Electricity Smart Meter

[Uncle Fester]

Don't understand what you are saying?????

I believe Lsemmens' comment was made in jest, indicating that the little 12V power supply in your picture that seems to lead to one of the charge controllers is actually charging the batteries.

As that powerpoint is likely connected to the inverter which is powered by the same batteries that the wall wart is 'supplying', he has assumed a perpetual machine, in which case it is wise as he also indicated to ......run and .....hide before he gets a lashing

[lsemmens]

Thanks mate, I didn't think it needed explanation.

[Mr 672A]

I believe Lsemmens' comment was made in jest, indicating that the little 12V power supply in your picture that seems to lead to one of the charge controllers is actually charging the batteries.

As that powerpoint is likely connected to the inverter which is powered by the same batteries that the wall wart is 'supplying', he has assumed a perpetual machine, in which case it is wise as he also indicated to ......run and .....hide before he gets a lashing

Argggh sort of understand. Remember all I have had 3 full blow strokes and survive all of them (otherwise I wont be typing this) and for me the simple thing I cant understand or get very confused.

[Mr 672A]

Thanks mate, I didn't think it needed explanation.

For me the more info you give me is the best as I get very confused sometime on simple things. I pray that people I talk with and the people that I like don't have to go through the Health problem that I had and still have. Sometime I get angry with my wife and my Daughter and tell them I wish I can give you 24 hours of what I'm going through only 24 hours of it so you can see what I'm going through.

[Mr 672A]

Argggh sort of understand. Remember all I have had 3 full blow strokes and survive all of them (otherwise I wont be typing this) and for me the simple thing I cant understand or get very confused.

Arghh Don't forget the Heart attack 10 months earlier. No doubt about this, my 2 hands are controlled by a different brain because my hands are extremely good.

[lsemmens]

I actually have 21% permanent brain damage, all in the frontal lobe, but, fortunately for me and those around, the drugs keep me "normal"! I have also noticed marked improvement over the twenty four years since that occurred. There is hope, my brain has re-wired a lot of pathways and things that I could not handle even 10 years ago are now a dim memory!

[OSIRUS]

So He came today and Installed the smart meter, ( I realised I could not say no to an install)





He said there would be no tariff changes, (no time of use, or on demand tariffs)

I said I had concerns about it being a smart meter and would rather it be an accumulation meter and not send my data every 5 minutes,

I said it was a privacy concern ... because a study of the data could reveal times when I am home and when I am away from home (even on Holiday) and also reveal what items I use and when.

he said he could "possibly not install the antenna", but he ignored this and installed it anyway.

I also asked him if I could check the meter reading manually on the new meter, he assure me that I could, but looking at it after he left he has put "blue wiring ties" to stop this. (what happens if I break the wiring ties?)

although he said you could check the meter use on the Energy Australia app after about 10 days, (but I wanted to check that the readings being sent were correct or not, but now I can't)

I am also a little concerned that when and if the "blackouts start" they may be able to turn my meter on and off at their will? (but not if they are not in communication with it?)

I guess I have to put up with it now.

what do you think of his work installing it?

[fandtm666]

im amazed they even installed it because its an asbestos board.

When mine was done after installing my solar we had to have an
upgrade to the meter box and have the asbestos board removed
before they would install the meter.

[Al Bundy]

….I also asked him if I could check the meter reading manually on the new meter, he assure me that I could, but looking at it after he left he has put "blue wiring ties" to stop this. (what happens if I break the wiring ties?)

Contact your power retailer and complain to them of the seal placed on the manual reading buttons, take note of the number on the blue seal and give that to them as well and request them to have the seal removed at their cost or otherwise you are going to the Ombudsman for energy in your state and making a formal complaint for a breach of NECF (if you live in Tassie, SA, ACT, NSW or QLD), if you are in Vic, NT or WA you can’t threaten NECF, but you can still complain to the Ombudsman.
It should not be there.

[Jma]

Not sure how relevant the 'stopsmartmeters' site is nowdays, looks like it's been around for a while judging by the date on some of the comments, that I never bothered reading.

I tend to agree with Al, they'll just find another way to screw us out of money, and the govt/regulators will let them...

[Al Bundy]

Released today 28 November;

AEMC Makes Final Smart Meter Ruling

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has finalised a reform to universalise smart meter deployment across the National Electricity Market (NEM) by 2030, aiming to ensure stronger customer protections.

AEMC Chair, Anna Collyer, said the reforms recognise smart meters as essential infrastructure for transitioning to a renewable energy system and achieving net zero emissions targets.
“Smart meters are the digital foundation needed for a modern, connected and efficient energy system.
“This reform will help households and businesses increasingly interact with the grid and energy markets as we support the cost-effective decarbonisation of the energy system,” Ms Collyer said.


The final rules include two core reforms to unlock smart meter benefits sooner:

• Accelerated deployment of smart meters – deploying smart meters to customers faster to achieve cost savings, support a modern, data-enabled energy system, and give customers access to a range of benefits sooner.
• Access to power quality data – improving network access to important power quality information so that they can better manage their networks, reduce network costs for customers, save energy, and minimise network safety risks.

In addition, the final rules include four supporting reforms:

• New customer safeguards – protecting customers from potential cost risks by prohibiting any upfront costs ahead of a smart meter installation and introducing new explicit informed consent and notification requirements ahead of any retail tariff changes.

​ (Why would these be required? After all it was supposedly not happening…. Al Bundy)

• Improving the customer experience – ensuring that customers can access the full suite of benefits that smart meters provide, including by introducing new customer-friendly information requirements.
• Reducing barriers to installation – supporting delivery efficiencies and therefore cost savings in the accelerated deployment of smart meters.
• Improved meter testing and inspections – helping minimise costs and improve efficiencies for industry and customers.

AEMC said the new customer safeguards provide for a two-year period following the installation of a smart meter, where a customer cannot be moved to a new tariff without giving explicit informed consent.
(Again, Why would these be required? If it was not happening…. Al Bundy)

After this period, retailers wishing to change a customer’s tariff must provide them with historical bill comparisons showing what their bills would have been under new tariffs, along with practical information on understanding and managing their electricity usage.
The new rules include a provision that enables jurisdictions to require designated retailers to offer flat tariff options to customers with smart meters.
The reforms will be implemented progressively from December 2024 to July 2026, with the accelerated rollout commencing in December 2025.
“We conducted extensive consultation to get these reforms right. After hearing stakeholder concerns about consumer impacts, we strengthened protections around tariff changes while maintaining an ambitious but achievable 2030 target,” Ms Collyer said.

AEMC said cost-benefit analysis (which excluded Victoria and Tasmania as they already have acceleration programs), shows the accelerated rollout will deliver net benefits through economies of scale from coordinated geographical deployment, avoided manual meter reading costs, and faster power restoration after outages.
The reforms are expected to enable more efficient network management and support the integration of rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles while helping networks manage increasing system complexity.
This smart meter reform is a critical piece of the AEMC’s broader consumer energy resources reform agenda, which has led the way in preparing Australia’s energy system for the increasing uptake of solar, batteries, electric vehicles and other consumer energy technologies.


The rule change is the culmination of four years of AEMC-led work, beginning with the Commission’s self-initiated Review of the Regulatory Framework for Metering Servicesin December 2020. This extensive review and subsequent reform process has involved extensive stakeholder consultation and careful consideration of consumer impacts.
“After four years of detailed work and consultation, we have delivered a framework that will accelerate smart meter deployment while ensuring strong consumer protections and choice.
“This is critical for unlocking the benefits of Australia’s world-leading uptake of consumer energy resources,” Ms Collyer said.

[OSIRUS]

im amazed they even installed it because its an asbestos board.

When mine was done after installing my solar we had to have an
upgrade to the meter box and have the asbestos board removed
before they would install the meter.

Yes he put the Asbestos sticker on it yesterday, he said the name on the back of the board gave it away,

he is also the first electrician to ever say anything about that.

but yes, I did not know that either.

[wotnot]

Released today 28 November;
AEMC Makes Final Smart Meter Ruling

...man, that's so thick with word salad, it's a giant Waldorf ...

...in fact the last line had me sticking my fingers down my throat...I just had to check out their 'About' page...

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is an independent statutory body that works for Australia's
future productivity and living standards by contributing to a decarbonising, affordable and reliable energy system for consumers.


....lol.... FFS....

[Al Bundy]

Yep, a release full of hyperbolic bullshit, unfortunately they get to set the woke agenda and set and administer the rules for the energy market in Australia, what I can’t understand is why have rules to “safeguard” customers against something that is in the words of one in this thread is just rubbish???

Don't listen to the rubbish….
Don't worry !

In other words “I’m okay Jack, f#@k the rest of you”, typical head in the sand attitude…

[OSIRUS]

Hi guys one more question if I may ?

In the Image below does anyone know if this is the button to show the meter readings? (indicated by the white arrow)

if it is, it has a light blue clear plastic cover over the button held in place by the blue wiring tie. (with number 199 on it)

does anyone know how I can manually check the readings on this Smart meter (to check if they align with the readings I will get on my bill, and the phone app)

Am I allowed to remove the light blue clear plastic cover?

or something else? (without using the phone app,)

[wotnot]

Found the manual ~

[Al Bundy]

Hi guys one more question if I may ?

In the Image below does anyone know if this is the button to show the meter readings? (indicated by the white arrow)

if it is, it has a light blue clear plastic cover over the button held in place by the blue wiring tie. (with number 199 on it)

does anyone know how I can manually check the readings on this Smart meter (to check if they align with the readings I will get on my bill, and the phone app)

Am I allowed to remove the light blue clear plastic cover?

or something else? (without using the phone app,)

The button you require is the clear select button below the green button, you press that in to cycle through your screens (or registers if you like) but as I already said it has been sealed, this is a NECF breach, did you contact your retailer?

[Al Bundy]

Right before your eyes…

[Al Bundy]

From

The Australian government continues to ensure the NECF remains up to date, with fit-for purpose consumer protections. Changes to the rules have been implemented to:

• prevent retailers misleading consumers by offer discounts off
• ensure customers are provided
• when their tariffs are about to change
• significantly reduce delays to smart , to help customers get access to new technology and innovative tariffs
• by setting guidelines to require hardship policies to be consistent and comparable, making the process easier for consumers and more transparent for regulators
• enable customers to provide instead of estimated meter reads, to improve the accuracy of bills and reduce bill shock.

if you have any questions or concerns about energy-related consumer protections you can contact:

• the department responsible for energy in your state or territory
• your state or territory .

As your ability to read your meter manually is sealed, it is a breach.

[OSIRUS]

Thanks Al Bundy, appreciate your help trying to understand this new meter.

Can anyone tell me are there usually seals (wiring ties) preventing using the read buttons (there is also a seal lower on the meter (don't know what this is for either) or is it just me?

Other people who have got a Smart meter does theirs have seals like mine? or not?

Also the readings are a bit different to my last meter .... (as seen in the video)

I have also noticed you can ask for the communications (the Antenna?) to be turned off. How does this work?,

would it be worth asking them to make it an Accumulation meter, A Type 4A meter, with maybe 1 mandatory read a year and/or I can manually send in meter reads when required (is this possible)

In your opinion is it worth asking them to turn off, or remove the antenna and make it an accumulation meter, not a smart meter?