You have been offered a smart meter by your energy provider. But you haven’t decided whether to install it in your home or not. To help you decide, we listed the advantages as well as disadvantages of installing the device in your home. Before we get there, allow us to explain the device in brief.
Smart Meter in Brief
Let’s start with smart meter definition. To put it simply, it is a device that measures and records electricity or gas usage. Unlike traditional electricity or gas meters, the device also sends its readings to the electricity or gas supplier.
Since a smart meter sends readings automatically in a certain interval (can be as short as every 15 minutes and as long as every hour), it eliminates the need for estimated bills.
The Advantages
What are the advantages of installing the device? There are many advantages of installing a device in your home. The advantages include
· You can monitor your energy usage and costs closely
Smart meter installation allows you to monitor your energy usage as well as its costs closely. This is quite helpful for budgeting.
· Automatic readings submission
The device submits the readings to the energy supplier automatically. That means there is no need for you to submit readings to your supplier again.
· Accurate bills
Since the device sends readings automatically, your energy bills will be accurate. You will pay only for what you use. No more estimates.
· Prepay friendly
A smart meter allows you to monitor how much credit you have left. You can top up your credit via a smartphone or computer as well.
The Disadvantages
There are also disadvantages. The disadvantages of installing a smart meter include
· Some suppliers don’t offer them
Not all energy suppliers offer or support smart meters.
· It doesn’t reduce your bills
The device measures and records your energy usage and communicates the readings to your energy supplier. But that is as fast it can go. It won’t reduce your energy bills by itself.
Knowing how much energy you use and how much it costs can help to reduce your energy usage. Still, the decision to reduce your usage is up to you.
· Poor signal
If you are using a first-generation smart meter, a poor signal can be a potential problem. This is because the device communicates via mobile networks.
Should you install a smart meter? That is up to you to decide. Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of installing one, you should be able to make a more informed decision.