Smart meters to harness energy and greenhouse savings

A recent report from Total Environment Centre (TEC) claims that a roll-out of "smart' electricity meters could save 19.4 million tonnes of greenhouse emissions. TEC is a resource and support base for environmentalists that lobbies and campaigns local, state and federal government to protect the local environment.

The report, "Advanced Metering for Energy Supply in Australia', suggests total electricity use could be reduced by up to 10% but reductions are only assured if energy businesses are required to utilise the meters with innovative tariffs and demand management programs.

"Smart meters are the all-time, greenhouse no-brainer," said Jane Castle, Energy Campaigner at TEC. "For generations we've been using electricity stupidly because the real costs have been hidden. With smart meters we can both reduce greenhouse emissions and reduce the amount we spend on unnecessary infrastructure.

"Australian governments must not simply roll out the hardware. Retailers must be required to offer innovative tariffs and networks must be given incentives to use the meters as a gateway to energy-efficient consumption by consumers."

The report suggests that:

• Two-way communications be the minimum to allow for remote control of electricity loads
• Meters must be able to measure electricity exported from the home out to the network
• Meters must be able to provide real-time consumption information to the consumer
• Retailers must introduce time-varying pricing for customers
• Generous tariffs must be paid to householders who generate their own electricity
• Electricity networks must actively encourage customers to change their energy-using behaviour