By Paul Homewood
h/t Philip Bratby
Probably the worst kept secret of the year:
Smart meters and other energy appliances such as heat pumps will be equipped with a surge pricing function under plans being put forward by ministers.
The proposals under consultation by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) would require a string of devices to be “smart” by default, allowing them to take advantage of so-calledtime of use tariffs.
As an example of surge pricing, these tariffs charge households more for electricity when demand is highest and less when it is lower.
Supporters argue they could lead to household savings if appliances or electric cars are programmed to only draw power when prices are low.
However, critics fear they couldpenalise customers for consuming electricity when they need it most.
The new standards put forward by ministers will also require energy appliances to meet a minimum threshold for cyber security and interoperability, the latter to ensure that all smart meters continue to function correctly after a change of supplier.
In an announcement, the Government said: “Smart appliances enable consumers to manage their energy use to benefit from cheaper tariffs at times of low electricity demand, for example a smart charge point which waits for a period of low demand overnight to charge the car.
“This willreduce the consumer’s billwhile also ensuring that their car is ready to be used in the morning.
“By shifting some electricity use away from peak periods, this will ease pressure on the grid and reduce reliance on backup fossil fuel generation and the need for new infrastructure like pylons.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/04/16/new-smart-meters-surge-pricing-function-government-plans/
Forget about the pathetic waffling from the government about reducing bills, reducing fossil fuels and saving on infrastructure. Nobody will be better off.
No, this is an admission of failure. That we can no longer rely on a reliable supply of electricity, and that it will have to be rationed one way or another when supply is tight. And this won’t only be at times of peak demand – there will be many weeks a year when we will be short of power continuously for days on end. Charge your EV? Yes sir, but that will cost you dear!
And be under no illusions. When surge pricing still fails to reduce demand by enough, the sledgehammer will come out, and appliances will be turned off without us having any choice in the matter.
