Energy Retailer Wants to Upgrade Me to Smart Meter

dammit on 28/03/2019 - 08:49

I recently moved and signed up with Click energy. I got a text shortly after from Spotless advanced metering saying they want to upgrade my meter to a new digital meter.

“We have been appointed by your energy retailer to upgrade your old electricity meter to a new digital meter.

During this upgrade, we need to briefly disconnect your power to ensure the job is done safely.”

Is there any pros/cons for this new digital meter as a consumer ? Should I let it happen?

I just have a single meter (ie no peak offpeak etc), I’m in Sydney nsw and my kitchen and hws is gas.

At some stage in the medium term I may want to add solar.

Electrical & Electronics

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Comments

  • hawkeye on 28/03/2019 - 08:54

    You don't need a gun to be charged with robbery.

  • chrisd262 on 28/03/2019 - 09:04

    Does Click offer 100% green energy if so is it more expensive than coal energy?

    Anyone here have 100% solar?

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 12:08
      +17

      100% green energy is a scam by all retailers.

      You receive the same energy from the same multiple sources obtained via the NEM as everyone else.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2019 - 12:49
        +7

        Technically, it is not a scam because they must prove they've bought X amount of RECs.

        Of course, this doesn't mean much if the RECs do not actually increase the uptake of solar. It would just be money in someone's pocket for something that's going to produce and distribute that power all the same.

        I would call it an elaborate plan for failure.

        Paying for green energy is literally paying more so your energy provider can advertise themselves as more environmentally friendly.

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 21:50
          -1

          Exactly. REC system is doom to fail.

        • abb on 29/03/2019 - 14:19

          Of course, this doesn't mean much if the RECs do not actually increase the uptake of solar.

          Don't the companies selling home solar systems often keep the RECs, using them to subsidise the purchase cost for the customer?
          Lower cost all but guarantees more sales…

          • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 14:24

            @abb: But the costs are so inflated to begin with.

            First there's certification (fair enough but what a bloody costly affair it is for the Aussie bit of paper).

            Then the treasury wants a cut.

            Then the tradies want a cut.

            Then your rates get adjusted against you when you get solar.

            It's a lot of uphill against the home owner and that little bit of relief this REC provides doesn't really make the decision to go solar a sound one.

            So lower costs does guarantee sales… Only if it is relation to actually buying power.

            • abb on 29/03/2019 - 14:37

              @[Deactivated]: Interesting. I'm not in a position to own a house so I gotta say I haven't looked into the finer detail, but I know a lot of people that have and assume that for every $1 reduction in upfront cost there'd be some proportional increase in sales.

              I know that the energy usage reduction certificates (forget the proper name) were quite well used in industry, making many projects viable that otherwise would have been dismissed because the payback was too low (despite being expensive, wasting energy is still often cheaper than upgrading/fixing things in the short term). So I guess I assumed the clean energy ones were working too…

              On the plus side, something or other has made renewables the cheaper option for future generation capacity at least.

              • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 14:57
                -1

                @abb: The only phenomenon that predictably lowers costs is a free market, and by extension, competition.

                We have a convoluted system of subsidies and all that does is increase the funds available. That doesn't make things cheaper.

            • brendanm on 29/03/2019 - 18:11
              +3

              @[Deactivated]: Solar works out very well for us. Cost me $3300 for 6.6kw of panels and a 5kw inverter. Bills were $600+, last bill was $18.30. Will have payed for itself in under 2 years.

              • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 18:15
                +1

                @brendanm: If you work from home, it works. If you don't, it doesn't. The majority of homes are vacant during the day.

                The exception isn't going to propel a product into the mainstream.

                ($3.3k for the specs you listed is good though. Hope it holds up)

                • brendanm on 29/03/2019 - 19:33
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]: I don't work from home, and wife is only home 2 days during the week. We run the A/C all summer when we are home, and are having to dry all our clothes with the dryer due to development next door. It makes 40kw+ some days in summer. My choice of provider and plan, as well as state I live in, all probably alter things as well.

                  It's no fronius inverter with lg panels, but its also a third of the price for the same output. The guy who supplied it all has been around for many years, so fingers crossed haha.

                  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 19:49

                    @brendanm: Damn. My house is too efficient to need day time AC.

                    • brendanm on 29/03/2019 - 21:19
                      +2

                      @[Deactivated]: Yeah if I were to build again passive cooling/imsulation and energy efficiency would be higher on the list. A/C air is too dry a lot of the time, much prefer a nice breeze, but the development next door has meant that's not possible :(

                • Micko179 on 01/04/2019 - 09:47

                  @[Deactivated]: Wrong wrong wrong, it's better for the house to be vacant from Sunrise to Sunset & use the Power when its dark. Every Watt of Energy your House uses during the day effectively costs you around 30¢/kWh instead of being paid 54¢/kWh for it!

            • Micko179 on 01/04/2019 - 09:39

              @[Deactivated]: "Then your rates get adjusted against you when you get solar"

              What rates?

              "It's a lot of uphill against the home owner and that little bit of relief this REC provides doesn't really make the decision to go solar a sound one"

              Since 2012, I get around $2500 a year refund & no Electricity Bill, 'SOUND' ok?!

          • drprox on 30/03/2019 - 07:53

            @abb: Yes and then they bundle them up for sale to energy retailers

        • Zachary on 30/03/2019 - 14:21

          …could always just setup your own grid up…powered by solar, wind exercise bike, if you wanted to go green? Actually that bike one is probably best, you get a work out AND provide back power to power your household electrical items…don't even need to leave the house for your daily 5k run….haha

          Hmmm, could build a sustainable power grid where it just powers itself without needing batteries as storage for when they don't produce power…

          • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2019 - 14:24

            @Zachary: I'm thinking of going off grid. Not for green reasons but the fun of it.

            (Don't you dare touch my internet though.)

            I'm using wood heating as my primary heat source and I have my water tanks collecting enough water to also grow crops.

            May as well go all out and be self sufficient.

            Definitely will be doing so if I get an electric ute.

            • Zachary on 30/03/2019 - 14:48

              @[Deactivated]: …yeah if you got enough of it, could also get the power companies to pay YOU for the electricity you give them……

              • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2019 - 15:45

                @Zachary: Stuff that. I'd just set up some mining rigs and sell crypto.

                • Zachary on 31/03/2019 - 00:20

                  @[Deactivated]: But you don't even get that much to sell off but use a hell lot of power for it though………unless it's still more than selling all that extra power back?

                  • [Deactivated] on 31/03/2019 - 00:30

                    @Zachary: I already have the rigs so it's really a coin/kw vs $/kw. It's particularly rough on crypto for the foreseeable future but it still works out roughly the same.

                    Just need to wire up enough for the rigs as they take around 7-8amps constant per rig.

                    • Zachary on 31/03/2019 - 21:16

                      @[Deactivated]: Damn, each rig uses up 1920 watts of power?! That's more than my gaming rig pulls from the wall and I thought gaming rigs pulls the most power of all rigs…..

                      • [Deactivated] on 31/03/2019 - 21:41

                        @Zachary: 13GPUs overclocked tends to do that.

                        Your gaming rig is… casual.

                        • Zachary on 01/04/2019 - 00:10

                          @[Deactivated]: 13?! fark me you rich mother…..hahaha at least minimum 26k for that rig if those 13 are the RTX 2080Ti cards…….man I feel so poor by comparison…. :|

                          • [Deactivated] on 01/04/2019 - 08:39

                            @Zachary: Nah. Not RTX.

                            It is a dedicated rig. I don't game on it.

  • chriise on 28/03/2019 - 09:33

    If you're typically out of the house 9-5 /peak then it may work out better for you. I actually thought the meter was technically owned by Ausgrid in most cases, but did find this:

    "If your current meter is working properly and a retailer wants to replace it with a smart meter, you can opt out of the smart meter installation. You can only opt out if you haven’t waived your right to opt out when you signed up to your current electricity contract."

    https://www.aer.gov.au/consumers/my-energy-service/smart-met…

    • Diji1 on 28/03/2019 - 10:50
      -3

      This is the energy regulator that has created a system where most consumers do not understand their power bill so it created a website where consumers can find the "best price" called Energy Made Easy but the ACCC says all these sites are scams that are not reducing the cost of power.

      Frankly I would avoid he smart meter out of spite because every other thing the pond life at the AER has done has been against your interests. The one thing smart meters will not do is reduce costs to you.

      And also how naive are people? They're postulating that the guy's/gal's energy retailer is contacting them to reduce the amount of money they're ripping them off for power. Seriously? I've got the Sydney Harbour Bridge for sale over here …

      • chriise on 28/03/2019 - 13:23
        +1

        The Energy Made Easy site is BS

      • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2019 - 22:04

        I had a mild chuckle I just cannot seem to shake off after reading…

        …energy regulator that has created a system where most consumers do not understand their power bill…

        So… The Greens' position on power bills is that it's too difficult to understand?

        Hardly surprising.

        It is, however, surprising to see a Greens supporter accidentally projecting their frustration at numbers onto "most consumers".

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 11:59
      -1

      Unless you've been with your energy retailer more than 8 years, nearly guaranteed you've waived this right. It's pretty much in every retail contract by every retailer these days. Even if you've been with a retailer more than 8 years they can alter the contract and give you a waiver period to transfer away. Usually nobody reads these emails.

      If you resist, they will spin the "end of life" condition. Your distributor can and will (I've seen it happen) disconnect your power from the power line/junction if you refuse access to your property more than once.

    • burningrage on 28/03/2019 - 09:47
      +2

      Adverse health effects I have read but could not confirm so research on that.

      However, power bill increase after smart meter is correct. This is because you pay for the rent of that meter and if you are in VIC, the costs are already predetermined and escalates over time. You also may be moved into a Time of Use Tariff if you have a solar which can only happen if you have a smart meter. Generally, ToU tends to cost more for your electricity hence increased your bill.

      The argument in favour of smart meters is that you now have access to information on your usage. Eg: AUSNET has MyHomeEnergy portal where you can see your usage. The other benefit is when it's cheaper and faster to arrange connection/disconnection or migration. It also allows monthly reading and bill so you may or may not like that as Electricity used to be a quarterly bill.

      However Smart Meter in VIC is mandated so you don't have a choice really. Maybe not in NSW

      And lastly, about turning off smart appliances at will is also correct. There is a push to offer discounts if you agree to allow the retailers to turn off air con at certain times (usually the time when you really need it).

    • yoonibear on 28/03/2019 - 10:43
      +3

      How can they turn individual appliances off at will? I'm under the assumption that they'll only disconnect power to the property at the meter level (unless your smart appliances are connected to controlled loads)

      • Diji1 on 28/03/2019 - 10:53

        If they can turn off appliances that means they're spying on your appliance usage to sell the data so that you lose money.

        Or you may be one of the millions who believes that tracking and marketing do not work despite all the evidence.

      • EightImmortals on 28/03/2019 - 11:25
        -3

        If the appliance is a 'smart' appliance they can turn it off or slow it down as (I presume?) the device shares data with the smart meter. Or it could be the case that the power supplier monitors power usage for a certain area and controls the power to certain devices within that area at peak times. My wife works in that sector so I'll pick her brain on it. Though they seem mostly concerned about solar at the moment with smart meter implementation to be sorted out in the future.

        • cauilfield on 28/03/2019 - 11:30
          +1

          Turn it off? Or slow it down? WTF?

          With some of the smart meters they do have an ability disconnect you if your account is overdue.

        • yoonibear on 28/03/2019 - 11:44

          Just seems new that they're able to specifically target appliances - I've been in the industry for the last 10 years and haven't heard of anything like this. Rolling outages is a definite thing, they shut down our area during Summer for about 3 hours :(

          • EightImmortals on 28/03/2019 - 12:04
            +2

            @yoonibear: https://ourenergyfuture.org.au/news/2017/08/smart-meters/

            Direct load control allows your energy distributor to remotely control your smart appliances to reduce peak demand. For example they might be able to turn your air conditioner off for 10 minutes out of every hour, which should not affect the temperature in your home (especially if your home is well insulated).

            Consumers would usually be given an incentive of a rebate or discount on their bill in return for enabling direct load control.

          • resisting the urge on 28/03/2019 - 12:10
            +5

            @yoonibear: Major appliances, like ACs, sold under a part-subsidy by the various 'Organised Crime Collectives' that we allow to run the country, are wired specially to accept command and control messages from the supplier, via the smart control meter.

            The idea being that when power is in surplus, you are fine.

            But if there is a shortage, or it costs too much to produce, they can reduce demand by over-riding your settings. Or an OCC member decides it needs the power to run its metal factory or processing plant… they simply use more and their friends at the energy company can see demand is about to outstrip the amount they have bought, or the amount they can generate, and issue a command that turns up the temperature setting on your device, or flat out turns it off, reducing any demand that costs too much to supply. This is how it is presently conceived, but in a few years, it is entirely possible that the could be robots (AI/ML/Big brother/Skynet) deciding which humans get how much, and when. That's right, the ability to turn your power off (not just these new AC systems) via smart meters already being rolled out, is mandated, and worse, is open to being hacked like any other IOT device by everyone from little johnny next door, to all the other script kiddies around the world, right up to black mailers (like the co-operatives carrying out crypt-locking), and then on to darker Corporations, Organised Crime gangs and Nation States.

            Modern appliances have special functionality to allow this as the features are mandatory for the subsidy, if not to comply with local regulations by a certain date.

            End result is that Poor people can be told they are saving $200 when buying a new AC unit, but only if they buy a more expensive one, and pay extra to have it installed by a particular installer, specially accredited in the scheme (this last bit applies to NSW only, not Qld, I don't know about other states) where these operators may even be possibly working for one of the OCC, and directly takes the profit from the sale.

            The poor will only figure out later- when like frogs in a pan, they find they are boiling. unless it is an election year, and the OCC chooses to burn a little more coal to prevent it…

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 12:02
        +3

        They can turn off HIGH separate loads like air conditioners, pool pumps\heaters etc.

        They can't just turn off your TV or washing machine if that's what you're assuming

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 12:11
      +1

      Do you own or use a mobile phone? Same "adverse" health effects as a smart meter.

    • SBOB on 28/03/2019 - 15:56
      +4

      A lot of people are reporting adverse health effects with smart meters (do your own research, don't listen to the predictable howls of derision from the skeptics around here.)

      as long as that research is actual research (ie google scholar as a start) and not just a random google search, you'll find zero evidence
      there have been no studies that prove that non-ionizing radiation, such as wifi/mobile phone, have any adverse health effects
      ZERO!

      also, a smart meter cant randomly turn off your devices.
      You can opt in with smart devices such as some air conditioners and be subsidised if they decide to turn it off during high load times

      there's two reasons smart meters make sense from a retailer
      - no longer need to pay someone to walk around reading your meter, getting barked at by your dog, not having access and needing to revisit etc.
      - variation in billing structures (TOU etc) that most likely will cost the 'unwitting' consumer more, but can also save the 'smart' consumer if they choose to manage their consumption based on tariff times

      • resisting the urge on 28/03/2019 - 19:49

        @SBOB, do you have any (non-zero) evidence that TOU billing is cheaper than the existing anytime and controlled load billing?

        My personal calcs (though not accurate) indicate TOU will cost a lot more. The variables over time are an additional risk because power companies change prices, introduce new charges and so on. Comparing over time requires you to use current prices and apply them to previously billed consumption figures, or to assume multipliers only they know. And everyone's usage patterns and area prices are different, as consumers we are fundamentally divided and confused by local differences in tariffs, charges and so on. As I am sure you can imagine, this makes it hard to produce accurate advice on other people's costs.

        My own figures show a 22% increase in consumption costs once on TOU, and this may be conservative. And they may skew the pricing further over time. Here is some research that affirms my concern using a different example to get there: https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/nsw-familie…

        • bobwokeup on 28/03/2019 - 19:58
          +1

          TOU is a totally different discussion and is not related to getting a smart meter installed. On that note though you do need to be "smart" when signing up to TOU.

    • dimitryp on 29/03/2019 - 09:32

      this has got to be a troll post..

    • brendanm on 29/03/2019 - 11:23
      +1

      Firstly, "smart meters" don't cause adverse health effects.

      Secondly, only devices that you have chosen to be able to be controlled, in return for a rebate (e.g. A/C) can be controlled. Not random appliances. You can simply choose to not take the rebate when you install your A/C, as I did.

      • SBOB on 29/03/2019 - 11:43

        If the appliance is a 'smart' appliance they can …. or slow it down

        their lack of basic understanding of electrical appliances should be enough to disregard their statement

        exactly what high load device in their house operates in a linear fashion to its incoming voltage?
        and how do they think a smart meter could reduce the voltage to this device?

        • pformag on 29/03/2019 - 12:09

          Did you read this before?

          https://ourenergyfuture.org.au/news/2017/08/smart-meters/

          • SBOB on 29/03/2019 - 12:51

            @pformag: I'm fully aware of how it works, and that page reinforces what i posted

            there is no random 'shutting down' or 'slowing down' of devices

            You can choose to, if your retailer offers it and you have a device like an air con that supports it, be paid/rebated to allow it to be turned off during extreme high load scenarios

            its 100% opt in, and nothing like how the poster detailed it

            • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 18:19

              @SBOB: Mate, mate, mate…

              It's a smart meter. You have smart appliances.

              You let them install the smart meter so they have access to all your smart appliances.

              It's the technology.

              • SBOB on 29/03/2019 - 18:46
                +2

                @[Deactivated]: Hard to tell via text but I seriously hope there was a sarcasm tag at the end of that ;)

                • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 18:48

                  @SBOB: Sarcasm doesn't work if it is announced. It should only be accessible to those on the same bandwidth.

        • fantombloo on 30/03/2019 - 11:41
          -1

          exactly what high load device in their house operates in a linear fashion to its incoming voltage?

          Where was that implied?

          Signaling over mains is old tech. Now there are plenty wireless networks available for that too. Remote load control/shedding in domestic situations is hardly a surprising development. We are struggling with power demand and not doing anything good about it - I won't be surprised if it becomes mandatory rather than opt-in in the future.

    • pformag on 29/03/2019 - 12:09

      I have no idea why people are downvoting. Clearly a lack of research on their behalf.

      • brendanm on 29/03/2019 - 14:07

        How so? There is no random shutting down, or slowing down, of appliances. There is also no danger from smart meters.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2019 - 14:27
      +1

      What the tinfoilhatman did I just read?

  • MikeKulls on 28/03/2019 - 10:07

    Did you ask your retailer what the new costs would be? Would give a much more definite answer than asking here.

    Also, if you want cheap electricity go to Tango

  • SuperC on 28/03/2019 - 10:29

    Origin offered to install a smart meter, but when they came out, they found the phone reception was too low, therefore the smart meter would not work.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 12:09

      Remote monitoring would not work. Meter would work fine.

      • SuperC on 28/03/2019 - 13:09

        Origin just flat out refused to install it

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/03/2019 - 21:54
          -2

          Well, since Origin is a retailer and not a distributor, and a retailer doesn't install meters, that's probably why Origin refused to install it lol

  • DJR9000 on 28/03/2019 - 11:00
    +4

    We got one here in nsw too. We still pay the same price for power. The stories of increating power costs are from people who have moved to peak/offpeak usage plans which slam you in the day for cheap power at night, if you're just paying a flat rate anytime plan like I am it's mostly the same. Only difference is I can see my daily power usage on the retailer's portal and there's no need for the meter reader to check the box anymore. I can switch to a peak/offpeak plan if I want to but for the moment just on a flat rate anytime in the day

  • cauilfield on 28/03/2019 - 11:30
    +1

    Nothing will change as it's just more convenient way of reading your consumption.

    If you are planning to install solar, you will be obliged to install smart meters. If you say NO now, later they may change for meter replacement you when you decide to put some solar PV.

    • resisting the urge on 28/03/2019 - 17:32

      They will never charge for these crappy devices.

      They save by not reading manually. Consumers know this, so once they think about it they know the MRP should install it for free. Doing otherwise creates friction- and as this is more about control; automated disconnection/re-connection, remote load management, making multiple charging tiers and discounts to increase confusion maximising profits, not to mention collecting and sharing data directly from everyone's power distribution panel.

      Consider that:
      1. Revenue meters are cheap ($80 or less)
      2. They are getting cheaper all the time
      3. They charge more for electricity, once installed
      4. Support remote status monitoring, software updates, limit consumer utilisation, display what they want them to display, etc.
      5. Executive management need total adoption yesterday to deliver on government requirements (to claim the blackening sky is actually bright blue), let alone their company strategies, KPIs and partner agreements.
      6. They aren't responsible for fires, access security, uptime, EMR/Health affects, Dirty power, etc.

      They want everyone on Smart Meters. Charging for them just makes consumers start with the premise, "No" as this leads very easily to "Is it really free?" and on to "when can I get one?"

      They much rather have zero friction rollout, so they can reap the rewards as quickly as they can be commercialised

      • dimitryp on 29/03/2019 - 09:35
        +1

        When i was looking into this a bit over a year ago, some retailers (in NSW) were actually charging for meter installs for their solar plans, so if you ever plan to get solar getting one put in by your current retailer for free now is definitely the go. there's absolutely no downside, and the upside is that some providers allow you to view your usage daily/live in their web portal.

        • resisting the urge on 29/03/2019 - 14:41

          No, many offer only delayed graphs. And no, there is plenty of downside depending on your understanding/perspective. And of the data they collect, what they let you see, let alone collect as text for your own calculations (some don't even allow that), is a fraction of what they see, can change, or may do in future. Within AEMO's blind and relaxed regulatory framework.

          And you should be aware, that at first, they began charging because it took their management teams some time to figure out the imperatives/benefits they could reap from replacing everyone's existing, reliable, mechanical meter.

          And they were sorting out the purchase contracts for the cheapest meters, scaling up installer capabilities (finding cheap labour) and so on, so didn't want a rush to cause delays/complications. Let alone bad PR for the most important change they were making to the retail end of the market.

          • dimitryp on 01/04/2019 - 10:53

            @resisting the urge: not seeing any actual downsides mentioned? Unless the privacy of your electricity usage patterns is particularly important to you..

            • resisting the urge on 11/04/2019 - 11:32

              @dimitryp: Of course it is. I do not assume noone will bother to collect information about me electronically as I cannot begin to imagine the many zillions of ways seemingly meaningless data is used against individuals today, or in future. Related to other information, this can be commercialised in the least and weaponised at the extreme. Imagination is only limited by desire and yes, the Internet contains swathes of individuals and Organisations spending massive resources to do precisely this. Collection may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will happen, and the data will be used for profit. That is human nature, we ignore it at our peril.

  • wallet72 on 28/03/2019 - 11:42
    +22

    smart meter heath issues - right up there with vaccines causing autism.

  • lost in transit on 28/03/2019 - 12:13
    -2

    I wrote in texta NO SMART METER and they installed it when I wasn't home…

    I thought in Victoria anyway a law was passed that they could install whether you like it or not

  • dammit on 28/03/2019 - 14:43
    +1

    So the metering company called me now saying they are on site and want to do the changeover. I haven't consented to it.

    From what I gather, I should stay on the old meter as long as possible given the smart meter gives me no benefits?

    "We received a notification from Ausgrid that your electricity meter needs to be replaced as it has already reached the end of its life."

    I suspect these carefully crafted wordings try to make you think that it is a standard thing and you have no choice? Is it a ploy by energy retailers to save money on meter reading costs or something? As a consumer why would I want a 'smart meter'?

    • MikeKulls on 28/03/2019 - 19:02
      +4

      Just get it done. Will be good when you want to go solar.

      • resisting the urge on 28/03/2019 - 19:56

        I'd consider the pros and cons, everyone's mileage varies- and a lot of people have valid concerns, as per https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/447105#comment-7106430 above

        • MikeKulls on 29/03/2019 - 15:15

          I'm on a smart meter and my power is a flat rate of 19c. If it's a concern just get something like that. People think they are getting conned by a smart meter but will then go and sign up with PowerShop or some other overpriced retailer.

    • bobwokeup on 28/03/2019 - 19:56
      +1

      Why wouldn't you want a smart meter??? It is no ploy it's part of evolution.

      • abb on 29/03/2019 - 14:25
        +1

        Time of usage billing is likely to be more expensive.
        Some smart meters have poor accuracy in measuring true power and will overcharge you for electronic loads (e.g. everything but heaters these days).
        Shitty source but refers to the same underlying study I'd heard about - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/06/smart-energy-met…

    • dimitryp on 29/03/2019 - 09:37
      -2

      there is zero downside from this, there are numerous up-sides, and you're getting a pricey device installed at your property for free. This is the definition of a bargain!

      • freemoneyhunter on 29/03/2019 - 20:16

        Zero downside? Correct, the ability to remotely disconnect your power is a plus because after you are disconnected when you are having problems paying the power bill there will be no more power bills to pay after that.

        • dimitryp on 01/04/2019 - 10:57

          I dont believe smart meters give any additional disconnection capabilities to providers - do you have a source for this? Plus, providers have always been able to disconnect you for non-payment, so i dont see how this would be different

          • SBOB on 01/04/2019 - 11:36

            @dimitryp: they do (at least mine does, MK10D.. no idea if any retailer actually implements it though)
            Not sure how its an issue, you'll still get disconnected if you dont pay, along with fined if they cant access the meter

            seems like a strange point to use to argue against smart meter roll outs.

          • resisting the urge on 09/04/2019 - 23:42

            @dimitryp: Many (or perhaps most, or all) have relays built in, as well as switches in the control protocols that the MRPs/Retailers etc can or do use. You can look your own model up online if you want to find out- but some manufacturers are restricting access now as so many of these devices are so vulnerable to electronic attack.

            You might like to read the actual regulations/'rules' online at the aemo website, these remote disconnection functions are directly referenced in legislation relating to smartmeters

            Disconnection has always had a cost in the past and so was only used as a matter of last resort. Now it can be automatic so they can force customers to pay their bills and pay fines fees if they don't.

            Remember, what they do today does not mean they won't start doing it tomorrow. Features are rolled out (and written into regulations) for a reason, and they do not consider risk if consumers being hacked or attacked because these bureaucrats are likely oblivious, negligent and in any event, are able to avoid accountability like so many others up the chain

    • Windows98 on 29/03/2019 - 13:06

      Why are you so against it?
      You won't be forced on a time of use plan. And you can access the smart meter data to analyse your power usage through the day and it will help you save power over time if you know what's using power and how much.

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