We all would be wise to follow in this man’s footsteps.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is reliant on these hideous devices.
To find your nearest group fighting smart metres in Australia, head to:
https://stopsmartmeters.com.au/actions-you-can-take/support-groups/
To read the full article go to:
https://stopsmartmeters.com.au/
smart_meter_facts-aug2016
Options:
Existing or planned Smart Metre: Have the ‘communication’ removed:
You have a right to a non-communicating smart meter…
July 18, 2025
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) clearly states in its Guidance to retailers that consumers have the right to a Type 4A non-communicating smart meter when deploying or replacing smart meters under the National Energy Retail Rules and National Electricity Rules. However, it seems that many retailers are ignoring this and advising customers they have no choice but to accept a smart meter with an active communications card that emits electromagnetic radiation 24/7.
The following extract is from the AER’s Guidance to retailers:
Right to refuse type 4 meters and right to request remote access capabilities be disabled after installation
Customers retain the right to refuse a smart meter with remote access capabilities and functions enabled (type 4 meter) and instead receive a smart meter with remote access disabled (type 4A meter). Customers who have a type 4 meter installed also retain the right to request remote access capabilities and functions be disabled at any time following the smart meter installation.
As part of informing customers of these rights in the Notice, the AER encourages retailers to explain how customers can exercise these rights. (Page 11)
A NSW resident’s experience of removing the communications from a smart meter follows:
“I have recently moved into a short-term rental and had the communications antenna removed from my digital meter which was fully ‘smart’ before then. This was a super simple process. I rang AGL, my providers, asked about the process, got put through to the appropriate department which emailed me under ‘Solar Reconfigurations’ (not sure why the department is called this) and requested the removal of the communications aspect. They told me it would require either a remote ‘switching off’ which would only cost about $15 or for a technician to come and remove part of the meter which would cost around $200 and they weren’t sure which I’d need but would let me know.
A week after moving in a technician arrived and kindly allowed me to take a photo of the modem he removed and opened it up to reveal the SIM, which was the part of the meter communicating with mobile phone base stations about my energy usage constantly during the day/night.
Technically my digital meter is still ‘smart’ in that when someone comes to ‘read’ the meter, much more information is taken. For example today a technician came and used a plug-in device that was Bluetooth-connected to his phone, whereupon he told me data was being transmitted about my usage – more than what would occur with the simple reading of my old analogue meter.
The technician showing the removed modem from my smart meter.
The technician showing the SIM which was inside the modem.
I’m pointing to the area the technician plugged his device into which then was connected to his phone when taking my meter reading.