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Smart meters in my home
Questions and Answers
Do I have to have a smart meter?
Do I own the smart meter?
Will I have to pay the installer for the smart meter to be installed?
How can a smart meter help me save money?
Is there something wrong with my existing meter?
Is the new smart meter safe?
I understand that smart meters use radiofrequency communication. Is this safe?
How do smart meter RF emissions compare to other RF sources in my home?
How can I find out more about Australian RF emission guidelines?
Can I volunteer to get my smart meter installed now?
I live in an apartment. Will I be receiving a smart meter?
Will I receive a smart meter if I am currently transferring to a new electricity retailer?
Is the meter tamper proof?
I have a three phase meter. Can I still have a smart meter?
What does the term “remotely read” mean?
How much energy does the smart meter itself take to run?
Will I be able to monitor my electricity use?
Do I have to have a smart meter?
Yes. In order to improve our electricity delivery and management the Victorian State Government has mandated that all residential and small business electricity customers have a smart meter installed by the end of 2013.
Ensuring the universal application of smart meter technology will allow the development of smarter electricity supply infrastructure on a state wide basis. This will help customers better manage their energy use and broaden the community’s ability to respond to climate change.
Do I own the smart meter?
No, the smart meter, like your existing electricity meter, is owned by your electricity distribution business.
Will I have to pay the installer for the smart meter to be installed?
No. The customer does not pay the smart meter installer for the smart meter installation.
How can a smart meter help me save money?
Your smart meter is a tool that measures and records how much electricity you use at different times of the day and week. When teamed with time-of-use rates (when these become available), it will provide you the opportunity to better manage your electricity use during peak periods by moving your electricity use to off peak periods – which will cost you less. Also by reducing your total energy usage you can save money. See www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au for more information.
Further to this, at any time you can choose which electricity retailer and products suit you best and can save you money. For more information on how to choose an electricity retailer visit www.yourchoice.vic.gov.au. Your efforts to make these changes can help to reduce your electricity bill.
Is there something wrong with my existing meter?
A smart meter has many capabilities that the old type electricity meters do not have. Smart meters in Victoria will have the ability to:
- record electricity consumption by the half hour;
- be remotely read so a meter reader does not have to visit your home or business;
- provide greater detail around consumption;
- enable remote connection of your electricity, such as when you move into a new home;
- help your electricity distributor to detect and locate outages and restore supply more quickly;
To provide you with these new services, your current meter will be replaced with a smart meter.
Is the new smart meter safe?
Yes. The new smart meters meet Australian Standards for electricity metering equipment.
I understand that smart meters use radiofrequency communication. Is this safe?
Yes. The smart metering system makes use of low power radiofrequency (RF) transmitters to communicate meter readings and weak RF fields in the range of 900MHz or 2.3 GHz are produced during the system's normal operation. These communications frequencies are well within Australian guidelines and are governed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
How do smart meter RF emissions compare to other RF sources in my home?
Smart meter RF emissions are less than most other sources in the home such as those produced by mobile phones, cordless phones and wireless routers.
How can I find out more about Australian RF emission guidelines?
To find out more about Australian guidelines, visit the Australian Government - Australian Radiation Protection and the Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) website at www.acma.gov.au.
For an international report by the World Health Organisation visit http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/
Can I volunteer to get my smart meter installed now?
In order to maximize the efficiency of the smart meter rollout across the state, customers will not be able to request the installation of a smart meter.
I live in an apartment. Will I be receiving a smart meter?
Yes, if you purchase your electricity through a licensed electricity retailer.
Will I receive a smart meter if I am currently transferring to a new electricity retailer?
All Victorian residential and small business customers will get a smart meter regardless of whether you change your electricity retailer. It is unlikely that you will receive a smart meter at the same time you change retailer. It will depend on when smart meters are rolled out in your area.
Is the meter tamper proof?
Yes, the meter is sealed and incorporates remote detection of attempts to tamper with it. Meter tampering will result in prosecution.
I have a three phase meter. Can I still have a smart meter?
Yes, if you are a residential or small business customer.
What does the term “remotely read” mean?
Smart meter communications technologies allow your meter to be read from a central point via a telecommunications network, instead of needing a meter reader to visit and read your electricity meter. Therefore, while there is no requirement for access to your premise to read the smart meter once installed, access to the smart meter may occasionally be required for future testing and maintenance purposes.
How much energy does the smart meter itself take to run?
Similar to your current meter’s energy use, the level of energy required to run the smart meter is very low - almost insignificant. You will not be billed for the energy used to run the metering equipment.
Will I be able to monitor my electricity use?
You will be able to monitor your electricity usage patterns when the products and services to support this are available. Your retailer will be able to assist you.
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