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In September and October 2009, Jemena and United Energy
Distribution installed more than 5,000 smart meters in Rosanna, Macleod, Heidelberg Heights, Bulleen and Templestowe.
It’s expected that another 20,000 new meters will be installed by these companies by the end of the year in Rosanna, Macleod, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Yallambie, Viewbank, Bulleen, Templestowe and Doncaster.
CitiPower and Powercor started installing smart meters in early
October 2009. 360 have been installed in Caroline Springs and Balwyn. It’s expected that these companies will install a further 10,000 meters, across Caroline Springs, Burnside, Delahey, Sydenham, Taylors Hill, Canterbury, Balwyn and Surrey Hills.
SP AusNet has just started to install smart meters in Melbourne’s northern suburbs—South Morang, Thomastown and Mill Park.
The Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Human Services have decided to fully reimburse the cost of repairing serious electrical defects uncovered by the rollout for customers who are concession card holders.
From July to mid October 2009, we received 20 complaints about
smart meters. Given we’re not seeing a rush of complaints, it seems the rollout has been going ahead smoothly.
That said, we’re monitoring all interval and smart meter complaints,
to ensure we’re across the issues customers are raising.
More information
» There's a wide range of information about smart meters on the website of
the Energy Division of the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.
» It includes some 'Smart Meters Questions and Answers':
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 What does this mean for you?
We believe informed customers are key to a successful rollout, that is, one which doesn’t produce complaints.
It’s important to understand that the more advanced features
of interval meters won’t come into use immediately.
Also, customers may receive a consumption figure on their bills,
instead of previous and current meter readings.
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Return to the Message from the Ombudsman.
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A smart meter
is likely to be
coming to
a suburb
near you
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