What are Smart Meters?
You’re probably already familiar with what an electricity meter is, but do you know about a smart meter?
This type of meter not only provides your electricity retailer with details of your household’s electricity usage, but it does so at regular half hour intervals. Doing so means that your electricity company no longer needs to provide an estimate of your household’s usage by referring to historical data! Instead, they are provided with the exact amount of power each month.
With a smart meter, more accurate invoices are provided each and every month!
Transmitting the Data Easily from the Smart Meter
The metering equipment provider transfers your usage details, as well as your Installation Control Point (ICP) number. Instead of using your address, the ICP identifies your connection point as a reference to your location on the grid network.
When your data is received by your retailer, your ICP number is matched to your account details. Your electricity usage is then easily recorded on your account.
Keeping Your Data Safe
There’s no need to worry about how your data’s protected when using a smart meter!
Not only is the data encrypted on its way to the retailer using the ICP number, but the Privacy Act 1993 and The Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010 provide extra security.
Plus, meter data is only ever released to the authorized person on the account.
Addressing Your Health Concerns
Because smart meters use a frequency that’s lower than a cell phone or microwave, the amount of radiation emitted is well below New Zealand limits.
The signal is sent at only short periods of time and since smart meters are normally located outside your home, even less exposure occurs.
Tracking Tools Available
Interested in being able to see exactly how much power is being consumed in your household? Some electricity companies offer online tools that enable smart meter users to track their household’s power consumption.
This provides a great way to be able to implement cost-saving strategies for energy consumption!
Contact Switchme to Save Even More on Your Energy Bill!
Besides using a smart meter, have you considered changing energy suppliers to see if a lower-cost option is available? If so,Switchme makes researching these options easy!
As New Zealand’s largest non-government funded energy switching site, Switchme can be trusted to find you the best deal on your energy bill. By processing energy comparisons and giving free, independent advice, we help customers all the time save money.
Contact us today to learn how you, too, can start saving money on your energy costs!?