Everyone is always asking me about Smart Meters.
While the design of a smart meter will vary by date, with different power companies and your geographical location, here is an idea of what one might look like.
This meter pictured is smart meter capable and the aerial cable coming out of it easily shows it has already been enabled to work as a smart meter.
On the end of the aerial cable is a block of metal which is the aerial and is usually attached to either the side of the meter box or the meter box door.
This meter is on a property I worked on in the Melbourne suburbs, but is identical to the smart meter capable meter I have installed at my own workshop, (however mine has not yet had an aerial cable installed).
Once a smart meter has been enabled, It allows the power company to remotely read the meter, remotely switch the power supply off and on in the case of moving out of or into a house and also to allow for a greater number of tariffs which may, down the track work in your favour if you can use your peak power at different times of the day to most other people with the use of timers and contactors.
For example, If you have an overhead tank you pump water into, I can install timers and float switches to allow the water to top up the tank when a float calls for water and b) when a certain time has been reached, for example 2300 hours when our current off peak time has been reached. A lot of people, especially those without natural gas, have off peak available. This is just one way you can save on power bills.
Hopefully, down the track, I can also make some of the new smart meter tariffs that may be created work with you, rather than against you.
Don’t forget to ask me about any updates on smart meters next time you see me.