14 replies to this topic

[JohnA]

So do we have to accept them now or can we still tell them to not install it?

i think i recall its all been approved and we dont have a choice.
I got the letter today so want to know if i should tell them to bugger off

[Juicester]

you have no choice unfortunately. I've got one too...

[el toro]

'I got a letter from the government the other day, opened it and read it... it said they were suckers.'

Can't give an definitive answer but I think you're pushing s*%t up hill trying to avoid it. Heard some poor bugger on the radio a few days ago who'd been served a notice saying he had to have a sun shade removed (a job that would cost $$) so that their tech could get to the meter box.

That would severely jack me off.

Wonder what J. Brumby's doing with his time and fat super payout..... corporate lickspittle.....

[JohnA]

i simply dont want it, and am going to try and delay it as much as i can.
I am on holidays during the periond they want to install it so going to ring them and say, sorry, you wont have access to it as i padlock my meter box

i know all i am doing is delaying it, but i simply dont like the idea of these smart meters. Only smart for the electrcity companies so they can eventual charge us peak and off peak rates

[mr-happy-pants]

In all seriousness, a few houses have caught fire resulting from installations of new smart meters, by presumably not too-smart meter installers.

The way I see it, if they can't provide me a guarantee that it won't catch fire I would like to say no way.

And they have to get past 2 dogs to get to the meter. Bizarrely, the meter is on the rear side of the side gate!?

So, where do we stand, knowing that meters have caught fire after shoddy install?

Graham

http://www.theage.co...1107-1n2po.html

[:) al]

So do we have to accept them now or can we still tell them to not install it?

i think i recall its all been approved and we dont have a choice.
I got the letter today so want to know if i should tell them to bugger off

john, even when we had a choice. I rang them to tell them didnt want one till things been decided. they told me to put a note on our meter box to say didnt want one. which I did. and still ended up with one ! when rang them they said sorry we cant remove it now !

now no choice stuck with it. it is not a smart meter. but a dumb meter in my opinion. it provides us no benefit as such. the meters they have chosen dont give us any further info on useage etc in our bills. all they do is put the poor meter guy out of a job, and we are paying for the bloody things, and we wont get a discount for the meter guys wages that just goes to the power company.

its a complete joke in my opinion !

[JohnA]

Yes Al, the only ones that benefit are them.

I had a nice new electronic meter installed when we built the house....
i will ring them on Monday and tell them i will be on holidays during that period and the box will be locked.

see what they have to say

[holdencaulfield2007]

They are universally known as Smart Meters now however that is just the PR name. When I worked for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (remember them?) they were only in the proposal stage.. At that stage they were known as "Time of Use" meters which is obviously a more accurate name. The basic concept is to try to modify the consumers behaviour by encouraging them to use more power when there is traditionally less demand and less power when there is high demand.. In Victoria the majority of electricity is generated by burning coal, which then creates steam . This drives a Steam Turbine which is connected to a generator. This is done on a massive scale and the machinery is designed to run on a continuous basis. There is no way of storing excess electricity so it is desirable to flatten the peaks and troughs of electricity consumption.so massive amounts of electricity are not wasted. This was the original idea behind these meters. Unfortunately the whole process has been poorly handled.. However AFAIK there is no evidence that Smart Meters cause fires. . In regards to delaying the installation,, to what end? The Premier who was vehemently opposed to them in opposition has now said the Roll out has progressed to far to stop it, so it is going ahead.

Edited by holdencaulfield2007, 23 March 2012 - 04:43 PM.

[wolster]

In all seriousness, a few houses have caught fire resulting from installations of new smart meters, by presumably not too-smart meter installers.

The way I see it, if they can't provide me a guarantee that it won't catch fire I would like to say no way.

And they have to get past 2 dogs to get to the meter. Bizarrely, the meter is on the rear side of the side gate!?

So, where do we stand, knowing that meters have caught fire after shoddy install?

Graham

http://www.theage.co...1107-1n2po.html

It now clear that the swearing filter has not been activated on the new software

[JohnA]

In regards to delaying the installation,, to what end? The Premier who was vehemently opposed to them in opposition has now said the Roll out has progressed to far to stop it, so it is going ahead.

this is the part i needed to know. If they have been given the official go ahead, then all i will be doing is delaying the inevitable
Thanks for the info

[handysteel]

I think I read somewhere that the peak hour usage cost is nearly double the cost (0.46cents per kwh ?) compared to (28 cents per kwh ?) for a standard meter. I know that the off peak rate is much lower, but **** who uses much power between 12 am and 7am apart from a couple of appliances. Power supply companies are going to make a killing from the domestic market during peak hour usage times.

[MC240]

Lock the gate as Alan Jones would say.

[JohnA]

found the info and it seems it is now mandatory and everyone will have one installed by the end of 2013.

also found this

Main changes

• Subsidising in-home displays to help households control their energy bills, with some basic in-home displays available at low cost by mid-2012.
  
• Progressively offering remote connections for Victorians moving house from 1 Jan 2012, saving customers around $15, or more than $100 after hours.
  
• Extending the delay on the introduction of flexible pricing until at least 2013, to allow time for consumers to learn more about their options.
  
• Ensuring Victorian consumers can choose to remain on flat rates even when flexible pricing is introduced.
  
• Toughening the regulation of Smart Meter cost recovery by distribution businesses, including through removing the automatic allowance for cost overruns of 10 to 20 per cent put in place under the former Labor government.

[patjoy]

found the info and it seems it is now mandatory and everyone will have one installed by the end of 2013.

I forsee many unfortunate circumstances arising that will delay my installation to the end of 2013!

[LogicprObe]

Smart meters are only smart for the power companies.
This is one of the biggest rorts imposed on consumers for decades!