Resources
Reports and Consultations
AMI Meter Electromagnetic Field Survey
October 2011
EMC Technologies
Summary
Assessing the safety of Smart Meters was paramount for the Victorian Government when deciding whether or not to continue with the Smart Meter rollout.
Smart Meters (also known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure) use wireless technology; this technology generates radiofrequency emissions, also known as electromagnetic energy, when communicating information.
Use of this technology in Australia is governed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Exposure limits to electromagnetic energy (EME) are determined by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). The specific exposure limits are defined in ARPANSA Radiation Protection Standard 3 (RPS3).
As part of the review of the Smart Meter program, the Government commissioned EMC Technologies, an independent and accredited safety testing organisation, to determine if the electromagnetic energy from the Smart Meters meet the exposure limits for the general public as specified by ARPANSA RPS3.
Both types of electromagnetic exposures produced from Smart Meters were tested. This included electromagnetic fields generated by the electrical wiring, and radiofrequency fields related to the built-in two-way communications
EMC Technologies was commissioned to conduct the study independently of energy providers and Government. The methodology involved testing a number of Smart Meters (both single and grouped) in various types of homes. ARPANSA RPS3 specifically limits human exposure to radiofrequency fields in the range 3 kHz to 300 GHz, for average exposure in six minute intervals. As Smart Meter communications are of much shorter duration than six minutes, a formula was adopted to test the worst case ‘duty cycle’ or scenario. This formula was independently evaluated and confirmed as scientifically valid by the respected Professor Andrew Wood of the Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre at Swinburne University of Technology. Professor Wood’s report is annexed to the EMC Technologies study.
EMC Technologies categorically found exposure levels from Smart Meters to be well below ARPANSA RPS3. Their report concludes, ‘the test results showed that the maximum RF EMF Power Density levels were well below the ARPANSA General Public limit, even when the meter was forced to transmit continuously (100% duty cycle)’.
Professor Wood was commissioned to review the report and his conclusion was: ‘I would thus have high confidence in stating that AMI meters comply with Australian standards in locations normally accessed by the general public even under worst case operating scenarios’.
The Victorian Government will act to ensure that Smart Meter program continues to adhere to ARPANSA RPS3.
Read the AMI Meter Electromagnetic Field Survey HTML Version »
Read the AMI Meter Electromagnetic Field Survey PDF Version » (95 pages, 4.5MB, approx 11 min download on a 56K modem)
This PDF report was produced by an external company and is therefore not accessible. To view an accessible version, please use the HTML report provided.
Privacy Impact Assessment Report
August 2011
Lockstep Consulting
Summary
An independent investigation into privacy issues around Smart Meters, conducted by Lockstep Consulting, uncovered no unauthorised disclosures from the collection of personal information associated with the implementation of the Smart Meter program.
The report found that:
- Privacy controls are strong and metering data is suitably protected.
- The security of Smart Meters is well designed ¨C all wireless links are encrypted and that this cannot be disabled, and there are strong security governance practices to prevent access to metering data by third parties without consumer consent.
Read the Privacy Impact Assessment Report HTML Version »
Read the Privacy Impact Assessment Report PDF Version » (66 pages, 0.5MB, approx 1 min to download on a 56K modem)
This PDF report was produced by an external company and is therefore not accessible. To view an accessible version, please use the HTML report provided.
Advanced metering infrastructure cost benefit analysis
August 2011
Deloitte
Summary
An analysis of the costs and benefits of the Smart Meter Program; the assessment also involves identifying ways to enhance the benefits of Smart Meters for all Victorian consumers.
Over 2008-2028, the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), or Smart Meter, Program will result in net costs to customers of $319 million (NPV at 2008 $2011). A large proportion of the costs will be incurred by electricity distributors by the end of 2011, yet most benefits of the Smart Meter program are yet to be realised.
The analysis found that, given the progress of the rollout, continuing the AMI Program from 2012 results in net benefits of $713 million.
Read the Advanced metering infrastructure cost benefit analysis HTML Version »
Read the Advanced metering infrastructure cost benefit analysis PDF Version » (124 pages, 3.4MB, approx 8.5 min to download on a 56K modem)
This PDF report was produced by an external company and is therefore not accessible. To view an accessible version, please use the HTML report provided.
Auditor General Report
November 2009
Towards a 'smart grid' – the roll-out of Advanced Metering Infrastructure
