Power rationing ruling alarms consumer groups

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

CONSUMER groups are concerned that a ruling to allow power companies to ration their supply to households could leave some people high and dry.

A final ruling by the Essential Services Commission this week opens the way for power companies to temporarily interrupt the power to households that choose to take part in customer trials using supply control features on smart meters.

The ruling specifies that the supply controls could be used only for ”non-credit management” purposes.

But consumer groups, including the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and the Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC), say energy retailers have no other reason to ration energy supply than to control the level of debt and ensure struggling households pay their bills.

Under the ruling, power companies could cut off electricity briefly to remind customers paying a lower rate for a capped amount of electricity, that they are using more energy than they had agreed to.

”We do not believe there is any reason for retailers to offer such products except for credit management purposes, whether this is explicit or not,” VCOSS has stated.

Janine Rayner, of CALC, says there are ”fairer and more balanced ways” for consumers to manage their energy use and debt.

These include flexible payment options, bill smoothing, hardship programs and energy efficiency audits, rather than ”taking the onus on themselves to self-manage and self-disconnect”.

This week’s ruling will also allow energy companies to turn off individual appliances.

via Power rationing ruling alarms consumer groups.

Posted in load control, supply capacity control | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Power companies to flick your switches | Herald Sun

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

The state regulator has paved the way for a radical system that gives the potential for companies to temporarily disconnect customers when they hit a consumption cap.

VICTORIAN households may get the option of letting electricity companies ration their power in exchange for cheaper bills or other incentives.

Energy experts say the state regulator has paved the way for a radical system using smart meters that also gives the potential for companies to temporarily disconnect customers when they hit a consumption cap.

Other households could end up signing contracts allowing appliances such as airconditioners to be cycled on and off during heatwaves to reduce strain on the power grid.

Consumer groups are deeply concerned an Essential Services Commission ruling released yesterday will allow retailers to punish those having trouble paying bills.

“We advise consumers to be wary of these products if offered by energy retailers and to be aware of the other ways to reduce consumption and deal with high bills – such as energy efficiency, payment plans and hardship programs,” the Consumer Action Law Centres Janine Rayner said.

But the ESC, which has authorised product trials with volunteers, says rationing for “the primary purpose of credit management” rather than other reasons is banned until at least 2014.

Despite publicly releasing its decision, the ESC had no one available to comment.

The ruling comes with the State Government soon to reveal the fate of the beleaguered smart meter project, which is expected to progress because too much money has already been sunk into it.

Ms Rayner said the ESC decision allowed distributors to limit power supply to help avoid blackouts.

It also paves the way for companies to use “supply capacity control” to temporarily interrupt supply once a household hits a certain limit, or to “load control” by turning appliances on and off without cutting all power.

“Supply capacity control could be used by retailers to offer capacity limited tariffs, again to ration power and possibly avoid disconnection,” its paper states.

An example of load control is to cycle an air conditioner on and off to reduce load on the network on a very hot summers day.

“The customer would be offered a saving on the bill for accepting such a load control and the cycling of the air conditioner would be designed so that the customers comfort would not be materially affected.”

comments on this story

via Power companies to flick your switches | Herald Sun.

Posted in load control, Smart Meter, supply capacity control | Leave a comment

Resolution of the Public Forum On Smart Meters

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

The Public Forum was held at the Uniting Church Hall Pakenham on Wednesday November 30th, 2011.

This meeting of residents of Pakenham and surrounding districts, supports the proposal that a meeting be held with the Minister for Energy, Michael O’Brien, and the Minister for Health David Davis and community  representatives to raise resident’s concerns with the mandated Smart Meter Roll Out, and related health issues.

These concerns include;

  • Impact of the radiations emitted by the smart meter on people’s health.
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Increase in electricity cost.
  • Other issues

That this meeting be held before Minister O’Brien announces his decision in relation to the “Review Of The Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program”.

That representatives from the various communities actively concerned with the smart meter roll out be invited to participate in this meeting.

That a letter be sent to the Minister O’Brien and Minister Davis, requesting this meeting be held as a matter of urgency.

Carried Unanimously.

Posted in Meetings, Smart Meter | Leave a comment

Installed onto my property without my consent

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

I recently found out that a smart meter was installed onto my property without my consent. So I decided to contact the company for a please explain. To my horror the response I got was we can do whatever we want and we have government backing.
Since this Smart Meter was installed my family has been suffering headaches which is a direct result of the Smart Meter. I would think any government that supports a Smart meter does not care for the community they are meant to serve. Smart Meters are there to make Money at the expense of human health. I would urge people to get back the rights these power companies are taking away from us.

Posted in headaches, installed without consent, Tell us your story | 2 Comments

Electrical industry calls for investigation into electricity prices

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Today, peak Australian electrical industry body, the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), called on the Victorian Government to investigate electricity prices rises to provide greater transparency for consumers.

Yesterday Origin Energy announced further electricity price rises meaning the average family will pay about $103 extra per year. It is expected that other electricity retailers will follow in the coming weeks. A further rise is expected with the introduction of the carbon tax half way through next year.

NECA Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Philip Green, said the Victorian Government should investigate why electricity prices are rising and provide the industry and public with greater transparency.

“Electricity prices have risen considerably over the past few years with little explanation. The industry and public should be told the reasons for such steep rises,” Mr Green said.

“Electricity distribution costs have allegedly soared and customers are paying for smart meters, feed-in tariffs, solar systems and energy saving schemes.

“The Victorian Government should follow the lead of the Essential Service Commission of South Australia who investigated the impact of these activities and whether they reasonably led to hikes in electricity prices.”

NECA who represents over 5,000 electrical contractors across Australia is also concerned about the impact that higher electricity prices will have on small business and consumers now and also again in July 2012 when the carbon tax is expected to be introduced.

“At the moment there are a number of measures that are placing a lot of pressure on electricity prices in Victoria. In this year’s budget the Baillieu Government announced $445 million for electricity concessions.

“NECA believes this money would be better spent providing assistance to Victorians to undertake energy efficient measures that will help to lower electricity consumption and therefore electricity prices plus this has the added benefit of helping the environment in the years to come,” Mr Green said.

via NewsMaker – Electrical industry calls for investigation into electricity prices.

Posted in Bills Soar, National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Smart Meter | Leave a comment

Sydney – here they come!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Thousands of homes across the Hunter and in Sydney will form the first “Smart Cities” in Australia, as part of a $100 million trial that will see the deployment of smart-grid technology. Ausgrid beat tough interstate competition to win in the Commonwealth funding for the revolutionary “Smart Grid, Smart Cities” project.“Smart Grid, Smart Cities” is the first large-scale trial to test network, metering and renewable technology, along with consumer behaviour and responses, to help guide the deployment of smart grid technologies across Australia. Smart grids work by combining advanced communication, sensing and metering infrastructure with the existing electricity network. A smart grid can find and repair faults on the electricity grid quicker, self-heal, manage voltage and identify infrastructure requiring maintenance. It can also help individual consumers manage electricity consumption and will enable the use of energy efficient ‘smart appliances’, which can be programmed to run on off-peak power. Ausgrid will install new generation smart meters in 50,000 homes in Newcastle, Scone, Ku-ring-gai, Newington and the Sydney CBD. About 15,000 of those homes will become “smart homes” trialling in-house displays that track their electricity use and cost.“Smart Grid, Smart Cities” will explore synergies between smart grid and high-speed broadband technologies.

via 50,000 NSW homes to form “smart cities” | Broadband, Powering NSW.

Related articles

Posted in 4G, NSW, Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Stop Sign

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Why a new stop sign?

The old one stated:

I DECLINE TO HAVE A ‘SMART METER’ FITTED UNTIL AFTER THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLETED THE ‘SMART METER’ REVIEW PROCESS. THANK YOU.

The new one says:

NOT EVER Click Here

Posted in New Stop Sign | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Frequencies now similar to mobile and cordless phones!

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

What the? ARPANSA seems to contradict both the Minister and Jemena!!

The Minister for Energy Michael O’Brien says:

“a Smart Meter produces less radio frequency than other house hold items like a cordless phone”. “You receive far more radiation from other common house hold items like a cordless phone or baby monitor!”

“If you have a microwave oven in your home, if you have a mobile phone in your home, a baby monitor or a cordless phone, you will be exposed to a higher level of radio frequency,” http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/money/article/-/11348901/smart-metre-concerns/

Jemena says:

Smart Meter radio frequency emissions are less than most other sources in the home such as those produced by mobile phones, microwave ovens and baby monitors. This means the radiofrequency of a smart meter would be at a weaker (and therefore safer) level than most other sources in the home. http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/money/article/-/11348901/smart-metre-concerns/

But ARPANSA says:

With frequencies similar to mobile and cordless phones, smart meters and other wireless devices used for communication are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). http://www.arpansa.gov.au/RadiationProtection/Factsheets/is_smartmeters.cfm

So we have gone from less, to weaker to similar!

Who do we believe?

Posted in 2.4GHz, 918-928GHz, Energy Minister, Microwave, Radiation, Safety, Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Record complaints made against power companies, Ombudsman reports | Herald Sun

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

RECORD numbers of complaints are being made against gas and electricity companies as they employ debt collectors to chase thousands of struggling customers over unpaid bills.

The shocking extent of bill defaulting is revealed in a new report from Victoria’s Energy and Water Ombudsman.

Power bills have already surged about 50 per cent ahead of inflation in the past four years, mainly due to higher network costs passed on by monopoly distributors.

The state’s households and small businesses face another price jolt from January.

Do you have a power company horror story? Tell us below or email collierk@heraldsun.com.au

Now the Ombudsman’s report reveals that to add to the pain, retailers are taking a harsher stance against consumers who fall behind on accounts.

The Ombudsman’s office says it has been swamped with record utilities complaints such as high bills, disconnections and botched charges and meter readings.

The Ombudsman also warned of “credit repair” companies charging fees to help struggling people when free help was available elsewhere.

“Electricity, gas and water prices are up. People are facing other cost-of-living pressures,” Ombudsman Fiona McLeod notes in an annual report released today.

“Many of the customers who contacted us were concerned about paying their bills and making ends meet.

“It was also evident that energy retailers were taking a harder line on account arrears and pursuit of energy debt.”

Her office handled 49,580 complaints last financial year, up 29 per cent on a year earlier and 250 per cent more than five years ago.

Cases include:

A MAN sent a $20,000 gas bill because of a bungled meter reading.

SOME customers getting higher, but accurate, bills when smart meters were put in because old meters were “running slowly”.

A WOMAN charged the wrong electricity tariff for years.

ROGUE door-to-door sellers sacked or cautioned for telling customers that retailers would cover smart meter costs.

More than 4100 customers raised debt collection as a main or associated credit issue, while more than 5800 cited payment difficulties.

Cases about disconnection increased 74 per cent (to 2636) for electricity and 34 per cent (to 1399) for gas.

Do you have a power company horror story?
Tell us below or email collierk@heraldsun.com.au

Herald Sun comments on this story

via Record complaints made against power companies, Ombudsman reports | Herald Sun.

Tell us your story

Posted in Bills Soar, Ombudsman, Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Smart meters trigger Wi-Fi blackout – ZDNet Australia

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

About 250 consumers in the US have reported that smart meters cause interference with internet routers and other electronics.

The Office of the Public Advocate, a state-authorised advocacy group for utility customers in Maine, reported last week that Central Maine Power customers have contacted the group about interference within their homes from smart meters. The utility has installed about 440,000 two-way meters that automatically report power outages and allow the utility to read meters remotely.

The smart meters use the unlicensed 2.4GHz frequency band. So if a Wi-Fi router or other device, such as a garage door opener, overlaps on the same channel, there can be some interference, according to Central Maine Power. The problem can be addressed by moving devices away from the smart meter or changing the channel that electronics use, the utility says in its smart meter FAQ.

The Office of the Public Advocate complained that Central Maine Power isn’t providing enough information to consumers about potential problems. “While CMP’s website does refer to the issue, we don’t think it goes far enough,” ratepayer advocate Richard Davies said in a statement.

A representative from Central Maine Power said the utility is aware of the problem and has set up a unit to handle complaints. Usually problems can be fixed over the phone, the representative told the Portland Press Herald.

California utility Pacific Gas & Electric has seen a backlash against smart meters over worries related to health effects from the radio transmissions of smart meters. A test done by the utility research group Electricity Power Research Institute (EPRI) found that radio frequency emissions from smart meter communications are far lower than from Wi-Fi and mobile phones.

But PG&E has not found many cases of Wi-Fi and electronics interference from the millions of smart meters that have been installed and notes that any interference is brief since smart meters communicate for less than a minute a day in bursts of a few seconds, according to the utility.

Smart meters are being installed locally in New South Wales as part of the $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City trial project.

The project, run by a consortium led by Energy Australia, is rolling-out 50,000 smart meters across five sites in Sydney and the Hunter region, and will give 2000 households the ability to switch appliances on and off via a web portal or by using an iPhone.

The network will also tout approximately 12,000 sensors to monitor the power grid in real time.

Unlike the US, however, the Smart Grid, Smart City smart meters will operate on a 4G backbone for transmission of data back to the central hub.

via Smart meters trigger Wi-Fi blackout – Hardware – News – ZDNet Australia.

Where as in Victoria according to Powercor: The smart metering system makes use of low power radiofrequency (RF) transmitters to communicate meter readings. Weak RF fields in the 900MHz and 2.4 GHz bands are produced during the system’s normal operation. http://www.powercor.com.au/Smart_Meters/Meter_Functions/

Posted in 2.4GHz, 4G, Energy Australia, Microwave, NSW, Powercor, Smart Meter, Sydney, Wi-Fi router interference | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment