I am freezing due to the replacement of my perfectly good gas fire with one which has a new safety feature. Use to be able to light with a match if the igniter failed. Now I have to wait for a replacement safety feature. Fully expected this. The more complex a system is, the more potential for failure.
I was offered a smart meter and refused it for this reason. Also, my supplier admits I am a frugal user ( JSA "heat or eat" category) and there is nothing more I can switch off. I think I am smart enough. Submitting a reading is no biggie either.
The real clincher is government consultation with those worms, the domestic spies at GCHQ. I expect it's really about how smart meters can be used to further compromise our privacy, rather than securing it.