Thread: Electricity company smart meters rort

Yeah well I thought there might be something draining it because the Reno the owner did on it is terribly dodgy but... We turned everything off and the stupid/smart meter didn't move at all for half an hour. We turned various things back on an a barely noticeable change even. It's not a estimate as the guy came when I was outside.

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The worst thing is.... not being able to watch the wheel spin backwards...and seeing the dials counting down over time.
(We've had a 3.7 kW Solar system installed)

Over here in WA, 'they' will NOT let you keep the old meter, giving some story about needing it for checking etc in case there is a discrepency in the readings....

Yeah, Right !

Our new meter was installed, and it appears to be programmed for time of day metering. - I did'nt ask for that at all.... Will be watching my next bill very closely !

Originally Posted by slug_burner

I got one of these to monitor my power use. Very sensitive and updates every six seconds I think. Should give you a nice histogram of your power use. I have yet to get an electricity bill while I have had it to compare against.

I have two of those EnviR monitors in my place. One is on the supply and one is on my solar generating plant.

Here's today's consumption graphs:

I got changed over to a new Smart Meter about 2.5yrs ago .... Smart for them, not for me (naturally! )

In a former life I worked in the electrical trades, so knew exactly what it meant .... Smart for them, not for me !

Our smart-power is ...

7am-2pm weekdays - Shoulder rate (0.18c/kwhr)
2pm-8pm weekdays - Peak rate (0.36c/kwhr)
8pm-10pm weekdays - Shoulder rate (0.18c/kwhr)
10pm-7am weekdays - Off-Peak rate (0.08c/kwhr)

Weekends are the same except there is no Peak rate. The Peak rate hours are same as Shoulder rate.

I still have Off-peak 1 Hot water (and a 315L mains storage hot water heater at $0.08c/kwhr with a 3.6kw element) - There are 7 people living between the two residences. We share 1x washing machine & dryer. There are 7+ PC's, 7x televisions, and all the other usual houshold appliances, including 2x air conditioners .... 1x inverter, 1x non-inverter window mount.

I got changed over early on as we were considered to be a big electricity user ... $580-$650 a quarter (but it's actually 2x households hanging of the back of 1x meter connection ... a granny flat attached out the back where the in-laws live).

Just prior to the meter change-over I embarked upon an upgrade of both user habits, and converted all the lighting to compact flouro's, and changed the 2x main TV's for new LCD set ... I forced EVERYONE in the household to LOAD SHIFT ... If you can do it at a more economical time of the day, then do it .... dishwasher on after 10pm, the borewater pump for irrigation, after 10pm ... if you have a swimming pool (I don't) run the pump after 10pm and before 7am ... same for the clothes dryer. Washing machine before 7am in the morning.

To beat the mongrels you have to play the game ... and the game is LOAD SHIFTING ... move the useage to a more economical time of the day ... where possible ... and this is where I see most people coming unstuck. They don't (or can't/won't) take the time to learn what "time-of-use-metering" means to their household/hip-pocket, and continue on with their old useage habits. It's an unfortunate fact of life that TOU metering is here to stay ... yes, some power resellers will allow you to choose a flat rate, but what I've seen is that you have no flexibility in reducing your power useage. My average rate for all my power (incl' hot water) is around 0.15c/kwhr ... the flat rate from our provider is 0.23c/kwhr ... I would pay MORE on a flat rate deal ... but I could run whatever I want whenever I want without being penalised by time of day restrictions.

My 1st electricity bill AFTER being changed over to TOU metering was $383.00 ... maybe close to a $250 saving ... many folks I know who got changed over saw a 50-100% INCREASE ... because they didn't understand how to play the game.

All that said, with rate rises over the last 2x years, I'm back to paying $500-600 a quarter. I'd be paying WAY more if I hadn't changed my useage habits (my sisters last bill was $1700 (Nth Turra in Sydney). We pay $50-$75 a quarter for hot water ! and every bill see's a small reduction in our "Peak" power useage ... everyone is sick & tired of Dad playing the "Power Nazi" but that's what it takes to make the reduction achievable ... someone has to be a right ***** and get on everyone elses back constantly until they get with the program. It's hard with kids & teenagers (and seniors!), but it can be done.

The outlaws out the back pay 1/3 of the bill and we pay 2/3, and our 2/3 always ends up being substantially cheaper than our friends family bills.

Play the game, Load Shift, don't stop doing it, just do it at a different time of the day. The next thing I'm about to try is time clocks on the fridges & deep freezers to lock-out 2pm-8pm.

.... and the less we all use, the more they will put the price up

Here's today's consumption graphs:

Remember who is paying your bills Ron. It is the rest of us who for one reason or another cannot install or too poor to afford to get on the gravy train..
The stupidest bit of public policy ever developed but great for the individuals who were able to climb aboard.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Remember who is paying your bills Ron. It is the rest of us who for one reason or another cannot install or too poor to afford to get on the gravy train..
The stupidest bit of public policy ever developed but great for the individuals who were able to climb aboard.
Regards Philip A

It wasn't a matter of being too poor or being rich enough. The Govt. offered and I took advantage of the 4 year interest free Green Loan to buy my solar. Almost anyone could have done it (assuming they weren't in a rental property).

I wouldn't have installed it except for that and the 68 cent/kWH GFIT.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Remember who is paying your bills Ron. It is the rest of us who for one reason or another cannot install or too poor to afford to get on the gravy train..
The stupidest bit of public policy ever developed but great for the individuals who were able to climb aboard.
Regards Philip A

I've just jumped on! Whooo Whooo Choo Choo Choo...
BUT! The feed in tarriff is a nicetie. I would have purchased anyway at some stage as I am about to change careers after 30 yrs in the Army. I 'have' the $5000 now (kinda) but may not have $1500 per quarter in the future if you get my drift.

Ralph

We produce surplus power to the tune of about $1000 a quarter  on our PV array.

Best money we ever spent and great for keeping the home expenses down.


"Where the Desert meets the Sea"