Roll out review of ‘smart’ meters welcomed
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A Government review of the roll out of so called ‘smart’ electricity meters to thousands of Victorian homes has been welcomed by the Victorian Council of Social Service. But it must be swift and timely to ensure low income households are spared hefty price hikes in their electricity bills.
Chief Executive of VCOSS Cath Smith urged the Victorian Energy Minister Peter Batchelor to carefully consider in the review the impact that smart metering might have on low-income households.
“The long-term unemployed, people with disabilities and older people, or those at home with small children will face disproportionate price increases in the cost of electricity, exacerbating financial hardship. “We’re calling on the Minister to ensure that vulnerable people don’t get ripped off, or worse put their lives at risk because of the roll out of smart electricity meters.”
“We already see pensioners rationing their energy use and this has a number of implications for health and hospital admissions. If older people start rationing air conditioning during summer heatwaves due to energy costs this could be disastrous,” added Ms Smith.
VCOSS calls for the Victorian Government’s review of the roll out of smart meters to:
- immediately raise the winter energy concession to 20% to ensure vulnerable households are protected from escalating costs
- Rebate concession card holders for the cost of the meters, on average this will mean $68 in 2010 and $76 in 2011
For more information, or to arrange an interview
contact John Kelly – M: 0425 701 080Follow the conversation at www.twitter.com/vcoss
VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au