What is a smart or interval meter?

What is a smart or interval meter?

June 13, 2012

With a smart or interval meter the day is divided into three different time-bands which are called Peak, Shoulder and Off Peak. Your electricity is measured using a meter that records electricity consumption in 30 minute intervals and the electricity rates are different in each of these time-bands, so you pay different rates for your electricity according to the time of day it is used.

A higher rate is charged during the Peak period, than in the Shoulder and Off Peak periods. So your rate is less when the demand for electricity is lower and more when it is higher.

Are you on a smart meter?

Check on your last power bill to see if your energy use is being segmented in to the three time categories, peak, shoulder and off peak.

For each time period you will be charged a different rate for your electricity.

Using a smart or interval meter can help you save money by managing or shaping your power usage to incorporate more off peak and shoulder period power usage.

Smart / Interval Rates (eg taken April 2012)
Shoulder	18.04 cents / kW including GST
Peak	44.66 cents / kW including GST
Off Peak	10.56 cents / kW including GST

With a few routine changes you may be able to make use of the off peak periods and pay 10.56 cents rather than 44.66 cents per kW. Worse still if you don’t know you are on smart meter rates you could be paying 44 cents per kilowatt unnecessarily.

Firstly target the major appliances and the ones you use every day. A simple idea is to use your appliance timers to set the dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer and pool pump and any other energy intensive devices to work after 8 pm or better still  10 pm and stop before 7 am.  Given some of these appliances would be used almost every day the cumulative effect on your power will be surprising.

A smart meter may not be right for everyone and can depend on your lifestyle. You will only get the savings if you make use of your shoulder and off peak periods otherwise during peak times you will actually be paying a higher amount than if you were on a flat rate.

IPART approves higher electricty increases

IPART released their final findings today and have approved a higher than expected increase in prices.

We were expecting Energy Australia / Aus Grid network areas to increase by 19.2% but instead it has jumped to 20.6%. The average of 16% across the state has risen to around 18%. Changes will be effective from 1st July 2012.

IPART has made a series of adjustments since the draft report reflecting more recent data and reflecting issues raised in submissions to their draft report.

This year, the increases outlined in their final decision are primarily driven by:

• the continuing rise in network costs, which contributes to nearly half of the average 18% price increase, and
• the introduction of the Commonwealth Government’s carbon pricing mechanism, which contributes the other half of the average price increase.

Afraid of paying too much!

A few options to help minimize the price increase are:

Install a solar power system and generate some or all of your electricity free from the sun.

Compare your electricity price. IPART operates a free electricity and gas on-line price comparison service, www.myenergyoffers.nsw.gov.au, that lets consumers compare offers from energy retailers in NSW. A complementary phone service is maintained by the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services and is available on 1300 136 888.

Look into power efficiency measures (e.g. solar hot water, water saving shower heads, energy efficient lights), If you are on Power Smart billing (time of use) make sure you learn and understand the different rates and times they are charged, changing your power usage from peak to off peak times can reduce that portion of your bill by 75% . You may like to read our article about smart meters.

Read the full  Fact Sheet – Consumer summary Electricity Price Increases