Cost/Benefits and the pros of analog meter
Two remarks:
“The rollout is not until April 2016. That is plenty of time to publicise the numbers underpinning the cost/benefit analysis.”
The main benefits of smart meter is to get rid of employees reading the meters. The saving energy argument is just there to get subsidies so you'll get rid of your staff without spending a penny on the tech replacing them.
When you plan a roll-out, you already manufactured the meters in advance, and put in place the ressources for the roll-out. Surely, he/she is not waiting for the roll-out date to know if he/she manufactured lots of meters for nothing?
The one thing I do not like about digital meter is that the screen can tell me absolutely anything.
With an analog meter, it is harder to add 10% extra consumption (e.g. in in winter where it's most expensive, and reduce -3.33% for the other quarter where it is cheaper, if you want the same annual consumption).
A third remark: usually, when you sell such big scheme to governments, you under estimate the price, so it is more sellable. Then, you ask for an extra to complete the necessary works. (A bit like the Olympics, no reasonable person on earth believe it would cost only 3bn)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
