Worldwide opposition to "smart" meters (electric, gas, and water) has been ongoing since utilities started deploying them over ten years ago.  In the UK, complaints about them continue to make headlines (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and earlier this week, a journalist recommended that consumers refuse them.  Actually, that has never been bad advice!

From Yahoo UK:

'Switch by stealth': Alarming rise in homes with smart meters being cut off remotely

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt

Campaigners have called for action amid reports a growing number of households on smart meters are being cut off by energy companies.

A rise in the so-called 'switch by stealth' of people being forced onto pre-payment meters has been branded "alarming" amid calls on energy watchdog Ofgem to intervene.

Ofgem has said it has received reports of vulnerable customers being left without power for days or even weeks.

It has told suppliers they must address the issue "urgently", warning companies it will not hesitate to "take action" if failings are found in how energy companies have operated.

Before smart meters, if a household fell behind on energy payments, companies would have to request a warrant to enter a household to install a prepayment meter.

These meters are essentially a pay-as-you-go arrangement: once the credit is used, a household will be disconnected and left without electricity or heating.