Smart Meters Will Destroy Your Wallet...

I have to admit I paid little attention to the Hydro smart meter furor prior to their installation here.

There were submissions to councils and provincial governments by groups opposed because of health concerns caused by radio frequency transmission, others warned of burgeoning electricity invoices.  B.C. Hydro pooh-poohed both as I recall.

In both Canada and the USA, many cities have had smart meters for some time.  Early on, there were reports that electrical invoices had almost doubled.
In retrospect, I wish they had only doubled.

As hydro bills arrived for our two meters, it was high time to compare pre-and post-smart meter invoices and usage.

The property has two meters:  one for the clubhouse (whose meter had two-way capability for the wind turbine production to access the hydro grid, both pre-and post-smart meters, but the pre smart meter was the old, mechanical meter), and one for the residence.  For ease of comparison, only electrical inflow is referenced.


Clubhouse:  (note that Step 2 thresholds do not apply to Commercial rates).

Mechanical meter Oct.21/11-Dec.19/11 (60 days):
1,975 kWh @ $.08810/kWh = $174.00

Mechanical meter Oct. 29/12-Dec.19/12 (62 days):
1,559 kWh @ $.09150/kWh = $142.65

Smart meter Oct.22/13-Dec.19/13 (59 days):
3,000 kWh @ $.09280/kWh = $278.40 = 95 per cent increase.
Note that the kiloWatt usage* is almost doubled, too, despite no usage of the building (explained later...hint...heating?)



Another example:    

Residence:

Mechanical meter Oct.21/11-Dec.19/11 (60 days):
Step 1:  1,332 kWh @ $.06670/kWh = $88.84
Step 2:     118 kWh @ $.09620/kWh = $11.35     Grand total $100.19

Mechanical meter Oct.19/12-Dec.19/12 (62 days):
Step 1:  1,137 kWh @ $.068/kWh = $77.32
Step 2:  zero kW

Smart meter Oct.22/13-Dec.19/13 (59 days):
Step 1:  3,000 kWh @ $.09280/kWh = $90.32
Step 2:     343 kWh @ $.10340/kWh =  $35.47   Grand total $125.79
Note that the kiloWatt usage* is only 505 kWh more (explained later...hint...lighting/cooking).

The 2013 rate per kiloWatt hour increased by 27 per cent over 2012.
The $125.79 was an increase of 62.7 per cent over 2012, despite the rate increasing by "only" 27%.

So what's responsible for the disparity (other than the hints provided?)

It's called magnetic principles and it definitely leads to higher invoices.
Sure there were magnets in the old mechanical meters but their aluminum "disc" didn't magnetize...
It's all about "start-up", the high energy "surge" needed to get a motor or incandescent bulb to start from a dead/cold stop.

Simply stated:  "...high starting current motors often draw very high currents only for a fraction of a second. Due to inertia, older mechanical disk electric meters cannot respond quick enough to register large motor starting current. But smart meters have no problem registering the brief, high power consumption from electric motors as these meters have no moving parts."

A more detailed explanation from the same source:

 "it's related to what appliances you have...has to do with electric motors. With furnace fans and compressors used in refrigeration, there is a very high starting current. With a small window or table top electric fan, starting current is relatively insignificant. For refrigeration appliances, window air conditioners, furnace blowers or central air conditioning starting current is quite high, ­ often several times higher than the running current listed on the nameplate or label.

What can be the reason for higher starting current than running current? In refrigeration appliances, motors must overcome the refrigerant already in the compressor to start rotation. In the case of a forced-air furnace fan or central air-conditioning fan, blower wheels act like large flywheels which must be brought up to speed.

 

In washing machines, starting current is highest when the spin cycle starts after the wash cycle. It takes many seconds to get the heavy basket with about 30 gallons of water and heavy laundry up to full speed before current consumption drops down to what machine's nameplate shows. A fully loaded basket with water and clothes weighs in well excess of 100lbs. The washer motor is stalled whenever the washer's timer starts it, causing the motor to draw almost 20 amps of power.

 

Only after any motor reaches full speed will current consumption reduce to the values listed on the nameplate or label.

 

National electrical codes require high starting-current appliances like washing machines, dryers, furnaces etc... to be connected to their own circuit breaker. This is to insure full power is available for high starting currents. In engineering terms this is called "in-rush current."

 

Heating elements in electric ranges, water heaters, clothes dryers and baseboard electric heaters all draw heavy current when first turned on."  (T.Twietmeyer)

 

"Holy moly," says Kia, "time to dry clothes on the line again, just like the old days." 

 

We already do that, Kia!

 

On this section of Buchanan Road, no natural gas is available.

So for 36 years, everything's been electric.

That's why we heat our home with wood.

 

Another thought:  Anyone holding off on replacing old appliances should take the plunge.  Newer appliances with "Energy Star" ratings have lower start up wattages, making them more efficient.  Natural Resources Canada even tells you which appliances are the best to purchase.

 

A little-seen comprehensive list of energy savers all over your home is here.

 

Even after you've done all you can to purchase Energy Star appliances, unplug phantom power items, etc., rates will continue to increase.

 

And then we British Columbians will be subjected to Time-of-Use billing, already in use in Ontario.

 

"We can hang our laundry on the line at 7 a.m., versus turning into Night Owls like folks in Ontario," suggests Kia.

Then-and-now Bennetts:

"The goal of the 10-year-plan is to keep rates predictable," B.C. Energy Minister, Bill Bennett said recently.

"There'll be cheap power for the residents of British Columbia," B.C. Premier (the late) W.A.C. Bennett said, too long ago.

The promise sure has changed over the years...

ADDENDUM:  Many, many links on smart meters here, some of which may keep one up at night!