[CMOTD]

The main issue for me is that they can automatically switch off your supply with the new smart meters. I think this is the real reason for the insistence.

The other main reason for rejecting smart meters is that once enough are installed the energy companies will undoubtedly start charging different rates on an hourly basis. With their track record this will almost certainly be used for the benefit of their profit margins and not to keep the users' costs down. Boil a kettle at teatime and it will cost you three times as much but off peak rates will not reduce by any significant amount.