Can we choose ?

[hissingsid 3,675]

Can we choose whether to have smart meters installed ?   They are still running a pretty intensive advertising campaign on the Telly to encourage people across the water to have them installed.    They have not had a rapturous welcome in some parts and some reputable claims have been made that they are not all that great, reports on the performance of them is mixed. 

[finlo 4,876]

3 minutes ago, hissingsid said:

Can we choose whether to have smart meters installed ?   They are still running a pretty intensive advertising campaign on the Telly to encourage people across the water to have them installed.    They have not had a rapturous welcome in some parts and some reputable claims have been made that they are not all that great, reports on the performance of them is mixed. 

The ginger dude said you can keep your old one, for now.

[Kopek 2,133]

Althoiugh the MUA have said the cost     18 million quids           will be paid by the MUA, how can this be so when the MUA can increase prices without explanation for this???

The controversy in the UK is that the cost WILL be passed on to the consumer, like it or not. The Advertising Standartds Agency have pulled up the TV ads for over claiming the advantages?

The cost saving advantage of 'smart meters' can only be so if you constantly take readings to monitor your costs, if you change from tungsten to LEDs. you need before and after  readings but then, most people will be changing to LEDs anyway, so the ability the check on savings will be superfluous?

The meters on the Island will not be dual fuel,so you cannot compare gas and electric costs, you could check if cooking your carrots and spuds on three quarters power is better that full power but, are you really going the run to your meter to check this while cooking dinner?

Final point, the MUA say that there are problems with the Key Meters ?Yet these meters are an easy way of calculating your consumption of a daily basis? Is this another  " Voids under the Prom " excuse for doing what they, the MUA , want to do???

Edited August 21, 2019 by Kopek

[Rog 1,658]

Over here with the various fixed term deals on offer that are now coming up for renewal new deals are contingent on taking a smart meter.  The difference in costs can run to hundreds of pounds a year.  A lot of people are not happy.

[Donald Trumps 5,536]

9 hours ago, Kopek said:

Althoiugh the MUA have said the cost     18 million quids           will be paid by the MUA, how can this be so when the MUA can increase prices without explanation for this???

The controversy in the UK is that the cost WILL be passed on to the consumer, like it or not. The Advertising Standartds Agency have pulled up the TV ads for over claiming the advantages?

The cost saving advantage of 'smart meters' can only be so if you constantly take readings to monitor your costs, if you change from tungsten to LEDs. you need before and after  readings but then, most people will be changing to LEDs anyway, so the ability the check on savings will be superfluous?

The meters on the Island will not be dual fuel,so you cannot compare gas and electric costs, you could check if cooking your carrots and spuds on three quarters power is better that full power but, are you really going the run to your meter to check this while cooking dinner?

Final point, the MUA say that there are problems with the Key Meters ?Yet these meters are an easy way of calculating your consumption of a daily basis? Is this another  " Voids under the Prom " excuse for doing what they, the MUA , want to do???

I could swear I heard Dr Allinson say they'd be multi fuel

Perhaps I'm goiing deaf in my old age

[hissingsid 3,675]

I am just surprised they have this money to splash out surely they should pay a bit of their debt of millions or do they think that will be sorted by stealth payments by the government out of the SURPLUS...you can bet 15 million is only the starting price, who is going to install these meters ? Nice little earner for no doubt a company brought from over the water.   I would bet these meters have already been purchased and for a double I bet uptake will be slow and reluctant.

[finlo 4,876]

5 minutes ago, hissingsid said:

I am just surprised they have this money to splash out surely they should pay a bit of their debt of millions or do they think that will be sorted by stealth payments by the government out of the SURPLUS...you can bet 15 million is only the starting price, who is going to install these meters ? Nice little earner for no doubt a company brought from over the water.   I would bet these meters have already been purchased and for a double I bet uptake will be slow and reluctant.

You can bet your arse this will be profitable for them else why bother?

[hissingsid 3,675]

Of course they will hike the price of leccy up to pay for something that is supposedly going to save the money which we will need to pay the higher bills...simples.

[Non-Believer 12,832]

EVERYBODY is entitled to the fallout from the MEA/MUA's business decisions.

Except the MEA/MUA hierachy.

[woolley 19,198]

5 hours ago, finlo said:

You can bet your arse this will be profitable for them else why bother?

This. The only reason they ever do anything nowadays. Nowt in it for you, you can guarantee, so don't volunteer. Do the metaphorical equivalent of lying in the road doggo and wait until they actually have to come along and drag you to where they want you to go.

[Donald Trumps 5,536]

I hope sensible folk in Tynwald insist that the meters are capable of coping with all utilities

[Dirty Buggane 200]

It seems a pointless operation, as any power reduction you manage to make will be over shadowed by the price increase as soon as usage drops.

As is shown by the last increase to cover the cost of douglas corpy switching to l.e.d. lamps for public lighting as they use 65%to 72% less power.

\\\And why key meters first surely they would be last as they do not need reading at any stage or estimates. 

[finlo 4,876]

4 minutes ago, Dirty Buggane said:

It seems a pointless operation, as any power reduction you manage to make will be over shadowed by the price increase as soon as usage drops.

As is shown by the last increase to cover the cost of douglas corpy switching to l.e.d. lamps for public lighting as they use 65%to 72% less power.

\\\And why key meters first surely they would be last as they do not need reading at any stage or estimates. 

Variable tariffs coming to a meter near you soon!

[Dirty Buggane 200]

God help us (other deity's are available) Is this going to be another gas debarkle if you us less you pay more standing charge. 

[Roger Mexico 9,781]

Some interesting information in response to an FoI request was released this week ( ref: 931113;  Manx Utilities replacement of manually read electricity metres/ Manx Utilities Authority /  22/08/2019)

Quote

Please provide information held relating to the following:
Who the contract for replacing manually read meters has been awarded to?
Value of the contract?
Contract term?
Details of the Technology that will be used to gather the data from the smart meters?
will this be over a mobile network or a new MUA configured network?
how will the data that is gathered be stored, will this be GDPR compliant?
Was this contract issued for tender, if so, how many companies responded and the details/names of these companies?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

This is because we have not yet entered into contract for the supply of advanced/smart meters. Once this contract has been agreed we will be able to provide further details to all our stakeholders. I have detailed below the information that is held.

Regarding the technology that will be used to gather the data from the smart meters, as per a previous press release Manx Utilities signed a contract with Trilliant at the end of 2018 for the supply of a dedicated low power Radio Frequency Network to provide island wide connectivity to 50,000 customer premises.

Data from the meter hardware will be transmitted securely to Isle of Man Government’s hosted data centres. All aspects of the smart metering system will comply with GDPR and Data Protection legislation and the proposals have been endorsed by the Information Commissioner. This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as the programme develops to ensure that any processing of personal data is undertaken in compliance with data protection legislation.

Regarding the commercial appointment process of the communications system, this was undertaken in two phases and in compliance with financial regulations.

Five companies submitted proposals as follows;
• Arqiva
• L&G
• Iskrameco
• Trilliant
• Itron

 

Edited August 23, 2019 by Roger Mexico