25 Nov Smart Meter Forum In Victoria: Issues To Be Aired

There is a lot of talk about smart meters, their mandatory installation in Victorian homes, health issues and costs – now and in the future.

Public Forum

There’ll be a public forum on Smartmeters:
Date: Sunday 25 November
Venue: Oakleigh Grammar Community Conference Centre, 77-81 Willesden Road, Oakleigh
Time: 1.00 – 4.00pm
Speakers have been engaged to talk about various issues, and Energy Minister Michael O’Brien has been invited.

The forum is being organised by Stopsmartmeters Australia and the Glen Eira Smartmeter Awareness Group.

NOT So Smart Meters? – Choice Magazine

Choice says the benefit to consumers in reducing electricity bills is still in question and smart meter trials in NSW have found at best only a 5% reduction in costs to consumers, while consumers who are at home during the day – such as pensioners and work-from-home parents – may not be able to shift usage or reduce consumption.

What ReNew And Alternative Technology Association (ATA) Say

Craig Memery, ATA’s Energy Policy Advocate explains what smart meters are and what they mean for household energy use.

“Despite the tendency…to lump all smart meters into one basket, the experience of the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) is that smart meters, and the networks of infrastructure required to support them, can take many forms…

There are various ways in which they can allow a household or business to interact with the electricity network and these are accompanied by various tariff options…”

Essentially ATA sees Smart meters as a mixed blessing for consumers, offering opportunities to improve energy efficiency, but on the other hand:

“smart meters and associated infrastructure are costly, still technically immature, and offer benefits to energy distribution and retail businesses that consumers may not gain from.”

Health Concerns Around Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR)

EMR Australia Pty Ltd says, in answer to the question of smart meters affecting our health:

“There’s no definitive answer at this stage because the technology is so new. But already there are some indications that all may not be well..

These meters send out intermittent signals – so they will not be present or measurable at all times of day.

How much radiation do they emit? A 2011 report for the Victorian government concluded that the emissions complied with Australian standards. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is currently undertaking measurements of radiation from some types of smart meters.

Utilities claim that the emissions from smart meters are ‘low’. However, that doesn’t explain the large number of reports of uncomfortable effects from those who have had smart meters installed on – or even near – their homes..

Because of the potential risks of the radiation they emit, some authorities have called for a moratorium on the installation of smart meters. This includes the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.”

NB EMR Australia produces and sells a Smart Meter Pack- 1 litre of high frequency shielding paint which they say blocks the radiofrequency signals.

Confusing, yet Victoria has jumped in..