It's kind of alarming how many issues people are having with these smart meters. And I'll admit, I'm just a dude, I'm sure there's more going on under the hood than I could understand......but most of the problems seem to be based on shortsighted, or downright poor decision making that dates back to the very start of the project.
this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2023
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most of the problems seem to be based on shortsighted, or downright poor decision making that dates back to the very start of the project
That's how it is with every software project, and probably every other industry too!
They're shutting down 2g and 3g??
Nods its down to the companies. But most have indicated 3g is getting shut down. And Ofcom expects 2g to go the same way.
They(Ofcom) are currently seeking consultation. As to there plans to allow repeaters (signal booster) etc to be built without 2g and 3g support. Because they feel it is no longer needed.
The UK 3G network switch-off: what you need to know
Timescales vary by provider, but yep.
I'm still happy with my un-smart meter (which would require an entire house rewire to make a smart meter useful - so much for "free")
Why would you need to rewire the house to allow a smart meter to automatically update usage to the provider?
Because the physical location is not suitable - a 60s house with the distribution units (and old Eco7 termination for night-storage heaters) are right next to the current meter.
Oh, and it's in the kitchen, underneath the bathroom... right underneath the bath!
It might require a few smart plugs. Not a whole rewire
Seems short sighted, but then the first smart meters were around before 4G was a thing. Is there a way to check what kind of sim card is in your smart meter?
I presume the physical device just isn't capable (like an old phone)
The SIM doesn't provide the 3G/4G/5G ability, it just enables it, so swapping the SIM wouldn't help... unless another provider was holding back the upgrade for longer...?
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The report echoes an earlier one by the National Audit Office (NAO), which found that as of March 2023, energy companies had rolled out the devices to just 57 percent (roughly 32.4 million out of a potential install base of 57.1 million) homes and businesses.
It asks both to set out "what they will do to ensure suppliers assign more importance than at present to replacing those smart meters not functioning properly" and "a timetable for replacing the communication hub element of smart meters that will lose functionality when the 2G and 3G mobile networks are switched off."
It is hardly surprising the PAC, which studies public audits such as those written by the NAO, is concerned about deadlines because the smart meter project has missed plenty so far.
The scheme started in 2012 when government placed the legal burden on energy suppliers to ensure they'd complete the smart meter rollout by 2019.
The PAC also want DESNZ and Ofgem to outline "measures to ensure that suppliers use future-proofed technology – for example, by excluding 2G or 3G connectivity – in all new smart meter installations."
And it wants the department and the energy watchdog to detail program costs to Parliament on an annual basis to inform decisions about the rollout.
The original article contains 495 words, the summary contains 211 words. Saved 57%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!