Smart meter benefits

sir – Geoffrey Moody (Letters, September 15) asks to have the benefits of smart meters explained.

When, in the near future, Mr Moody has an electricity tariff with four different time-of-use levels, some solar panels working alongside his electric vehicle, and an energy storage system, he will find his smart meter can record how much energy he delivers back to the grid, which he will then be paid for.

It’s also likely that the grid will use his stored energy to help cover peaks of national demand. This assistance can accrue higher income levels than energy costs at non-peak times.

With a national grid increasingly dependent on the renewable energy sources of wind and solar, local storage will be an invaluable asset for balancing supply and demand.

We will all have smart meters soon: we may as well get used to them.

Ian Brent-smith

Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire

sir – I declined to have a smart meter installed as I fail to see the benefit to consumers. I can, however, see the benefit to utility companies.

Once they can identify when peaks and troughs of energy consumption occur, they can apply tariffs. Greater demand at peak times will call for higher prices, due to “supply and demand”. This is the real reason they are being advocated.

Dr Rob Caird

Greywell, Hampshire sir – The data captured by my smart meter allows me to produce charts depicting power and gas consumption week-on-week for comparison with previous yearly figures.

These result in enlightening conversations with my wife every morning.

Graeme Williams

West Malling, Kent