Smart Meters Free Energy Cut Off Date?

[EDDIE51]

How many of you realise that the 'Free Energy' offer of free power on a Sunday from 9 am to 5pm is only until 30th March 2018?
I certainly didn't and the adverts do not mention it unless you look for the 'small print'!
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/gas-and-electricity/free-electricity-tariff.html

[EDDIE51]

^^ scroll down to 'Our free time tariffs' ! on my link.

[EDDIE51]

I can't see any mention of the 'remote disconnect' either !!

[hc4361]

I hadn't looked in to it at all but I did not expect it to last for ever.

[EDDIE51]

Finally managed to find site where British Gas admit they can remote disconnect people
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Meters-meter-readings/Smart-Meters/whats-different-with-smart-meters/Will-customers-on-smart-meters-be-disconnected-remotely.html

[hc4361]

What remote disconnect?

[EDDIE51]

They are very 'coy' about it only saying they do not have any more power to disconnect remotely than they do normally, but it certainly makes it a lot easier! They already can disconnect in the event of a power shortage.

[fiction-factory]

eddie is concerned all holders of smart meteray get cut off/held to ransom whenever the energy companies feel the need to do it if there is a shortage and big business needs it

[EDDIE51]

hc4361 Every Smart Meter has a built in remote disconnect facility. It means they do not need to come to your house to disconnect you, they can do it from their headquarters using their computer system.

[hc4361]

Re disconnection for non-payment. My electricity meters are outside my property, like many others. If I am severe arrears and the electric company wants to disconnect me, they can simply be coming to the house and doing just that.
If the meters are inside my property they have to get a court order. This is not authorising them to disconnect the meters but to force entry to the property.
With smart meters they can disconnect me from their office but they would have to apply the same decision making process as they do for dumb meters.

There are many circumstances where the electricity companies are never allowed to disconnect and it makes no difference what sort of meter you have.

Far more likely for the companies to install a prepay meter than disconnect - at least that way they are still selling their electricity and recouping the arrears.

[fiction-factory]

AB froze again as I tried to change something and then the answer submitted itself.
It is something I am sure the regulator will have to have rules about. theses trials are being monitored closely and they are looking for feedback eddie so

[hc4361]

I remember every house in my area being cut off for short periods during the 70s. They could do it then, they can do it now, and they will be able to do it when everyone is on smart meters.
This is not something they would want to do. They want to sell their product and if they don't have good reason they could be open to all sorts of litigation if they do cut people off without proper notice and good reason.

[hc4361]

I can see that in the future we may be charged different rates at different times, similar to the Economy 7 system I am on now but more refined.

If there was only one supplier this would be cause for concern but there is so much competition for our custom that it could be beneficial for some.

[EDDIE51]

The point is that electricity companies now have the authority to disconnect ordinary domestic customers if there is an electricity shortfall emergency and power is needed to keep essential industry and public services running.
The only reason smart meters are being introduced is that it makes it far easier to disconnect people. Without smart meters they have to visit every house and disconnect one by one. With smart meters it only needs a click of a computer key to disconnect anything from one house to the entire UK.
There is also the chance of a rogue or disgruntled employee with access to the computer system taking revenge by disconnecting a few hundred homes!

[hc4361]

What happened in the 70s, Eddie? I don't remember anyone coming to our house to disconnect and reconnect a couple of hours later every couple of days

[EDDIE51]

hc4361 Yes I well remember the power cuts of the 1970s but then they had to shut down an entire area by shutting down a substation or more It meant industry / hospitals / public services got cut off as well. Smart meters allow them to target just private houses and leave industry turned on !
Actually the 1970s power cuts were great for me. I was monthly paid so I got paid to sit at work and do nothing. We used to take beer and sandwiches into work and sit outside reading the paper while drinking beer and eating sandwiches and getting paid to do it! Happy times !

[fiction-factory]

Yes, I think they just shut down substations or similar so it affected everyone in a given area. With this they can be more selective. But I am sure that OFGEM and parliament would have restrictions on their ability to do it- sounds like something that would only happen in a dire emergency where at present whole areas have cuts whereas under this they could be selective and keep hospitals and vital businesses going- which seems sensible

[bednobs]

"The point is that electricity companies now have the authority to disconnect ordinary domestic customers if there is an electricity shortfall emergency and power is needed to keep essential industry and public services running.
The only reason smart meters are being introduced is that it makes it far easier to disconnect people. "

I don't get why you think this is a bad thing. In the event of a national emergency, i think i would prefer the government could (for example) keep nuclear reactors from melting down, rather than faff about wasting time coming to every house

[EDDIE51]

^^ even better, we had a social club with a large bar on the work site and it was open every lunch time . As soon as there was a power cut the club bar opened. Drinking at work was normal then. All we did on a Friday morning was decide which pub we were going to go to for the lunch time pissup.

[gingejbee]

There's a big difference between disconnecting the odd consumer (because of non-payment for example).....and rationing power by selective cuts in whole areas.

[hc4361]

Can't see the point of rationing unless the industry is in crisis. They want us to use electricity, it's how they make their money