> trying.
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >>> serviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart
meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money.
Tim
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing machine at two in the morning,
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An >>>> unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for
upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for >>> trying.
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler isserviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart
meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money. >>>
Tim
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing
machine at two in the morning,
If you have a home battery +/- solar, you don’t need to.
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Of all the things I worry about these days, that’s *way* down the list.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart
meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money. >>>
Those seem to be a bit thin on the ground at present
Eh? There are lots of smart tariffs for folk who have invested in the appropriate tech, EVs, solar, home battery etc.
I virtually never pay more than 7.5p per kWhr for my power consumed and my exports to the grid more than cover the cost of my import for 6 months of
the year.
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing
machine at two in the morning,
If you have a home battery +/- solar, you don’t need to.
Let’s crunch some numbers…
We use about 8kWh per day at 22p/kWh, or £642 per year, but have lost the interest payable on a piddly 4kW system at £12000, which itself comes to £500.
So, if the installation could supply all my electricity, which at 4kW it won’t,
there’s a gain of £142, and payback time will be 12000/142, or not
far short of 90 years.
Of course, there is the gain from selling surplus electricity back to the grid, perhaps that might halve the payback time to a mere 45 years.
Oh! But in that time I’ll need two battery replacements, at 10 grand, perhaps a failed inverter or two, and the panels will be shagged out
anyway.
I hope you did your costings before signing up…
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Of all the things I worry about these days, that’s *way* down the list.
That’s an OK philosophy, until the power goes off. Just look at how long M&S are taking to get their systems back on track. Two weeks of no electricity and the streets would be a bloodbath.
The figures above for system costs are from a brief internet search.
If
anyone had more appropriate numbers, that would be interesting to look at.
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An >>> unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
I believe power companies have government mandated targets to meet for
upgrading householders to smart meters so you can’t really blame them for >> trying.
I won’t be taking up the offer as I get a safety check when my boiler is >>> serviced - not by Octopus.
As long as you don’t want any of the advantages conferred by having a smart
meter, fine. The day will come though when you’ll find that you’re excluded
from “smart tariffs” that could potentially save you a lot of money.
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing machine at two in the morning,
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
On 4 May 2025 at 09:40:28 BST, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing >>>> machine at two in the morning,
If you have a home battery +/- solar, you don’t need to.
Let’s crunch some numbers…
Let's :-)
We use about 8kWh per day at 22p/kWh, or £642 per year, but have lost the >> interest payable on a piddly 4kW system at £12000, which itself comes to
£500.
That's about double what I'd expect a good quality installation to cost - mine
was £7000.
So, if the installation could supply all my electricity, which at 4kW it
won’t,
My 8 panel system, which is far from south facing, generated 2400kw/h over the
past year. So 6.5kW/h/day
there’s a gain of £142, and payback time will be 12000/142, or not
far short of 90 years.
My total for the year is £470 (£130 direct solar to home, £170 solar to battery, £170 solar to grid). So, crudely, £7000/£470 - 15 years.
Of course, there is the gain from selling surplus electricity back to the
grid, perhaps that might halve the payback time to a mere 45 years.
Oh! But in that time I’ll need two battery replacements, at 10 grand,
perhaps a failed inverter or two, and the panels will be shagged out
anyway.
Battery and inverter guaranteed for 10 years. Replacement costs about £1200/£1500 after that at today's prices.
Yes, but as explained here and elsewhere, there's usually more to it than cost
I hope you did your costings before signing up…
and finacial return. If that's your sole reason for adopting solar. you're less likely to do it. Unless you can lash up an extensive array, and/or you can DIY.
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Of all the things I worry about these days, that’s *way* down the list.
That’s an OK philosophy, until the power goes off. Just look at how long >> M&S are taking to get their systems back on track. Two weeks of no
electricity and the streets would be a bloodbath.
If you have solar/battery, it's possible to run off-grid for about 7 months (I
don't have that option).
Domestic solar is highly unlikely to ever be a year
round proposal in the UK until some form of storage better than the current system (of batteries) comes about.
The figures above for system costs are from a brief internet search.
Evidently.
If
anyone had more appropriate numbers, that would be interesting to look at.
If your house is showing lights at night, or there’s cooking odours wafting about, you’re likely to have some very unwelcome visitors.
Phone the police? No electricity…
On 03/05/2025 22:35, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing
machine at two in the morning,
Or going hungry waiting for the cheaper rate to apply so I can cook
dinner. (What if the *standard* rate is ten times the cheap rate, and
the latter is what I pay now?)
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Or someone at the suppliers tapping the wrong thing and cutting you off
by accident, as happened for the common area supply for my flats - took
three days for it to be reconnected.
Max Demian <max_demian@bigfoot.com> wrote:
On 03/05/2025 22:35, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing
machine at two in the morning,
Or going hungry waiting for the cheaper rate to apply so I can cook
dinner. (What if the *standard* rate is ten times the cheap rate, and
the latter is what I pay now?)
Such a scenario would result in street riots, with people demanding to know where the cheap renewable energy, promised for at least the last twenty
years and that’s cost us trillions, has actually got to.
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Or someone at the suppliers tapping the wrong thing and cutting you off
by accident, as happened for the common area supply for my flats - took
three days for it to be reconnected.
Ouch.
On 04/05/2025 16:38, Spike wrote:
Max Demian <max_demian@bigfoot.com> wrote:
On 03/05/2025 22:35, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing >>>> machine at two in the morning,
Or going hungry waiting for the cheaper rate to apply so I can cook
dinner. (What if the *standard* rate is ten times the cheap rate, and
the latter is what I pay now?)
Such a scenario would result in street riots, with people demanding to know >> where the cheap renewable energy, promised for at least the last twenty
years and that’s cost us trillions, has actually got to.
They would blame in on the Tories Brexit climate change anf *not enough renewable energy*.
You know that.
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Or someone at the suppliers tapping the wrong thing and cutting you off
by accident, as happened for the common area supply for my flats - took
three days for it to be reconnected.
Ouch.
Max Demian <max_demian@bigfoot.com> wrote:
On 03/05/2025 22:35, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing
machine at two in the morning,
Or going hungry waiting for the cheaper rate to apply so I can cook
dinner. (What if the *standard* rate is ten times the cheap rate, and
the latter is what I pay now?)
Such a scenario would result in street riots, with people demanding to know where the cheap renewable energy, promised for at least the last twenty
years and that’s cost us trillions, has actually got to.
RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
On 4 May 2025 at 09:40:28 BST, Spike wrote:
I’m quite willing to spend good money not having to load the washing >>>>> machine at two in the morning,
If you have a home battery +/- solar, you don’t need to.
Let’s crunch some numbers…
Let's :-)
We use about 8kWh per day at 22p/kWh, or £642 per year, but have lost the >>> interest payable on a piddly 4kW system at £12000, which itself comes to >>> £500.
That's about double what I'd expect a good quality installation to cost - mine
was £7000.
So, if the installation could supply all my electricity, which at 4kW it >>> won’t,
My 8 panel system, which is far from south facing, generated 2400kw/h over the
past year. So 6.5kW/h/day
there’s a gain of £142, and payback time will be 12000/142, or not
far short of 90 years.
My total for the year is £470 (£130 direct solar to home, £170 solar to >> battery, £170 solar to grid). So, crudely, £7000/£470 - 15 years.
Of course, there is the gain from selling surplus electricity back to the >>> grid, perhaps that might halve the payback time to a mere 45 years.
Oh! But in that time I’ll need two battery replacements, at 10 grand,
perhaps a failed inverter or two, and the panels will be shagged out
anyway.
Battery and inverter guaranteed for 10 years. Replacement costs about
£1200/£1500 after that at today's prices.
Yes, but as explained here and elsewhere, there's usually more to it than cost
I hope you did your costings before signing up…
and finacial return. If that's your sole reason for adopting solar. you're >> less likely to do it. Unless you can lash up an extensive array, and/or you >> can DIY.
or have malevolent actors turn off the
electricity remotely.
Of all the things I worry about these days, that’s *way* down the list.
That’s an OK philosophy, until the power goes off. Just look at how long >>> M&S are taking to get their systems back on track. Two weeks of no
electricity and the streets would be a bloodbath.
If you have solar/battery, it's possible to run off-grid for about 7 months (I
don't have that option).
Don’t the inverters shut down if there’s no mains?
But the food and water supply industries can’t service the population for seven months, if the electricity goes off. Much the same goes for public services.
If your house is showing lights at night, or there’s cooking odours wafting about, you’re likely to have some very unwelcome visitors.
Phone the police? No electricity…
I virtually never pay more than 7.5p per kWhr for my power consumed and my exports to the grid more than cover the cost of my import for 6 months of
the year.
Tim+ wrote:
I virtually never pay more than 7.5p per kWhr for my power consumed and my >> exports to the grid more than cover the cost of my import for 6 months of
the year.
So, for one half of the year you effectively pay nothing to your energy supplier, ad the other half of the year you pay a third of what most
people pay?
Presumably you need to be grid connected, to even it out when it's dark
cold and still?
If everyone did that, I suspect the standing charges
would be £2/day or more.
Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
Tim+ wrote:
I virtually never pay more than 7.5p per kWhr for my power consumed and my >>> exports to the grid more than cover the cost of my import for 6 months of >>> the year.
So, for one half of the year you effectively pay nothing to your energy
supplier, ad the other half of the year you pay a third of what most
people pay?
More or less.
Presumably you need to be grid connected, to even it out when it's dark
cold and still?
Indeed, I use my grid connection to charge my home battery at cheap rate every night. As we now have a heat pump we’ll almost certainly be drawing power during peak times in the colder/darker months as our battery capacity isn’t enough to run the heating all day on an overnight charge. We might upgrade the battery but I think I need to see how much we’re “banking” in
our account over the summer months when our power company effectively pays us.
If everyone did that, I suspect the standing charges
would be £2/day or more.
I leave those sums to my power company. Octopus is one of the companies that’s most pro-active in encouraging the utilisation of smart tariffs and I assume they know what they’re doing.
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
On 29/04/2025 19:34, Spike wrote:
Why has Octopus emailed me to say that I can have one of these checks? An
unsubtle way of lumbering me with a smart meter?
As it's taken me 15 months of hectoring and prodding Octopus to come and replace my dumb Gas Meter with a Smart one (finally happening next
week), I doubt they're trying to find an excuse to turn up !
RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
On 5 May 2025 at 21:56:44 BST, Tim+ wrote:
I leave those sums to my power company. Octopus is one of the companies >>> that’s most pro-active in encouraging the utilisation of smart tariffs and
I assume they know what they’re doing.
You're with Octopus I assume?
It's a pain transferring to them - you have to sign up to their standard
'flexible' tariff and then 'wait for emails' relating to more adventurous
tariffs such as solar export and battery import. No information about what you
may/may not be able to apply for. IIUC.
They only depend on them being able to access half hourly data from your meter. Once that’s established you’re free to choose from the various options. Usually takes a couple of weeks. They can’t promise you access to a smart tariffs and I if they can’t access your smart data.
On 5 May 2025 at 21:56:44 BST, Tim+ wrote:
Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
Tim+ wrote:
I virtually never pay more than 7.5p per kWhr for my power consumed and my >>>> exports to the grid more than cover the cost of my import for 6 months of >>>> the year.
So, for one half of the year you effectively pay nothing to your energy
supplier, ad the other half of the year you pay a third of what most
people pay?
More or less.
Presumably you need to be grid connected, to even it out when it's dark
cold and still?
Indeed, I use my grid connection to charge my home battery at cheap rate
every night. As we now have a heat pump we’ll almost certainly be drawing >> power during peak times in the colder/darker months as our battery capacity >> isn’t enough to run the heating all day on an overnight charge. We might >> upgrade the battery but I think I need to see how much we’re “banking” in
our account over the summer months when our power company effectively pays >> us.
If everyone did that, I suspect the standing charges
would be £2/day or more.
I leave those sums to my power company. Octopus is one of the companies
that’s most pro-active in encouraging the utilisation of smart tariffs and >> I assume they know what they’re doing.
You're with Octopus I assume?
It's a pain transferring to them - you have to sign up to their standard 'flexible' tariff and then 'wait for emails' relating to more adventurous tariffs such as solar export and battery import. No information about what you
may/may not be able to apply for. IIUC.
And as it stands their flexible tariff is about 15% more than my present Eon deal.
On 6 May 2025 at 13:50:46 BST, Tim+ wrote:
RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
On 5 May 2025 at 21:56:44 BST, Tim+ wrote:
I leave those sums to my power company. Octopus is one of the companies >>>> that’s most pro-active in encouraging the utilisation of smart tariffs and
I assume they know what they’re doing.
You're with Octopus I assume?
It's a pain transferring to them - you have to sign up to their standard >>> 'flexible' tariff and then 'wait for emails' relating to more adventurous >>> tariffs such as solar export and battery import. No information about what you
may/may not be able to apply for. IIUC.
They only depend on them being able to access half hourly data from your
meter. Once that’s established you’re free to choose from the various
options. Usually takes a couple of weeks. They can’t promise you access >> to a smart tariffs and I if they can’t access your smart data.
Which they can. Or at least I can, currently. Wonder why they don't ask at the
outset?
I'd still have to start with their unfavourable tariff. Just feels
like 'fingers crossed'.
Anyway, I've written to them to see if they can give me a litle more information.
Rob
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 546 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 02:05:59 |
| Calls: | 10,385 |
| Calls today: | 2 |
| Files: | 14,057 |
| Messages: | 6,416,581 |