The vision for 100% smart meter coverage.

THE 2030 PUSH

Consumers are growing increasingly concerned following a major push from energy retailers to implement smart meters across the country by 2030.

Letters have been given to already opted-out residents describing “new upgrades” that will be coming to consumers in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia from 1 June 2025.

The letter states that “…all customers will be required to upgrade to a smart meter”, raising concerns the push will become mandatory – even for those who chose to not install previously.

Indeed, the push for mandatory smart meter coverage is very real.

Canstar Blue Utilities editor, Tara Donnelly, recently told radio outlets that a major rollout is expected by 2030, as Australia’s energy retailers try to “deploy as many as possible”.

Last year, in a suite of reforms from the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), it was revealed that all energy customers would receive a smart meter by 2030, along with “better information, protections and data”.

These final recommendations followed a review of smart meters nationwide, which found an accelerated rollout would “help customers reduce their household bills in the short-term and provide savings for all energy users in the longer-term”.

The independent review has determined that speeding up the rollout of smart meters to 100 per cent of households by 2030 would provide net benefits to the value of $507 million for national electricity market regions, including NSW, QLD, the ACT and SA. 

“A number of Australians are already using smart meters to cut power bills, from those who have resources such as rooftop solar, to customers without solar who may be using smart meters to access cheaper tariffs such as the ‘solar soaker’,” Chair Anna Collyer said. 

The plan “places consumers at the forefront of the transition to net zero”.

“Smart meters present clear benefits for consumers and form a crucial link for the wider energy system, paving the way for significant advances necessary to reach net zero.” 

Just what I wanted… (sarcasm)

“With the right frameworks in place, an accelerated smart meter rollout will help to ensure all customers see the benefits of a more efficient, lower-cost and decarbonised energy system sooner.” 

In the AEMC’s proposal, cost savings for customers would be made through a coordinated rollout led by energy networks who would develop a ‘legacy meter retirement plan’, with retailers then overseeing upgrades to smart meters.

“Going from an old accumulation meter to a smart meter can be like going from a landline to a smart phone, and people deserve transparency and timely information about how they can make the device best work for them,” Collyer said at the time of the report’s findings.

Now, with these letters beginning to hit consumers, it certainly seems as if the smart meter agenda is heating up – and we could begin to see a big push to mandate moving forward.

As is always the case with services, the ‘optional’ field eventually becomes removed, leaving consumers with no choice but to adopt against their will. Digital ID will be the same.

But is this really all about ‘saving energy’? Or is there a deeper agenda at play?

SMART METER AGENDA

Despite the appeal of ‘energy savings’, many have expressed concerns about further centralised control of the energy market, as well as a lack of privacy safeguards for data collection:

Lindsay the Silverfox, the man, the legend, was certainly on to it all those years ago.

Smart meters record your energy use in real-time. They do this by measuring gas and electricity flow at regular intervals. This “consumption data” is then sent directly to the energy supplier.

More often than not, the readings are wrong, and a range of personal information is shared.

Despite the concerns of citizens, who haven’t really adopted the technology as a collective, the government is going to push ahead with support for increased coverage.

In 2020, the Australian government provided $2.7 million to subsidise new advanced smart meters for households, businesses and schools in a trial to monitor energy use.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is responsible for operating Australia’s largest gas and electricity systems, including the National Electricity Market (NEM) – the interconnected power system in Australia’s eastern and south-eastern seaboard.

The group also control the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) power system in Western Australia. Since 1996, the generation, distribution and supply of electricity in eastern and southern Australian states has been amalgamated under the NEM.

By taking this system and giving it a ‘smart upgrade’, not only will this type of centralization become stronger, but the manipulation of prices and data harvesting will also increase.

Many privacy groups and civil liberty campaigners have expressed concerns with the eventual path this type of technology may take, especially with little to no safeguards for protection.

Yet, the agenda pushes forward, now with plans for a mandatory rollout.

If you would like to take action against this push, you can visit Stop Smart Meters Australia to see how you can get involved. We also recommend you connect with your local Smart Meter Awareness Group, which are spread all across the country.

The ‘smart’ meter vision, as part of the Agenda 2030 plan, is beginning to take shape folks.

But only if Australians, as a country, allow them to do it.

What are your thoughts on all of this? Have you received a letter from your provider?

Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

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