Current regulations in Victoria do not allow for the disabling of the remote function of electricity smart meters. The fact remains that Victorians are subjected to among the harshest smart meter policies in Australia. Elsewhere, customers have the right to refuse a meter with wireless communications. In other Australian jurisdictions, even if a smart meter has already been installed, customers are entitled to have their meter’s pulsed microwave transmissions disabled.
This needs to change! In view of this appalling state of affairs, SSMA urges Victorian residents to sign an e-petition addressed to the Victorian Legislative Council (Upper House) calling on the government to change regulations in Victoria to allow for the disabling of the remote function of electricity smart meters.
TO VIEW AND SIGN THE PETITION, GO TO:
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) advise, “There have been anecdotal reports into potential health effects of exposure to RF EME [radio frequency electromagnetic energy] from smart meters claiming of a variety of ill effects that have been generally termed ‘electromagnetic hypersensitivity’ or EHS.” The current options to assist customers, offered by distributors United Energy and Powercor, do not address health concerns as they do not allow for the removal of this direct source of RF EME from properties.
Stop Smart Meters Australia 
The link to the petition takes to a page that says it is no longer available. Is there another link to it please?
Here’s the new link: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity/tabled-petitions-search/tabled-petitions-details/8359
The petition has been tabled and a response was given by the government. I just had a look at it. It’s another blah blah blah passing-the-buck response. The current Victorian Energy Minister couldn’t care less about people who have been hurt by smart meters.
In support of my petition, I provide the following information:
Australian Energy Regulator (AER)
According to the AER, “The AER monitors and enforces the National Energy Retail Law (NERL) and rules (NERR) in states and territories that have adopted the law (currently NSW, QLD, SA, the ACT and Tasmania). While the AER enforces the NERL & NERR in states and territories that have adopted that law, Victoria has not, so retail energy regulation is the responsibility of the Essential Services Commission Victoria”.
The AER advise that under its law, “When your smart meter is installed you can ask your retailer to disable its communications functions.” Furthermore, the AER states that, “All new and replacement electricity meters are required to be smart meters (except in the Northern Territory and Western Australia).”
Powercor
In relation to Victorian regulations, Victorian distributor, Powercor, states that, “in 2009 the Victorian Government legislated that electricity distributors must replace analogue meters with digital Smart Meters in every home and small business in Victoria …The legislative requirement in Victoria for Distribution businesses to install a ‘complying remotely read interval meter’ … means that in Victoria, all smart meters must be capable of being read remotely and therefore … to have the “communications aspect of the smart meter to be disabled”, is not possible.”
Coliban Water
Regarding their digital water meter program, Coliban Water, in Bendigo, Victoria, advise that because their digital data loggers do not allow for the remote communication function to be disabled, customers can opt out of having the device installed.
Health Concerns – ARPANSA
On the issue of health, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), informs us that, “there have been anecdotal reports into potential health effects of exposure to RF EME [radio frequency electromagnetic energy] from smart meters claiming of a variety of ill effects that have been generally termed ‘electromagnetic hypersensitivity’ or EHS.”
Conclusion
Allowing Victorians the choice to disable the remote communication function of electricity smart meters (and thereby the option to have electricity smart meters read remotely or in person), would bring Victoria in line with the other states and territories of Australia and with Coliban Water’s digital meter program. It would also offer Victorians the right to address their health concerns.
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They were never compulsory but the way the Covernment at time worded it they gave the distributors all means to try and install them,they said you have to have them installed they were the ants pants would save you money was all bullshit and the meters /infrastructure cost was add to to your bills over a 4 year period $375 to over $700 for Jemena being the costly some crap the other distributors already had some of the infrastructure to this day still have old analogue meter and boy did Jemena go all out trying to force me in having one the last time they rang trying i just said I have my rights she hung up on me
Now you have to put up with all these retailers fudging the rates and service to property offering you monthly bills etc yep Vic stands for victim here in Victoria
How were you able to stop the installation of an electricity smart meter?
I put up a sign.
How was a sign able to stop someone from Jemena coming on to your property to install an electricity smart meter?
Excellent. Signed.
Thank you.
Fortunately I fought to never get one, and don’t. I want to have solar installed but am stuck as you need a smart meter. I’m signing as I do not want a remote control
Thank you.
How were you able to stop the installation of an electricity smart meter?
A SIGN expressing your property rights to prevent trespass and your will and right to disallow the installation,
a LOCK on the meter box to make it an offence if your security is violated and
a VIEWING WINDOW cut into the box allowing for the existing meter to continue being read thus fullfilling your obligation to the retailer and their billing purposes
I’m glad I left Victoria 6 years ago. I now live in south Australia where it was my right not to have smart meter fitted. My power box is locked & I take a photo of meter with reading myself
Can I sign up to the petition?
I have had a sensitivity to EMR for years. Main stream don’t understand. YET They also don’t understand that while they don’t feel the effects, they will still suffer damage.
You can sign the petition by clicking on the link and following the instructions.