Smart meter

coalnewbie · Post by **coalnewbie** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 1:26 pm

I have been informed that I will now be changed to smart meter so any ideas on battery install and using nighttime only. With only little old me here now perhaps this is an idea?

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 3:56 pm

Can't help "lil old you"--- BUT, I'll bet ya get MANY responses Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **Rob R.** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 6:07 pm

Are you thinking off shifting your load to off-peak with batteries? Unless they are offering a huge discount on off-peak power, I can’t see you coming out ahead.

I think you would be better off seeing what could be moved off-peak with simple timers (electric water heater for example) and seeing what you could do to reduce your electrical usage.

grumpy · Post by **grumpy** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 6:32 pm

What does this have to do with a smart meter?

Post by **Rob R.** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 7:03 pm

grumpy wrote: ↑
Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 6:32 pm
What does this have to do with a smart meter?

Many places roll out Smart Meters and time of use pricing at the same time.

coalnewbie · Post by **coalnewbie** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 7:12 pm

Sorry grumps but this is exactly the advice I was looking for

grumpy · Post by **grumpy** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 10:47 pm

Rob R. wrote: ↑
Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 7:03 pm
Many places roll out Smart Meters and time of use pricing at the same time.

I see, I did not know that..

grumpy · Post by **grumpy** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 10:51 pm

I agree with Rob, going to be hard to get ahead of that.

Are you sure time of day comes with the smart meter ?

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 11:25 pm

grumpy wrote: ↑
Tue. Oct. 04, 2022 10:51 pm
Are you sure time of day comes with the smart meter ?

We got smart meters several years ago, but no hint yet of time-of-day rates.
On the plus side, the meters have not cooked anyone's brain yet, like the scaremongers warned.
As more and more solar is installed, I wonder if daytime kilowatts will eventually cost less than nighttime -- the opposite of the present situation.

Post by **Richard S.** » Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 6:30 am

One of the purposes of those meters is so they can control electric consumption during heavy demand if it's paired with smart thermostats and other device controllers. One of the problems with power consumption during peak demand is you have households randomly putting demand on the system. If a brownout is imminent and it can controlled centrally they can space that demand out more evenly, e.g. your AC or heat may be delayed. Of course if the situation becomes dire they can lower or increase the thermostat too.

My Uncle has had one these for decades and they offered lower rates form something like 6PM to 6AM. His electric water heater is on a timer. The bathe, was dishes and was clothes at night when the rate is lower. Since it's just two of them they have plenty of hot water during the day, of course if he had too he could just override the timer.

tsb · Post by **tsb** » Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 7:27 am

They can also kill power remotely.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 8:56 am

tsb wrote: ↑
Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 7:27 am
They can also kill power remotely.

I have wondered about that... How long before some clever hacker gets into the power company's computer, and shuts off all the houses in Maine some cold winter night?

warminmn · Post by **warminmn** » Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 9:00 am

That could probably happen rberq, but they will say it cant happen.

Ive had one here on my pole for a few years. I have nothing in my home that can be linked to one and I guess thats one way to bypass it.

If I understand it right, there is a 200 foot tower 1.5 miles from me and there are antenna's on power lines here and there that transmit info back and forth. I dont think there are any night rates here but theres something about plug ins for electric cars but that takes a special meter.

Just live like its 1980-1990 and you wont have to deal with as much of it, lol

coalnewbie · Post by **coalnewbie** » Wed. Oct. 05, 2022 9:16 am

Live like it's 1980 in Mn ... but candles are immune to this problem

hotblast1357 · Post by **hotblast1357** » Thu. Oct. 06, 2022 6:40 am

It seems like the night day rate is a wash around here, the night rate is cheaper but the day right is more, and no matter what you will use electricity during the day so every KW during the day is going to cost more than if you just had a straight rate. So who knows if the KWs at night will make up the difference, probably cost more then straight rate.

Nothing is free!!