Origin Is Wanting to Install a Smart Meter, This Will Negatively Impact Us, Is It Too Late to Opt out?

LSaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 12:19

Having a basic meter benefits us because we have solar that qualifies for the distributor feed-in-tarrif. So the panels send all their power straight to the grid, we get paid around 50c per kWh and buy it back for cheaper.

Having a smart meter will make it so the solar will send power to the home before it sends it to the grid if we are using electricity, greatly reducing what we get paid for feed-in.

I read here and here that you can't opt out having a smart meter installed if you waived your right in their terms when you signed up.

So they have kind of f**ked me and I'm wondering if it's too late to opt out? Would switching to another power company resolve this issue? How do I even refuse to have my opt out right waived when signing up digitally?

I really don't want to pay these greedy f**ks even more money.

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Comments

  • boomramada on 19/10/2023 - 12:22
    +2

    More bed time reading for you https://www.ozbargain.com.au/search/node/Smart%20Meter%20typ…

  • Drakesy on 19/10/2023 - 12:36
    +5

    Having a basic meter benefits us because we have solar that qualifies for the distributor feed-in-tarrif. So the panels send all their power straight to the grid, we get paid around 50c per kWh and buy it back for cheaper.

    I'm surprised you're allowed to keep that. In Perth we've been forced to upgrade to a smart meter if you want the FiT. Synergy won't allow you to run PV's any other way.
    You've been lucky to milk the system for as long as you have tbh.

    • SaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 13:20

      We couldn't sign up with any solar plans because we didn't have a smart meter, but we still got distributor FiT and a very small retailer FiT. We aren't the original owners so we haven't been milking it for as long as you would think, the previous owners though? Yeah they must've had it real nice ahaha.

      • Drakesy on 19/10/2023 - 14:26

        My father had your setup, where the meter would go backwards (setup by a cowboy solar installer), back in 2009/2010 i believe but it was only for a 1.5kw system, not really economical to have anymore as you'd rip it out and go for a 6.6kw. Out of interest whats yours sized at?

        • SaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 20:43

          Yeah it's a 1.5kw system, though degradation has brought down it's power by a decent amount. Was installed around that period as well, guess back then 1.5kw was considered the standard.

  • deme on 19/10/2023 - 12:44
    +4

    Having a basic meter benefits us because we have solar that qualifies for the distributor feed-in-tarrif. So the panels send all their power straight to the grid,

    Which state is this? Last I looked, a smart meter was required to send electricity into the grid, it was an offence not to .

    • SaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 13:16

      Apparently so, we aren't the original owners so this is the first we are hearing about all of this. Guess there is no hope in preventing this.

      • JimmyF on 19/10/2023 - 14:24
        +1

        Is your solar even a legal install then?

        • deme on 20/10/2023 - 09:23

          From my memory there was a time a smart meter wasn't required.

      • JIMB0 on 19/10/2023 - 14:56

        You could stall them. Make it difficult to access the meter. This could only go on for so long though.

  • Ferros on 19/10/2023 - 12:45
    +6

    I previously worked for Origin a few years ago and specialised in dealing with solar issues.

    First Origin has nothing to do with meter installs, that's your distributor. On your bill there will be someone listed to contact in case of emergency that's the company in charge of the meter. In QLD it's Energex, in VIC it could be a couple different ones depending on where you live, same with NSW. The following will tell you your distributor. Switching your energy retailer won't change a thing, you'll still live in the same area serviced by the same distributor. Changing retailer only changes who you buy the actual electricity off, not who delivers it to your home.

    https://www.originenergy.com.au/for-home/electricity-and-gas…

    If your solar is wired directly into the grid it has been illegally wired up, which was actually really common, unless it was done before I think the year 2000, my memory is foggy on the dates of the rule changes. All solar should be wired through the house first and then feeding excess into the grid. If you are grandfathered into the old style, then you've had a good run but your distributor determines your access to the grid and if they want to change it they can, the meter is their property as are the poles and wires and they have the legislative power to force you into modern compliance for safety or grid stability reasons, or they can disconnect you from the grid until you do comply.

    • SaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 13:14
      +1

      Hey, thanks for providing this information. Yeah we aren't the original owners who bought the solar and installed it, so this is all news to us. One thing we do know is because we don't have a smart meter we couldn't sign up to a solar plan for increased retailer feed-in-tariffs, but we still get the distributor ones.

      sigh ahh well guess all good things come to an end. Thanks again.

  • Seraphin7 on 19/10/2023 - 13:25

    I read here(originenergy.com.au) and here(energy-rules.aemc.gov.au) that you can't opt out having a smart meter installed if you waived your right in their terms when you signed up.

    So you signed up?

    So they have kind of f**ked me and I'm wondering if it's too late to opt out?

    Pending your answer to the above, in what way have you been f**ked if that's what you agreed to?

  • AustriaBargain on 19/10/2023 - 13:38

    I wish there was a smart meter here. Always wonder when, roughly every three months, a meter reader will show up. I know there's a risk of being switched off when the grid has too much power. But there's risk of being switched off anyway.

  • capslock janitor on 19/10/2023 - 13:42

    Better Call…

  • mbck on 19/10/2023 - 13:42

    He he….sovereign citizen…he he.

    /s

  • KaTst3R on 19/10/2023 - 14:08

    I really don't want to pay these greedy f**ks even more money.

    You probably didnt pay them much to start with. If you had a basic meter with solar, it will essentially wind back the dial (which means you are feeding in at the same rate as usage) so it is mandatory to change to a smart meter.

  • AndyC1 on 19/10/2023 - 19:48
    -1

    "get paid around 50c per kWh " Sounds like OP has not looked at the current FIT as it has dropped from 50/60c 15 years ago to < 10c now or if you are on an excellent deal maybe 20c.

    • SaulGoodFan on 19/10/2023 - 20:37
      +2

      Read here. This explains why my FiT is so high.

    • miwahni on 19/10/2023 - 22:35

      I'm still getting 50c feed in tariff - I am on a grandfathered plan from many years ago. I think it was around 2005 I had the solar installed. No doubt it will change one day in the future but in the meantime it's great.

      • miwahni on 19/10/2023 - 22:36
        +1

        Correction - just checked my bill - 49c not 50c.

  • kickling on 20/10/2023 - 08:39
    +1

    Ah. You in ADL?

    Me too. I am on the old deal too. I have an old meter (but not ancient with spinning dials). I recently moved to origin and they did not request a meter change for my new plan. But I guess it's their terms in order for you to sign up to your special one.

    Fyi my solar is installed correctly and goes to house first and I pay the net kWh.

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