Smart Meters Explained: Benefits & Features

What Are Smart Meters?

Smart meters are advanced digital electricity meters that:

• Automatically measure electricity usage in real-time
• Communicate directly with power companies
• Enable advanced monitoring and control features
• Support time-of-use pricing options

Key Benefits

Smart meters offer numerous advantages:

• Accurate billing (no more estimates)
• Real-time usage monitoring
• Access to time-of-use rates
• Faster fault detection
• Remote connections and disconnections
• Better usage insights

Smart Meter Features

Modern smart meters include:

• Digital display showing current usage
• Half-hourly consumption readings
• Remote reading capability
• Power quality monitoring
• Mobile app integration
• Export metering for solar panels

Installation Process

Getting a smart meter installed:

• Contact your electricity provider
• Schedule installation (usually free)
• Brief power outage during installation (30-60 minutes)
• Meter testing and activation
• App setup and account configuration

Costs & Savings

Financial aspects of smart meters:

• Installation usually free through power companies
• Potential savings through time-of-use rates
• Better consumption awareness leading to reduced usage
• No more estimated bills or catch-up payments

Data & Privacy

Smart meter data security:

• Encrypted communications
• Regular security updates
• Privacy regulations compliance
• Consumer data access rights
• Usage data protection

Provider Options

Major providers offering smart meters:

• Mercury (advanced monitoring features)
• Contact Energy (mobile app integration)
• Electric Kiwi (Hour of Power optimization)
• Genesis (real-time usage tracking)

Compare smart meter enabled plans using our comparison tool.