A new smart meter removal success story

Website editor’s note:  The following smart meter removal success report was received recently and shows that being persistent pays off in getting rid of a smart meter. If you would like to report your smart meter removal success, you can reach www,stopsmartmeters.org.nz through our Contact Form.

 

I thought you might like a success story.

I reached an agreement with Contact Energy – after going to the Electricity and Gas Commission, to have my smart meter removed.

The grounds for my case were that the terms and conditions of my contract with Contact had been clearly breached with insufficient notice of installation being given.

The outcome was reached after I repeatedly refused their offers, initially for the chip being removed, then the chip being removed without cost, then an apology and a compensation payment.

As I was unsatisfied with the last offer, I was prepared to take the matter to Court and indicated the same. In the process of the Commissioner making a ruling, two analogue meters were found that could be reinstalled. It pays to keep pushing and to stand firm to your position.

 

Smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ

Please note that while staff from some electricity companies have been telling their customers that it is compulsory to have a smart meter installed or that smart meters are some sort of government requirement, this is NOT true.  (There is more information about this issue at this link )  If you do not want a smart meter because you are concerned about the higher bills that could follow a smart meter installation, or Time of Use pricing, or the possible health risks many people in NZ are successfully refusing to have a smart meter installed using the techniques described at this link

 

If you would like to keep up to date with information about electromagnetic radiation and health, including the “smart” meter issue in NZ, please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz. Thank you

 

Smart meter revolt in Dominican Republic

The US-based website www.stopsmartmeters.org has reported on a smart meter revolt in the Dominican Republic.

You can see the video and read what is hopefully a reasonably accurate summation of the reasons that people are so angry about the smart meters at the link below. (In essence it seems to be higher bills, with no change in electricity use, something which has also happened to some NZers after smart meters have been installed at their home: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11460616

You can see the video below:

http://stopsmartmeters.org/2015/10/02/smart-meter-revolt-spreads-to-dominican-republic/

NB: I do not speak Spanish. If anyone is fluent in Spanish and can confirm what the other translators have written, please email through our Contact Form.

Please note that I am not a lawyer and I am unsure of whether there is any law against removal of a smart meter by a householder in NZ; however, removal of smart meter without permission from an electricity retailer (even if the job were done by a qualified electrician, as it should be for safety reasons) could result in power being disconnected.

 

NB: To sign up for a free email list to keep updated on the smart meter issue from a New Zealand perspective, please visit www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz Thank you.

“Smart meter” removal success in West Auckland

Dan from Piha, Auckland – “We had a relative success with Genesis Energy. First they refused, so we changed to Contact Energy, who said they would remove the modem. Half an hour later, before the change over had taken place, Genesis called to say they would send someone out to remove the modem, at half the cost. Both suppliers mentioned they would be required to turn the modem back on if/when smart meters become mandatory. I figure the communications industry is therefor trying to pass it into law!”

“We have now locked our power reader box, so future attempts to turn the modem back on will not be easy.”

 

(Note from website coordinator:  All correspondence received through the Contact form on this site is treated in confidence.  Comments are posted on this site only with the permission of their author.   The site coordinator does not have any financial interest in any electricity company.)

Successful “smart meter” removal

Hi,

Have been a Genesis Energy customer for years and they installed and then wouldn’t remove our smart meter. Less than 48 hours after switching to Powershop they have sent someone out to remove the modem, OK it did cost us $185 but we are pleased it is now a dumb meter.

Cheers,

[Name supplied]

(NB:  In a subsequent email from this correspondent it was indicated that the reason for the high cost of removing the “smart meter” in this case was because of the home being in a rural location.)

(Note from website coordinator:  All correspondence received through the Contact form on this site is treated in confidence.  Comments are posted on the site only with the permission of their author.   The site coordinator does not have any financial interest in any electricity company.)