Media Releases

In Parliament last week Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell, continued her call for a full and independent cost-benefit analysis on the roll out of smart meters when she presented petitions containing 84 signatures to Parliament.
Mrs Powell has now presented over 1400 signatures to Parliament showing there is still great concern in the community over the Brumby Government’s bungled smart meter project.
“There is mounting evidence that the Brumby Government’s bungled smart meter project will place a massive and unfair financial burden on Victorian families, especially pensioners and those who stay at home,” Mrs Powell said.
“The Victorian Auditor-General has identified there is a real risk that smart meters might benefit the electricity industry at the expense of consumers.
“He is also concerned about the true cost of the technology and the savings to the consumer.
“The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria also has concluded that the meters and the billing system based on the time at which energy is used will negatively impact on many Victorians.
“Its report found the new meters will see household energy costs increase by around the $100 mark a year, plus the $80 charge for the meter over two years.”
Mrs Powell said Victorian families are paying now for smart meters that have not been installed and may not be installed for several years.
“On top of that they are facing electricity price increases of an extra $150 once the smart meters are finally installed,” Mrs Powell said.
“The Brumby Government has bungled the smart meter project and its poor management has resulted in the cost of the project blowing out from $800 million to $2.25 billion.
“Every cent of that amount will be paid for by Victorians through higher electricity bills.”

In Parliament last week Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell, continued her call for a full and independent cost-benefit analysis on the roll out of smart meters when she presented petitions containing 478 signatures to Parliament.
Mrs Powell has now presented nearly 1400 signatures to Parliament showing there is still great concern in the community over the Brumby Government’s bungled smart meter project.
“Residents continue to contact my office concerned about electricity price rises and the negative impact this will have on seniors, young families and the unemployed who simply cannot afford the extra costs,” Mrs Powell said.
“The Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor stated in Parliament that the ‘New electricity time-of-use prices will enable customers to get better value from their retail and network companies, and this will reduce their electricity bills.’
“This is the same function the Minister placed a moratorium on in March because of the outcry by the community and the Liberal National Coalition.
“The Minister has also claimed the meters ‘will allow consumers to better manage their electricity use through greater visibility of usage patterns’.
“The truth is smart meters cannot give consumers information on electricity usage without an in-home display unit - for which the consumer will have to pay extra!”
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria completed a report last year which concluded that the meters and the billing system based on the time at which energy is used would negatively impact on many Victorians.
It reported the new meters will see household energy costs increasing by around the $100 mark a year, plus the $80 charge for the meter over two years.
Mrs Powell said pensioners in particular are concerned about the financial burden being placed on them, especially when it involves paying for a new meter they believe will be of no benefit to them.
“I continue to urge all Victorians to sign the petition for the immediate freeze on the roll out of smart meters pending a full and independent cost-benefit analysis”.
The petition is available from Mrs Powell’s electorate office at 5 Vaughan St, Shepparton phone 58316944. Electronic copies are available on request by emailing jeanette.powell@parliament.vic.gov.au

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell, said today the Brumby Government’s decision to institute a moratorium on ‘time of use’ pricing with smart meters underlines the policy panic and confusion that has surrounded this bungled project.
“The Brumby Government promoted ‘time of use’ pricing as a key feature and benefit of its smart meters,” Mrs Powell said.
“Yesterday, the Government announced there will be no ‘time of use’ pricing for the foreseeable future – despite consumers having to pay for smart meters that are designed to deliver that pricing.
“Despite the moratorium on time-of-use pricing, the Government is persisting with its roll out of smart meter into 2.5 million Victorian homes and small businesses.”
“Consumers are being forced to pay for smart meters they don’t have, without its main feature – time-of-use pricing.”
Mrs Powell said now that one of the supposed key benefits of smart meters has been shelved by the Government, there must be an immediate freeze to the roll out.
“Victorian families deserve to know if good money is being thrown after bad,” Mrs Powell said.
“There has been community outrage over the Brumby Government’s poor management which has resulted in the project blowing out from $800 million to $2.25 billion.
“My office has been contacted by people concerned about price rises and the negative impact this will have on seniors, young families, the unemployed and those who are home during the day and simply cannot afford the extra costs.
“I presented petitions in Parliament with 222 signatures and will present further petitions tomorrow.
“I would like to thank those many people who signed the petitions calling for a freeze on the roll out of the smart meters.
I urge the community to continue to support the Coalition’s concern about the government’s smart meters and sign our petition,” Mrs Powell said.
The petition is available from Mrs Powell’s electorate office at 5 Vaughan St, Shepparton phone 58316944. Electronic copies are available on request by emailing jeanette.powell@parliament.vic.gov.au