Federal Govt Blunders in Dumbing Down Smart Meters

Thursday, 10 April 2008 22:53

“This is potentially the biggest lost opportunity we’ve seen on climate change yet,” said Jane Castle, TEC Energy Campaigner. “We’re set to roll out new meters across the country but without the right technology and tariffs, they’ll be little more than expensive window dressing.”

Smart meters provide consumers with information about electricity usage and costs.  With in-home displays, remote load control and flexible tariffs they allow customers to better manage their bills and become more efficient.  The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) committed to a national rollout in 2006.  The flawed Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) released on Tuesday and the Cost-Benefit Analysis released in March effectively exclude in-home displays and are silent on tariffs, the main tools to help consumers reduce energy use and ensure the meters can be used.

“Without in-home displays, consumers won’t be engaged.  Without direct load control, energy companies won’t be able to make energy-guzzling devices like air-conditioners and pool pumps more efficient.  Without the requirement for time of use and critical peak pricing, at least half the meters will sit idle.”

“The rollout is a massive operation – going that bit further and providing householders with the tools to manage their electricity bills and greenhouse emissions is essential.”

“The RIS has set up smart meters to fail on greenhouse by excluding essential energy savings tools and then concluding that the meters won’t save emissions. They’re asking consumers to pay extra for the add-ons that make the smart meters work.  That’s unfair, particularly for low-income households, who will have to fork out more to be efficient.”

“This is the consistent small-mindedness we’ve seen over and over from the bureaucrats that run the National Electricity Market.  When are they going to come out from under their rock and realise they’re at the centre of the climate change debate?”

“With the right technology and tariffs, smart meters could save 19.4 million tonnes of greenhouse emissions per year, equivalent to taking 4.5 million cars of the roads.  But these savings are only assured if energy businesses are required to realise the potential of the meters with innovative tariffs and demand management programs.”

“Ministers need to direct their bureaucrats to start again – this time with the reduction of greenhouse emissions as a key goal.”