Jemena: smart meters sabotaged

Jemena has announced that the failure of 21 smart meters was the result of sabotage “by an unknown person or persons”. The company said that the sabotage was confirmed by independent chemical testing and that each meter failed safely.

The company has handed the evidence over to the Victorian Police to help its continued investigation.

“The evidence confirms that this equipment is being deliberately damaged and that there was no failure of the smart meters themselves,” said Jemena Managing Director Paul Adams. “Regardless, tampering with this equipment is a dangerous thing to do and the perpetrator should stop immediately before somebody (including themselves) gets hurt.

“In recent weeks, the Victorian Government, Energy Safe Victoria, the five electricity distribution companies and the product manufacturer have all confirmed that smart meters are safe.”

Concerns were raised about the smart meters’ safety after meters leaked unidentified liquid. Twenty-one meters in Pascoe Vale, Coburg, Hadfield and Preston failed, prompting the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) to call for the rollout to be halted until the issues were investigated and smart meters declared safe.

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said that every small business and home in Victoria will have a smart meter installed by the end of 2013.