Re: energy in UK

On 2025-04-17 23:11, Don Y wrote:

On 4/17/2025 1:44 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

Probably all of Spain has smart meters now. But the reason was, AFAIK, that here the contract limits the current you can draw. For instance, a contract can say that you can draw 15A (3450W). The meter has the ability to switch off when you try to draw 16A for a time.

 Wow!  Now THAT is interesting.  Here, the size of your service (ampacity)
effectively determines what you can use -- that, and your wallet.

I think that is an Spanish only feature.
They charge us for the watts we actually take, and also a fixed monthly amount for the size of the pipe. Meaning, if we contract for a maximum of 15A, we pay for that, €/month. If we contract 30A, we pay double fixed amount per month. And the smart meter controls that we don't contract 20 and take 21.
So people try to contract the minimum they actually need.

Previously, al houses had a limiter switch with a lead seal. People managed to bypass that switch. By passing the meter is harder, I have not seen it done.
>

 

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Cheers, Carlos.