Best Way to Score a Free Electricity Smartmeter

Amaris on 10/05/2017 - 20:54

Hi
I signed up with Origin in my new property which currently has a time of use meter + solar. With the end of the high solar feed-in tariffs I was looking to get a smart meter installed so I could change to net metering to make most use of the electricity the panels produce. It has been many months after Origin promised to install a smart meter for free but I'm yet to hear from them.
Do you guys know of a quicker way of getting a smart meter installed (hopefully without paying 600/- for it)

Thanks

Home & Garden

Comments

  • oscargamer on 10/05/2017 - 22:06

    I don't understand….why do you think you will be better off with a smart meter?

    FYI, they are interval reading not consumption. i can't even understand how that is legal? but there you go…..

    • mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 07:03
      +1

      In NSW people on the generous feed in tariffs were paid for gross production, and the gross meter in place is still effectively exporting all their power to the grid, which is now paying 6c a kWh. If you switch to a net meter, your solar will off-set consumption first, reducing your power bill.
      The gov has said that all new meters must be 'smart', hence why that rather than a traditional meter.

    • Amaris on 11/05/2017 - 10:39

      What you mean "interval reading not consumption"?

      • oscargamer on 11/05/2017 - 10:47

        my understanding, and i'm happy to be corrected, is that smart meters read the kw being used at a single point in time, once every half hour and then that value is attributed to the whole half hour

        so…..if (at the exact second that the meter reads the instantaneous power draw) you have the oven on, the a/c on, a toaster on and the kettle on, you may be drawing 30kw. the meter assumes that that power is being drawn for the whole half hour and bills accordingly, regardless of whether that power is actually used for the whole half hour

        likewise, if you have all the above items on for 29 mins, but turn them off just before the meter does it's read, then for that half hour, you will be charged almost nothing, despite having used a considerable amount

        • poboy on 11/05/2017 - 11:31

          Interesting. I thought Smart Meters read every 30 seconds. For interval pricing I would have assumed that the meter looks for the highest usage wattage for that 30 min period, then apply that rate for the full 30 mins.

          I have no idea if that's what they do though. Awaiting to be told otherwise.

        • bonz on 11/05/2017 - 11:41
          +1

          where do you get this information from?

        • NigelTufnel on 12/05/2017 - 14:41

          I think they can do that, but it all depends on your retail tariff structure. If you're on a standard consumption tariff it will continue to read the kWh consumption and attribute that to the tariff applicable at that time depending on your retail contract.

          However, smart meters also have the ability to read the demand at any point in time (the kw or kVA) and charge based on that, if that's what your retail tariff is for.
          This is because a lot of the cost of electricity is the cost of the poles and wires that are built to a withstand the maximum demand (not general usage).
          With old 'dumb' meters someone's using 1 kWh every hour for 24 hours would appear the same as someone using nothing the entire day, but 24kWh in the evening when everyone else is also using a lot. This person should be baring much more of the cost of the poles and wires than the person with flat usage.
          Smart meters make it possible to differentiate these users and charge them different rates.

        • oscargamer on 12/05/2017 - 15:19

          @NigelTufnel:

          as much as that makes no sense, it actually makes a lot of sense !!!

  • EightImmortals on 11/05/2017 - 06:33
    +1

    Smart meter=bad. Unless you want corporations turning your stuff off when their 2 remaining windmills can't keep up with demand.

    • mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 07:07
      +1

      Load shedding is supported by smart meters, and I know of some pilot projects where the air con is being connected to a managed load allowing the power company to turn it off if the grid is over loaded. But you need to sign up for this, it isn't by default - although it is possible this could change in future.
      We have always had load shedding, mostly invisible to consumers as industrial users are dropped off on overload days.
      Where that was inadequate, it gets more visible, with black outs and brown outs.
      I'd rather have the air con go off for a couple of hours on a hot day than lose all power due to a black out, if the choice is one or the other.

      • poboy on 11/05/2017 - 11:33

        You are correct. Voluntary load shedding is coming. It's already here for some. The power companies are experimenting with noticible comfort vs energy shedded. Consumers will be given the chance to opt in each time and in return will receive a benefit (e.g power credit).

    • Amaris on 11/05/2017 - 09:00

      I've seen this warning before on the internet. Don't understand how they can selectively switch my A/C off. I don't think my AC is smart enough to understand any signals from the Utility company and that the meter would be able to identify the circuit my A/C is on.

      • mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 10:48

        I think in the pilot programs they had the AC set up on a separate circuit, but I don't have details.

  • mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 07:00
    +1

    Smart meters are fine, despite the conversation I had with a woman the other day who claimed they transmit at "100 times" the intensity of a mobile phone tower. She was also concerned that the US government was controlling the weather via HAARP.

    There was something like 120,000 premises requiring a change to a net meter after the FIT finished in December. All the suppliers experienced delays in changeover. I'm with AGL and they first said January, then April, now this month. I know Origin are actively doing change overs, my parents place in Sydney got theirs in February.
    I don't know of any supplier who can do it quicker, but maybe it is worth calling a few? If you offered to switch to them if they can install buy the end of the month, or similar, it might get a quicker result.
    I'm planning to call AGL and complain about the delay, and seek a credit for forgone feed in income. I have heard rumours that people have been able to get something this way.
    Be careful about what tariff you are put on when the meter is eventually installed. Despite assurances they would stay on a flat rate, my parents were moved to a time-of-use tariff and needed to call up to get it sorted.

  • SuperC on 11/05/2017 - 07:57

    Origin were supposed to install mine last week, but due to "low signal strength on mobile network" they were unable to. So my only option if I want to use my own solar power is to get a basic net meter installed at my expense.

    • Amaris on 11/05/2017 - 08:57

      How much was the basic net meter. This sounds like a good option. Is this also a smart meter

      • SuperC on 11/05/2017 - 11:29

        Its not a smart meter, but still makes it so you can use your own solar, I don't have it yet, but have been quoted $600-$700.

        • Amaris on 11/05/2017 - 14:54

          If you are in NSW could you please send me the contact for the company doing it? Thanks

  • Elppa8 on 11/05/2017 - 08:47

    Had mine installed by AGL contractor two weeks ago. Allow another week or so for the data to be seen on their website. I suspect it's only uploaded once a day as it's always a day or so behind.

  • Euphemistic on 11/05/2017 - 10:55
    +2

    Due to the delays in installations I know of someone who is receiving credit to their electricity bill while waiting. Talk to your provider.

  • Euphemistic on 12/05/2017 - 08:29

    Re-reading, it sound like you want a net meter, not a smart meter.

    AFAIK they aren't using smart meters in NSW yet except in specific small trail areas.

    Net meters are being rolled out to replace gross meters for those with solar systems on the old feed in tariff. Net meters are not smart, they do operate on time of use billing though. They are designed for your solar system to feed the house first, then any excess power generated will be fed out to the grid at a measly 6c/kWh while they on sell it for up to 40c/kwh.

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