I do hate the idea of this, and I don't think it's paranoia. Companies are hacked all the time, and no one will make any guarantees about either the security of the stored data nor especially the security of the measurements in transit. It would be trivial for bad actors to deduce from it when you're not in, either regularly or even immediately, depending on their level of access.

The original smart meter "promise" was just on automatic monthly readings, but has now drifted to multiple readings per hour. The current models all now also provide computer-controlled remote shut-down (no human visit or legal paperwork now required), and despite all and sundry saying "oh, no one will ever make use of that" the latest Ts & Cs now add the companies' right to terminate your supply in such a way (Octopus I think was the first). That could be horrific for people hit by an erroneous, bureaucratic "computer says no" situation, or a badly-configured AI monitor, which seem to be becoming ubiquitous.

I'm the opposite, can't *stand* the taste of anything with Aspertame, which is really difficult to avoid nowadays. Stevia products are a godsend for me.