BIGGEST OPponents
Edward is unsure about just how a smart meter can really save him and his family money.
He is married to writer Millie, 27, and takes care of their two daughters – Joy, three, and Robyn, one.
He is also the one responsible for looking after the household bills every month.
Edward says: “I’m so busy looking after our two children, would I really have time to keep checking a device to work out if I could be more efficient?
“I don’t need to be told to turn lights off when I’m not in a room or to make sure my TV isn’t on stand-by, so how else can these meters help me consume less energy? I’m genuinely intrigued and would like to hear how this can really happen in practice.”
Edward’s other main concern is safety. He said: “I’d heard reports that the first generation of the meters could be hacked into.
“If this is the case, could a hacker potentially turn off everyone’s energy supply – would they have that capability?
“If one password or encryption code is used for all the smart meters, hypothetically could a hacker have access to everyone’s smart meter?
“And what information could they access?
“I’d like to be assured that every effort is being made to ensure my personal information is safe and that my energy supply cannot be tampered with in any way.” Single mum Sarah admits she has been put off having a smart meter as she has concerns about the inconvenience and the cost.
She says: “Will it take an excessively long time and how difficult is it to have a smart meter installed? Will my carpets and flooring have to be lifted up for wires to be fitted?
“I have a really busy life and don’t have a lot of free time so giving up a full day is quite difficult. And ultimately who pays for the installation - I can’t imagine a customer gets this for free.”
Despite her concerns, Sarah says she is keen to see if she can save money, especially as she has two daughters, Katie, 18, and Imogen, 13, living at home.
She says: “I’m a single mum so any savings that can be made would be beneficial.”
But she would also like to understand how easy it is to swap suppliers and whether her new smart meter will still be compatible.
Sarah said: “Will my smart meter go into dumb mode if I change my provider or will I need a second new meter?”
The voluntary worker says she is also keen to understand how accurate the new smart meters are and how they will enable her to make changes.
“Is the data they produce a true indicator of how much energy we are using? How do I know the readings are accurate?” she asks.
“Will the data make people more anxious about how much energy they are using? Will they suddenly become paranoid about leaving a light on or having a shower?”
And Sarah says she would like assurances that her personal information is safe. She adds: “I’m hoping someone can put my mind at rest and then I can focus on the benefits of a smart meter and stop worrying about any possible negative consequences.”