Electricity Prices - smart meter scam?

[mikey]

Recently received a letter telling me my meter was getting switched to a smart meter.
Thought nothing of it - it was changed; and then I received a letter from my provider (who I won't name).
It informed me that I was being switched to another 'plan'. My Anytime - rate was 32c per Kwh. Now they have changed me to a peak rate of 45c per kwh (peak being 7-10am and 3 - 10pm); with off-peak being 30c per kwh. Essentially, they have increased my anytime rate approximately 40 plus percent as no-one only uses electricity between 10am and 3pm.

This put the wind up me so I checked their website to see if there was a cheaper plan or alternative. Lo and behold - my 'plan' is not even on their website.

I rang the provider to question them about the change being done unilaterally and without any notification; and the fact that my plan was not on their website.

Firstly, they claimed my meter was changed because there was a fault. I disputed this and they said, 'Oh, maybe that's wrong.'
Then I asked how they could change me to a rate that's not even listed on their website. Their response was they were charging what the actual provider charges. I challenged them re their not advertising the rate as I believe it is illegal to do so. I also challenged them about the fact they didn't even warn of the change. The call centre person promptly asked if I wanted the call to be escalated. I said I did.
It's been 3 days since and no call. I have also emailed them about this - no response.
Just wondering if anyone has had this issue; and if so, if they were able to reverse it or at least get a better outcome.
Also wondering if anyone knows anything about how long you need to wait for them to respond before going to the Ombudsman.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

We had our metre changed to a Smart one by Energie (ex Simply Energy) on Friday. I'll let you know if anything odd happens. We were advised that the reason for the switch was to make bill paying easier as the smart meter reads an accurate usage figure verses potential human error thru a person actually reading the meter. Hmmm?

BUT the kicker is that instead of getting a bill quarterly we will now have to pay monthly (just like your mobile phone eh!) So we are being softened up for price hikes but as they are monthly we may not notice the impost as much!

Too bad if you are a meter reader though - your days are numbered!

 

[mikey]

We had our metre changed to a Smart one by Energie (ex Simply Energy) on Friday. I'll let you know if anything odd happens. We were advised that the reason for the switch was to make bill paying easier as the smart meter reads an accurate usage figure verses potential human error thru a person actually reading the meter. Hmmm?

BUT the kicker is that instead of getting a bill quarterly we will now have to pay monthly (just like your mobile phone eh!) So we are being softened up for price hikes but as they are monthly we may not notice the impost as much!

Too bad if you are a meter reader though - your days are numbered!

Cheers for responding.
Love the rhetoric re accurate readings but blithely omit the fact they save money for more profit.
I rang the ombudsman re this and was told the change was perfectly legal - hmm.
I have since contacted my provider again to try and change back to our previous anytime rate and am waiting for a senior consultant to get back to me. Apparently, some providers allow for this but others don't.
As there is no data to go on, I have no idea if this change back would be cheaper or not.
Long live the continual rip offs our government lets companies get away with. Funny how this has all come about when the government introduces payments to everyone.

 

[wonka]

Try a different provider, plenty of deals to be had @ energy made easy

 

[TillLindemann]

The smart meters are an absolute rort, and use pricing mechanisms that are convoluted and which would be unlikely to be legal in any other industry.

 

[mikey]

Try a different provider, plenty of deals to be had @ energy made easy

Cheers for the idea but already have.
The thing that gets to me about Energy Made Easy is it is rarely up to date.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Just wait til they start charging you for feeding solar energy INTO the grid during peak times…

 

[TillLindemann]

My bill almost tripled when my meter was switched.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

The smart meters are an absolute rort, and use pricing mechanisms that are convoluted and which would be unlikely to be legal in any other industry.

Its funny how they are termed SMART METERS. What is so smart about them? Up up and way AI. Solve all our problems.

 

[mikey]

Just wait til they start charging you for feeding solar energy INTO the grid during peak times…

Planning on getting solar but am considering going off-grid, which to be honest is probably pie in the sky with my wife and her use of power. At about 2,400 per year for electricity the cost of solar plus battery (mate had a 24 volt system installed for 18k recently), it's not that long till it pays for itself. I just need to do more research on complications and extra costs; e.g. he needs a 24 volt fridge.

 

[mikey]

My bill almost tripled when my meter was switched.

Ouch! What did you do?

 

[TillLindemann]

Ouch! What did you do?

had a sook on a footy forum, had a sook to my mates, had a sook to my wife.

Didn't take any action that might conceivably change the situation though.

 

[old_man_tiger]

By Bill went up after the switch. Complained and got on a new plan and it is pretty much the same now

 

[Jolls]

Planning on getting solar but am considering going off-grid, which to be honest is probably pie in the sky with my wife and her use of power. At about 2,400 per year for electricity the cost of solar plus battery (mate had a 24 volt system installed for 18k recently), it's not that long till it pays for itself. I just need to do more research on complications and extra costs; e.g. he needs a 24 volt fridge.

My sons and I build custom homes in a rural area. Son 3 and I come from and electrical background - Son 2 is a chippie/mechanic. We don't talk about son 1 - he is a geek and lives in Queensland 🤣 We don't compete for solar installations but do them on our own homes. I have done complete off grid systems and grid connected - with and without battery.

Unless you are off grid because you dont have power close enought it is not worth the effort. You would pay a lot of standard bills for the amount you will fork out over the life of the solar installation. What the solar installers don't tell you is that the average lifespan of the components is 25 years for panels, 8-12 years for batteries (provided they are looked after) and 8 years for the inverter. So plan on changing the inverter over twice, batteries at least once and then throw the system out and start again after 25 years. That adds up quickly.

I have replaced pelnty of Chunesium inverters after 4 years (right out of warranty). I expect you will find the same with some of the early lithium tech (batteries). You do get what you play in with your solar installation.

 

[Odessa]

Recently received a letter telling me my meter was getting switched to a smart meter.
Thought nothing of it - it was changed; and then I received a letter from my provider (who I won't name).
It informed me that I was being switched to another 'plan'. My Anytime - rate was 32c per Kwh. Now they have changed me to a peak rate of 45c per kwh (peak being 7-10am and 3 - 10pm); with off-peak being 30c per kwh. Essentially, they have increased my anytime rate approximately 40 plus percent as no-one only uses electricity between 10am and 3pm.

This put the wind up me so I checked their website to see if there was a cheaper plan or alternative. Lo and behold - my 'plan' is not even on their website.

I rang the provider to question them about the change being done unilaterally and without any notification; and the fact that my plan was not on their website.

Firstly, they claimed my meter was changed because there was a fault. I disputed this and they said, 'Oh, maybe that's wrong.'
Then I asked how they could change me to a rate that's not even listed on their website. Their response was they were charging what the actual provider charges. I challenged them re their not advertising the rate as I believe it is illegal to do so. I also challenged them about the fact they didn't even warn of the change. The call centre person promptly asked if I wanted the call to be escalated. I said I did.
It's been 3 days since and no call. I have also emailed them about this - no response.
Just wondering if anyone has had this issue; and if so, if they were able to reverse it or at least get a better outcome.
Also wondering if anyone knows anything about how long you need to wait for them to respond before going to the Ombudsman.

All part of the global warming con job

 

[Suzie-Q]

My sons and I build custom homes in a rural area. Son 3 and I come from and electrical background - Son 2 is a chippie/mechanic. We don't talk about son 1 - he is a geek and lives in Queensland 🤣 We don't compete for solar installations but do them on our own homes. I have done complete off grid systems and grid connected - with and without battery.

Unless you are off grid because you dont have power close enought it is not worth the effort. You would pay a lot of standard bills for the amount you will fork out over the life of the solar installation. What the solar installers don't tell you is that the average lifespan of the components is 25 years for panels, 8-12 years for batteries (provided they are looked after) and 8 years for the inverter. So plan on changing the inverter over twice, batteries at least once and then throw the system out and start again after 25 years. That adds up quickly.

I have replaced pelnty of Chunesium inverters after 4 years (right out of warranty). I expect you will find the same with some of the early lithium tech (batteries). You do get what you play in with your solar installation.

You make some valid points there @Jolls
My husband is a solar designer and installer. We have been completely off grid since November 2013. We started off with second hand batteries and they didn't last very long because someone (ahem, me) didn't use the power properly. So we've put in new batteries about 8 years ago, and they're still going well.

If you go off grid, you have to be 100% honest with your designer about your usage. You have to follow their instructions. And for the love of all things,read the manual and don't ring us at 7.00am on fathers day to say all your power's gone and you can't get the generator to charge the batteries! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

You are absolutely correct when you say you get what you pay for. Higher initial price usually equates to a better system.

Research your components and installers. And check your hot water systems when the new meter goes in.

 

[Spartan117]

You make some valid points there @Jolls
My husband is a solar designer and installer. We have been completely off grid since November 2013. We started off with second hand batteries and they didn't last very long because someone (ahem, me) didn't use the power properly. So we've put in new batteries about 8 years ago, and they're still going well.

If you go off grid, you have to be 100% honest with your designer about your usage. You have to follow their instructions. And for the love of all things,read the manual and don't ring us at 7.00am on fathers day to say all your power's gone and you can't get the generator to charge the batteries! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

You are absolutely correct when you say you get what you pay for. Higher initial price usually equates to a better system.

Research your components and installers. And check your hot water systems when the new meter goes in.

Good to know

These Energy Companies are motivated by Pure Greed

 

[wicked_j]

I was with Simply Energy when I was moved to a smart meter. My old meter reached its end of life.

I moved to AGL shortly after and I started getting charged a controlled load supply fee (which I had never had in over 5 years). After some back and forth they refunded the cost (plus some) and 'fixed' the meter.

My price actually went down twice since I went to a smart meter, though AGL recently moved me to monthly billing also (though apparently it's optional and I can changed back to quarterly)

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

We had our metre changed to a Smart one by Energie (ex Simply Energy) on Friday. I'll let you know if anything odd happens. We were advised that the reason for the switch was to make bill paying easier as the smart meter reads an accurate usage figure verses potential human error thru a person actually reading the meter. Hmmm?

BUT the kicker is that instead of getting a bill quarterly we will now have to pay monthly (just like your mobile phone eh!) So we are being softened up for price hikes but as they are monthly we may not notice the impost as much!

Too bad if you are a meter reader though - your days are numbered!

Switch to Ampol Energy.. cheapest rate by far…. Plus you get 10cL discount on Ampol fuel

Ampol Energy | Residential Electricity Supplier in New South Wales

energy.ampol.com.au

 

[Needaname]

Haven’t noticed. Only thing of note that was mentioned is that my hot water will be affected by the smart meter based on how it’s used. Haven’t noticed too much change. And the bill seemed consistent with previous bills but I’ll get out the fine tooth comb and go through it.