Genesis want to upgrade Power Meter by Vector to smart meter. Benefit or not?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Genesis want to upgrade Power Meter by Vector to smart meter. Benefit or not?

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#2891897 25-Mar-2022 11:14

Eva888:
Linux:

@Eva888 The fire service have put Ads on TV about that service for many many years this is nothing new

It’s new to me and I imagine for a lot of people. In any case...it’s a good safety reminder and that’s why I’m sharing the information.

It's new to me too, but now I think about it I do actually vaguely remember my mum getting exactly this done about 10 years ago - Fire Service came around, looked at the smoke alarms, recommended some changes, and helped devise some emergency plans.

I'm going to arrange for this to be done at my place (as well as a couple of neighbours) when I'm back in Auckland. Strongly encouraged, it's 15 minutes' work that could save you and your family.

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Eva888

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#2892023 25-Mar-2022 12:09

Now that I feel reasonably comfortable that a meter won’t cause any danger of fire, any other issues will be minor ones compared to that, so will allow them to go ahead with the installation.

Reservations remain about the honesty of the device readings and if they can be sped up by the supplier who has control of it. Is it possible? I imagine it is.

Thanks for all the input, as always on geekzone, posts grow in many directions from the original question and raise awareness of problems you didn't know you had.

An observation to the experienced, (NB am not referring to anyone here in particular) some questions may appear obvious, but they are valid concerns to the poster looking for an answer and these same concerns may also be held by many readers who aren’t members of the site. Non judgemental explanations get these solved and respect every level of question smart or stupid and therefore don’t preclude those with less knowledge on a subject who often feel intimidated to voice a thought or opinion.

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#2892046 25-Mar-2022 13:09

Eva888: Now that I feel reasonably comfortable that a meter won’t cause any danger of fire, any other issues will be minor ones compared to that, so will allow them to go ahead with the installation.

Reservations remain about the honesty of the device readings and if they can be sped up by the supplier who has control of it. Is it possible? I imagine it is.

Thanks for all the input, as always on geekzone, posts grow in many directions from the original question and raise awareness of problems you didn't know you had.

An observation to the experienced, (NB am not referring to anyone here in particular) some questions may appear obvious, but they are valid concerns to the poster looking for an answer and these same concerns may also be held by many readers who aren’t members of the site. Non judgemental explanations get these solved and respect every level of question smart or stupid and therefore don’t preclude those with less knowledge on a subject who often feel intimidated to voice a thought or opinion.

You could install your own import meter into your consumer unit if you don't trust them. I'd be interested to know if there is any variance that would make a material difference.

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#2892093 25-Mar-2022 13:12

Eva888: Reservations remain about the honesty of the device readings and if they can be sped up by the supplier who has control of it. Is it possible? I imagine it is.

I am pretty sure a malicious meter that counts more than used would be reported pretty soon and the Commerce Commission wouldn't be happy about it.

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Eva888

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#2892111 25-Mar-2022 14:02

You would hope no such thing could happen. Most people including myself would never know if there was any discrepancy and wouldn’t know how or where to begin checking. You just trust.

I wonder if there is an authority that audits random meters, like they used to do with measuring scales in shops.

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#2892117 25-Mar-2022 14:22

Eva888:
I wonder if there is an authority that audits random meters, like they used to do with measuring scales in shops.

Digital is always going to be more accurate than Analogue. Who knows, if you've got an analog meter currently (I seriously don't know what you have since this discussion has shifted from a simple meter replacement, to modem replacement to borderline conspiracy theories) then it could even be running fast and you could be over-billed currently.

Just get your meter upgraded and be done with it. Whatever that upgrade is and stop reading too far into it as that is how conspiracy theories are started.

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antonknee

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#2892118 25-Mar-2022 14:23

Eva888:

An observation to the experienced, (NB am not referring to anyone here in particular) some questions may appear obvious, but they are valid concerns to the poster looking for an answer and these same concerns may also be held by many readers who aren’t members of the site. Non judgemental explanations get these solved and respect every level of question smart or stupid and therefore don’t preclude those with less knowledge on a subject who often feel intimidated to voice a thought or opinion.

Good callout, it's easy to forget just because you know something or think the answer is obvious, that doesn't mean everyone else does - we all have different knowledge bases, interests, experiences, concerns, etc.

Generally speaking someone isn't asking their question somewhere like Geekzone just for fun - it's because they'd like an answer, haven't found one elsewhere, and think someone in this community can probably help. One of the great things about Geekzone is there is often someone here who is knowledgable and can help.

Plus it's the internet so this discussion will end up on Google until the end of time, and who knows who else might be Googling a similar query or concern down the track.

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#2892126 25-Mar-2022 14:59

Eva888: Reservations remain about the honesty of the device readings and if they can be sped up by the supplier who has control of it. Is it possible? I imagine it is.

They can’t. Tarif metering is a very litigious industry and the consequences of doing this and being caught don’t bear thinking about.

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#2892127 25-Mar-2022 15:03

michaelmurfy:
Eva888:
I wonder if there is an authority that audits random meters, like they used to do with measuring scales in shops.

Digital is always going to be more accurate than Analogue. Who knows, if you've got an analog meter currently (I seriously don't know what you have since this discussion has shifted from a simple meter replacement, to modem replacement to borderline conspiracy theories) then it could even be running fast and you could be over-billed currently.

Just get your meter upgraded and be done with it. Whatever that upgrade is and stop reading too far into it as that is how conspiracy theories are started.

Yes. I have already mentioned I decided to go ahead with the installation a few posts above.

I don’t like the word conspiracy attached to my queries because it undermines my valid and sincere questions. The word has lately become a term of insult thrown about too readily and I won’t be brushed with it because there is nothing in my posts pointing to a conspiracy. Any inference to a conspiracy is entirely in the readers mind.

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#2892129 25-Mar-2022 15:05

Eva888: I don’t like the word conspiracy attached to my queries because it undermines my valid and sincere questions. The word has lately become a term of insult thrown about too readily and I won’t be brushed with it because there is nothing in my posts pointing to a conspiracy. Any inference to a conspiracy is entirely in the readers mind.

And yet you have implied the electricity company would have nefarious interests in misreading the consumption, despite the advice that this is an industry that would be very much in the government's crosshairs if anything like this happened.

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rugrat

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#2892137 25-Mar-2022 15:50

I did catch Orion doing wrong over 20 years ago.

The night rate was suppose to be between 9pm-7am.

The power meter was switching to day rate 6.30am, half an hour before it was suppose to.

They tried to tell me it takes time for the switch over signal to travel down the line so do it early.

I replied yet it takes no time to go from for the signal to change over at 9pm, if it was done same way the cheap rate should start at 8.30pm not change over at 9.00pm.

It was a few phone calls, and I believe I got someone high up from Orion on the phone. They asked who I was and I said just Joe Average but I’d worked out how to read the flashing lights.

They told me it would be fixed but take a couple days, checked next day nope. Left it for a week then checked and the times were bang on.

I haven’t worked out how to work out current meters, but my power bills seem to match what I expect so haven’t worried about it. In general I’d expect them to be honest so was a bit dismayed when discovered that.

Eva888

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#2892139 25-Mar-2022 16:00

freitasm:
Eva888: I don’t like the word conspiracy attached to my queries because it undermines my valid and sincere questions. The word has lately become a term of insult thrown about too readily and I won’t be brushed with it because there is nothing in my posts pointing to a conspiracy. Any inference to a conspiracy is entirely in the readers mind.

And yet you have implied the electricity company would have nefarious interests in misreading the consumption, despite the advice that this is an industry that would be very much in the government's crosshairs if anything like this happened.

I don't want to get into arguments about others perceptions of the integrity of the posts.

Having lived in countries where such activities can and do occur, it was a straight question. Why is this not obvious. There was nothing implied about misreading the consumption, only if the device could be sped up. Note the words *'Is it possible?' in my sentence below.

*Reservations remain about the honesty of the device readings and if they can be sped up by the supplier who has control of it. Is it possible? I imagine it is.*

@handle assured in his post this is not possible...thank you. I think the subject is now answered and closed.

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#2892140 25-Mar-2022 16:01

rugrat:

I did catch Orion doing wrong over 20 years ago.

The night rate was suppose to be between 9pm-7am.

The power meter was switching to day rate 6.30am, half an hour before it was suppose to.

I'd apply Hanlon's razor: "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

Also, 20 years ago.

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MikeAqua

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#2892155 25-Mar-2022 16:59

freitasm:

Eva888: Is this in my interests to change to a smart meter or is this just a smart way to charge more.

There is no conspiracy here. You were charged by usage, you will continue to be charged by usage. Instead of someone coming around to read the metering equipment every two months the data is transferred daily.

If nothing it will be more accurate instead of you having to pay an estimated amount every second month - which could be good or bad depending on averages.

I'd add that in my experience estimates are often high. I used to interpolate what the meter readings would have been on the date of estimation and ring those in. That usually resulted in a cheaper bill being issued. On that basis a smart meter is a good thing.

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#2892156 25-Mar-2022 17:03

If anything, I think a smart reader is fairer than estimates - with estimates you risk paying a lot more one month because of a previous average, without the need. A smart meter will always give the exact reading every day. I rather have that than an estimate that most only benefits the company.

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