How to get smart meter in Wanganui

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timmmay

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#228770 22-Jan-2018 07:30

My Mum wants to get a smart meter then change to another provider, probably Electric Kiwi. EK won't fit a smart meter. Is there a way to do this other than going to one of the big providers, paying to get it fitted, then moving again?

Aredwood

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#1945806 24-Jan-2018 01:14

What power company is she currently with? In Auckland at least if you switch to Mercury, they will install a smart meter if you don't already have one.

Also try contacting Vector AMS, As Vector AMS and Metrix (who are owned by Mercury). Are the 2 biggest smart metering providers. Whichever one installs a smart meter gets guaranteed income for life from the property. So one of those could be willing to do a free install to get that income.

edit to add

Also contact whichever company is the lines company for that area. As they sometimes also have their own metering division.

And according to the Flick pricing schedules, the metering companies get around $100 per year income per meter. Not bad for what is mostly a completely passive income stream after the meter is installed.

timmmay

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#1945817 24-Jan-2018 07:15

Don't know who she's with. Switching to Mercury and staying there for a while seems like an easy enough way. Having to ask metering / lines companies maybe worth a shot if she can be bothered.

graemeh

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#1945862 24-Jan-2018 09:37

Aredwood: And according to the Flick pricing schedules, the metering companies get around $100 per year income per meter. Not bad for what is mostly a completely passive income stream after the meter is installed.

I think you're underestimating the comms costs and the cost of processing the massive data volumes you get from around 600k meters taking a few readings every half hour 24/7.