Update on smart meter fires in NZ October 2018
Website editor’s note: A supporter of Stop Smart Meters NZ recently contacted the Fire and Emergency NZ (previously the NZ Fire Service) to find out the latest data about smart meter related fires in NZ.
She received the following information, together with a covering letter that stated that fires reported as being associated with smart meters could in some cases be due to a combination of factors not just the smart meter (such as water entering a meter box).
You may see the data released under the Official Information Act by clicking on the document below:
OIA 2018-6557 Stats related to smart meters and fires in NZ from Fire and Emergency NZ
Please note that the information may released under the Official Information Act may NOT include all smart meter related fires that have occurred in NZ in this time frame. The reason for this was elicited in further correspondence between the supporter of Stop Smart Meters NZ and a representative of Fire and Emergency NZ who wrote:
“I am advised that the field on our incident reporting for noting whether there was equipment involved in the ignition of the fire is not mandatory, as not all fires are ignited by a piece of equipment. Coding it as a ‘smart meter’ fire also relies on the incident reporter being aware that the meter was a smart meter.” [Emphasis added]
So while the official statistics on smart meter related fires in NZ list only a relatively small number of fires, the official figures could be somewhat or even much lower than the actual number of smart meter-related fires.
The potential fire risk from a smart meter is a good reason (among any others) to refuse to have a smart meter installed. Smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ so you can refuse a smart meter if you don’t want one.
Previous stories on smart meter fires in NZ on this website are below:
Website editor’s note
If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up for email updates at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NB: If you wish to report a smart meter related problem (for example new symptoms after a smart meter installation or a fire or bullying behaviour on the part of a smart meter installer or staff in any electricity company etc. etc,) you may do this through the contact form at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
All correspondence is treated in confidence and information received is not posted on this website unless permission is given for this to be done.
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