Safety
Smart Meter Safety
The Victorian Government is aware of concerns raised relating to Smart Meters. Through external reviews and reports into the Smart Meter program the Government has found that the metering devices meet all health standards and are being installed safely.
Smart Meters and your Health
All Smart Meters installed in Victoria must comply with electromagnetic exposure limits developed by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). ARPANSA state that, in relation to radiation, the overall exposure is well below safe exposure limits – even when a number of devices are communicating simultaneously.
Installation Safety of Smart Meters
Smart Meters installers are required by law to meet certain requirements for training and qualifications.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) also require that electricity distributors thoroughly test all Smart Meters after they are installed to ensure they meet all the relevant safety standards and requirements.
On 17 May 2012 ESV released a draft report into the electrical safety of Victoria’s Smart Meters. The report concluded that Smart Meters are safe, do not pose any greater safety risk than the meters they are replacing, and that there is no evidence to suggest that Smart Meters are exploding or causing fires.
