Electricity Review backs Green call for smarter meters

The Electricity Market Review released today confirms the urgency of putting the smarts back into the new meters being installed by electricity generators.

The Ministerial Review of Electricity Market Performance looked at a broad scope of security of supply and pricing issues. It stated that ‘Smart meters, in combination with smart tariffs, have the potential to significantly improve the potential for energy efficiency, load management and cost reductions. Their introduction is to be welcomed.

“There are a number of recommendations in the report that require serious scrutiny, but the one area of cross party consensus is the need for smarter meters. Why wait, asked Green Party MP Jeanette Fitzsimons?

“Waiting for an Electricity Commission report in December, and only then starting a lengthy legislative process means that tens of thousands more dumb meters will be installed before our Government decides to act.

“The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) has done the research and the Green Party has drafted the legislation to fix the problem. With the Electricity Market Review confirming these results, the time to act is now.

“The PCE found that the meters currently being installed by power companies aren’t that smart after all, serving only the interests of the power companies, but not the homeowner.

“The Minister has hinted that he intends to disband the Electricity Commission. Will their smart meter report ever come and do we need further confirmation?

“I call on the Minister to adopt my Member’s Bill and give the power back to the electricity users,” Ms Fitzsimons said.

The PCE’s review of ‘dumb’ smart meters can be accessed from:
http://www.pce.parliament.nz/work_programme/reports_
by_subject/all_reports/energy__and__climate/smart_electricity_
meters_how_households_and_the_environment_can_benefit

The Ministerial Review can be accessed from:
http://www.med.govt.nz/upload/69725/volume1.pdf