What is a Smart Meter?

If you pay an electricity bill, you know what an electrical meter is. It is the device outside your house that measures your electricity consumption. A smart meter takes metering further, measuring your power consumption at intervals during the day and storing the information. This data can be used to analyze your energy usage and help you better understand how you’re using energy. You can use the information to help you use energy more efficiently.

Smart meters are so “smart,” they can transfer the data to an online software application that will compare your energy usage with that of your neighbours (without revealing their personal information) and help find ways you can reduce your energy consumption based on comparative calculations. Advocates of smart meter technology say this will help reduce energy consumption and costs.

How do Smart Meters Work?

Old-style meters work simply by passively measuring how much electricity you use. Smart meters have to be able to collect and transmit far more information. They do it by means of low power  radio (RF) transmitters. The frequencies used by these transmitters fall within Australian safety standards as determined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA).

Although smart meters are ACMA and ARPNSA approved, they are still controversial. Critics argue that increasing use of RF in home appliances and now smart meters have not been adequately tested and may have negative health effects. Smart meters are of particular concern to critics because they are set to be universally adopted and will soon be in every home in Australia. They fear that this, combined with RF and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted from our other smart devices, will tip the scales and lead to numerous health risks.

Do I Need to be Concerned?

Whether you need to be concerned or not depends on whose viewpoint you believe. The Victorian government presents the case for smart meter safety on their smart meter safety web page. The citizens action group, Stop Smart Meters Australia, presents the other side of the story.

Another concern raised by consumer organisations is that smart meters will cause electricity bills to soar because of the cost of installing, maintaining and monitoring them. According to Energy Australia, smart meters will be installed free of charge, but energy suppliers will recoup their cost over time through your energy bills. Because the charges will be spread out over a number of years, they will make a minimal difference to your monthly bills.

Whether you’re concerned or not, it looks like smart meters are here to stay. They have been made mandatory in Victoria and although the New South Wales government has resisted mandatory installation, the federal government actively advocates their adoption Australia-wide.