No smart meters without regulation

No smart meters without regulation
 
New Zealand’s electricity is more expensive, less reliable and more environmentally damaging than it should be. The reason is that electricity retailers have been allowed to develop smart-meter technology to serve their own ends, not the needs of consumers and society.

Today there is a surplus of electricity, but growing shortages at peak times. No retailer has yet offered smart tariffs to reward consumers if they choose to use less at peak times. The night rate, which used to be offered at half the price of the daytime rate, has been phased out by almost all retailers.

DEUN has made submissions for years, calling for tariffs that give consumers real choice – real control of their power bills. Instead we are reduced to passive cash-cows to feed the industry with a guaranteed revenue stream.

The smart meter experience is further proof that the Electricity Authority is serving the industry, not consumers. The Authority always said, “wait for it, smart meters will come.” We waited in vain.

Half of New Zealanders already have dumb meters that offer no way to control the power bill. This will only change by directly regulating for smart tariffs that give consumers real choice. 

ENDS

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