Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryland
No, their meter has nothing to do with how much energy they use, it had to do with running grow lights for garden starts and a heating pad to keep seedlings happy, I just checked and my new smart meter uses the same 3 watts as my old mechanical meter used all the time.
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How does a mechanical meter use power all the time?
It uses the difference in magnetism that is created when current is running through the supply main. That's it. If there's no current running through the supply main (such as when a house isn't consuming anything), then the stupid meter consumes no power whatsoever. If a house is consuming electricity for lights and a fridge and a home entertainment center and a stove, the stupid meter does draw some of that power, but it is quite a bit less than 3 watts.
Reliable estimates show that smart meters may take between 4 and 10 years to recoup the cost of procuring and installing these things. They're not cheap.