.......smart metering Australia!
Why have a smart meter ?
The way we use electricity actually influences how much electricity costs us.
Like water, electricity is in short supply and at certain times of the year demand for electricity outstrips available generation capacity. Think of those hot summer nights when everyone turns their air conditioners on.
This sends electricity prices through the roof. The usual wholesale cost of electricity is around 3 cents a kilowatt − but at times can go up to as much as $10.
Electricity networks also have difficulty dealing with these periods of peak energy demand. Sometimes part of the electricity network needs to be shut-down (a controlled 'brownout') to ensure that the other parts of the network remain stable (otherwise an uncontrolled 'blackout' might occur). Tens of millions of dollars need to be invested each year to upgrade electricity networks to avoid blackouts and brownouts.
By encouraging electricity consumers to curb excessive demand − even just a little − keeps costs down and the savings can be passed on to all of us.
