Smart meters: What are they and can they help save you money?

[Basil_AGL]

Smart meters put the power in your hands - from better understanding your energy use to helping you manage costs.

To read the benefits of a smarter meter, visit our discover article here.

[Lester]

I have found there is certainly a lot of resistance to smart meters.

Before we went solar, when you must update for the 2 way comms, I was one who knocked back 'upgrades' a couple of times.

A few notes on my experiences, and hopefully some clarification / education for me on few parts of the content above.

A single rate on an analogue meter may suit many power users, those without solar might be better to stay on a single rate, or single rate with off peak for their HWS if applicable.

Many people are on TOU (time of use) with smart meters*, which can be fraught with potential bill shock . . .

With most household occupants working away from home during the cheaper shoulder times 1000-1500, and home early morning later afternoon and evening, using most power when peak pricing tariffs are very high !

* I do believe one can request to stay on single rate with a smart meter Basil, is that correct, or still correct ?

For those at home during the day and can manage a shift of power use to cheaper blocks of TOU, this might be a benefit, but you must make an effort, some micro managing of power use if one can be bothered.

There is an off peak period early morning from about midnight to 0530, and is at 2nd highest tariff.

Shoulder during shoulder soak 1000-1500 is at cheapest tariff.

2 peak periods 0530-1000 and 1500-midnight each day, are at usually very high tariff (53.something cents in SA).

Note, time of use periods and tariff differences might vary in other states and even state regions.

Some of the content of the post above.

Are they not 5 minute data intervals, and some (maybe all) retailers, including AGL, charge in 30 minute intervals for easier management ?

It is good to see your usage as you go through the month, though the data itself is not beneficial without a spreadsheet (one must produce themselves) to decipher interval times and rates (if on TOU).

Single rate would be easy enough, with data intervals to show times of power use and potential load shifting advantages if considering moving to TOU.

The daily overview update is very accurate (when it's working), as too the data (when that's coming through reliably).

Neither is for me, for quite some time.

Pay for exactly what you use ?

"A traditional, manual electricity meter only records the total electricity you use over three months – making charges less accurate."

Data was accurate for analogue meters too, as long as they were read correctly, or at all (when an estimated bill is issued).

Analogue meters, like smart meters, can malfunction, but that's another matter, in the main they are both pretty reliable.

"smart meters . . . cut meter reading fees and charges from your bill."

This is a significant saving for DNSPs and retailers, especially if the 2030 smart meter rollout does meet its target.

I must admit I noticed no changes to my supply charge when we switched metering.

Can that be elaborated on where the cut is made and how much it saves ?

Thanks Basil, a post that is interesting to read and might allay the fears of smart meters for some.

[Basil_AGL]

Hey @Lester - thanks for sharing that information and also your experience! 

To answer some of your questions; 

• I do believe one can request to stay on single rate with a smart meter is that correct, or still correct? 
  
  Depending on your location, you may be eligible. Best thing to do is head to the contact us page to check if you’re able to switch to another tariff.
• Single rate would be easy enough, with data intervals to show times of power use and potential load shifting advantages if considering moving to TOU.
  I'll provide your feedback to the IT team
  
  
• "A traditional, manual electricity meter only records the total electricity you use over three months – making charges less accurate."
  Especially with monthly billing, smart meters mean there's no need for estimated reads — helping ensure your bills are more accurate and reflect your actual usage.

• "smart meters . . . cut meter reading fees and charges from your bill." - 
  
  You're right, reduced manual meter reading, which lowers costs for networks and retailers. That said, any reduction is typically built into overall tariffs, not broken out as a separate line, so it’s not something most people would notice on their supply charge. The actual savings vary by location.

Thanks again for your insights, conversations like these help us all better understand. If you ever want to discuss your plan or meter settings further, we’re always happy to help.

Cheers, Basil

[NeilC]

@Basil_AGL @Lester 

My understanding is that AGL sets all smart meters to read 5 min increments.

Now the ONLY benefit for this is if you have a demand tariff as one 5 minute spike will be multiplied by 12 rather than with 30 min reads where it is multiplied by two.

Demand tariff is not supposed to be applied to households but to business users to ENCOURAGE them to use less power during peak usage times.

Now to help users save money, on the usage page, you should be showing the usage amounts/ costs for each billing period during the day rather than being lumped together.

Exports should be shown as daily usage as the user really has no control of the Suns ability for their solar panels to produce electricity.

Before everyone jumps up and down about my above statement, most users have apps available to them where they can check their current generation and production so far for the day.

Now AGL at best, produces the information on the usage page that is only TWO days old and sometimes up to FIVE days old.

Current usage is available from the smart meter but is not really useful to consumers as it requires them to stand in front of their meter. Maybe that data could be displayed in the residence via bluetooth or wireless technology for the users that require (or want) it..

I know that some users have been asking to have real-time data available on their home page from the retailer, this would require a huge amount of data to be swamping the retailer and a considerable amount of computing power for a small minority of users who would actually look at the real-time data.

Single rate tariff does not encourage users to limit electricity usage and should only be permitted for non-smart meter users.

My understanding is that there a date set already for all users to have smart meters installed and according to reports all meters in Victoria have already been changed over.