Contact Energy issue

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Awrrr
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#3266364 30-Jul-2024 15:48

OldGeek:

In respect of a digital meter this will give you significantly more insight to your electricity consumption and billing. You can clearly navigate around Geekzone so should have no trouble navigating around your new supplier's website to view your consumption, usually by 30-minute increments. If in doubt, read the current consumption on the digital display off your meter and compare it to what is reported. No need to wait until you get a bill to report any inaccuracy.

Not really bothered by that. My power needs are pretty minimal. Heating is by wood from the property. No electric cars. Don't care if I get overcharged a few dollars. Don't need that level of precision. The whole smart meter issue is about upselling me something I don't want and don't need for my use case. It is putting everyone in the same box regardless of individual circumstances. I don't need one size fits all.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tripper1000

1617 posts

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#3266369 30-Jul-2024 16:28

Smart meter is not about up-selling since there is no sale. They are usually installed free of charge (unless you want it relocated as spoken about above).

The old mechanical meters were also a one-size-fits-all solution back in their day. It is fairer to say they were standard equipment, and now smart meters are standard equipment.

Can't say I've heard of meter readers having to manually read smart meters except for fly-by-night power retailers who won't deal with the meter company. (just remember the meter reader will be biased in order to stay in a job!). A dying meter is lost profit for the power company so they get fixed pretty sharply.

RunningMan

8955 posts

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#3266371 30-Jul-2024 16:31

Rikkitic:[snip] I suddenly received an email out of the blue from another company on their behalf on 26 June stating that my their meter was going to be replaced in August.

FTFY.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3266377 30-Jul-2024 16:46

tripper1000:

Smart meter is not about up-selling since there is no sale. They are usually installed free of charge (unless you want it relocated as spoken about above).

The old mechanical meters were also a one-size-fits-all solution back in their day. It is fairer to say they were standard equipment, and now smart meters are standard equipment.

Can't say I've heard of meter readers having to manually read smart meters except for fly-by-night power retailers who won't deal with the meter company. (just remember the meter reader will be biased in order to stay in a job!). A dying meter is lost profit for the power company so they get fixed pretty sharply.

Actually it is upselling because it is an upgrade pitched as a convenience that also happens to save the power companies money on meter readers though people who accept them are not offered any discounts as far as I know. Standard equipment is a fair comment, I just prefer sub-standard. Can't speak to the veracity of the meter reader's comment but I have no reason to disbelieve her.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3266381 30-Jul-2024 16:53

RunningMan:

FTFY.

I don't care. If I have to have one, I will. If I don't, I won't.

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Ge0rge

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#3266421 30-Jul-2024 17:39

Wouldn't the ability to go on to time of use plans - only available with a smart meter - save the consumer money, vs one rate all day every day?

John19612

68 posts

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#3266491 31-Jul-2024 06:50

Ge0rge: Wouldn't the ability to go on to time of use plans - only available with a smart meter - save the consumer money, vs one rate all day every day?

For a very disciplined consumer or those with specific patterns of consumption, yes, there is money to be saved. For most consumers, no, there is little, if any, money to be saved.

Power plans and billing are still a mystery for most NZ consumers, which is the way power companies want it to stay.

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raytaylor

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#3266500 31-Jul-2024 07:58

Yes you can have a discount for having a smart meter.

I get free power between 9pm and midnight.

I often hear people complaining about how expensive power is, but for me, its never been cheaper. However I take advantage of the discount options that the smart meter gives me.

Contact have contracted Blue Current to replace the meters in hawkes bay and do sim card swaps.
They simply have a list and are calling everyone. Its not deliberately trying to annoy you - its just a simple "Here Blue Current, here is a list of all these customers, go call them and upgrade their meters"

I have been called several times and keep telling them for one of our meters, they need to turn up with a 4WD vehicle to access the site - they say they will call me back once they find out if the local electrician has a 4WD vehicle and then several weeks later i get another call with no knowledge of the previous discussion on their part.

Rikkitic probably wouldnt have much benefit from a smart meter anyway as I think they are outside of cellphone coverage, or might be in the shadow of a hill for a recently installed tower.

Ray Taylor

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Mehrts

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#3266525 31-Jul-2024 10:33

The resistance some people have against moving to smart meters doesn't seem to make much sense. Of course they're welcome to their own opinions and beliefs etc.

However:

-In most cases, it costs the consumer nothing, as the power company funds the replacement.
-It allows the consumer to better monitor their power usage trends.
-It gives the consumer the ability to take advantage of cheaper/free power during off-peak periods.

What's not good about any of that?

But hey, that's my own opinion.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3266633 31-Jul-2024 15:26

Mehrts:

The resistance some people have against moving to smart meters doesn't seem to make much sense. Of course they're welcome to their own opinions and beliefs etc.

However:

-In most cases, it costs the consumer nothing, as the power company funds the replacement.
-It allows the consumer to better monitor their power usage trends.
-It gives the consumer the ability to take advantage of cheaper/free power during off-peak periods.

What's not good about any of that?

But hey, that's my own opinion.

The presumptiveness some people have about the motives of people they know nothing about. The things that matter to you may not matter to me and they don't have to make much sense to you as I don't require your approval. What's not good about that?

It gets a little tiresome when people keep assuming things about me and what I find good or otherwise. Just because you think something is good doesn't mean anyone else has to. Maybe my priorities and values are just different.

But hey, that's my own opinion.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Behodar

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#3266635 31-Jul-2024 15:33

Ge0rge: Wouldn't the ability to go on to time of use plans - only available with a smart meter - save the consumer money, vs one rate all day every day?

Back in the 90s the local power company in my area had a choice between flat-rate and peak vs off-peak plans. This was well before smart meters were available. It follows that it must be possible without them!

Earbanean

937 posts

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#3266650 31-Jul-2024 16:17

I've had discussions with people about things like vaccines etc and learnt that even if the facts and figures make sense, you still need to respect a person's right to dig their heels in and stick to an opinion/belief. It's one of those freedoms that we have.

Mehrts

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#3266738 1-Aug-2024 00:51

Rikkitic:

The presumptiveness some people have about the motives of people they know nothing about. The things that matter to you may not matter to me and they don't have to make much sense to you as I don't require your approval. What's not good about that?

It gets a little tiresome when people keep assuming things about me and what I find good or otherwise. Just because you think something is good doesn't mean anyone else has to. Maybe my priorities and values are just different.

But hey, that's my own opinion.

Notice I wasn't specificially referring to you, because a lot of people have the same views for whatever reason that may be. I just find it interesting.

I don't tell people what they should/shouldn't do, simply stating the benefits of something that may have been overlooked.

Mehrts

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#3266739 1-Aug-2024 00:53

Behodar:Back in the 90s the local power company in my area had a choice between flat-rate and peak vs off-peak plans. This was well before smart meters were available. It follows that it must be possible without them!

Just guessing here, but that must have had something to do with ripple control back in the day. The same control used for turning on/off hot water cylinders & nightstore heaters etc.

Behodar

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#3266748 1-Aug-2024 07:43

I suspect you're right. I was thinking about it after I posted and wondered whether it might have required two meters.

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