The devices actually add to your power consumption, as the GPRS sender unit, the meter's elctronics, and the in home display unit, will all consume additional energy over and above what you use at the moment.
Moreover, that energy can only be disipated as heat which, in the case of the meters, may be disipated outside the building (if you have external boxes), so although it's small, it really is wasted energy - it doesn't even contribute to heating your home.
And that's quite apart from the carbon footprint of manufacturing it all, and of disposing of millions of old meters that are still in perfect working order.
But my over-riding concern remains the possibility of 'GSM chatter' interference from the telecommunications hub (see the .pdfs in my earlier link).
So with apologies to Colin, and no offence intended, but I don't feel positive about it all.
I think you are observing from a position of "no information", which is a shame - BG should explain better to get buy-in. Power consumption is at the mA level for all but the occasional burst transmission by the GPRS unit. The in-home display/payment terminal also draws very little power, the meters each draw mA levels - so where is the problem? By referring to the display, users HAVE modified their consumption behaviour, and utilities will offer incentives to do so. Peak load management and energy savings are all what this is about.
I urge you to look at the Electrans site and read in detail. Extensive long-term trials have allayed our fears and hence those for you, the prospective user.
EDIT - the old meters have to be changed out at intervals anyhow - 15 to 20 years and mandated by OFGEM - to guarantee fiscal accuracy. This replaces them with an up-to-date meter that enables remote metering. I took the electricity meter to MID-approval and supervised development, design and testing. I can assure you that all of your fears were ours too - no longer.
Colin
