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We live in an allotment of 4 units in Vic. All 4 electricity meters are installed on the external wall of unit 1. The owners have steadfastly refused the electricity companies to install smart meters on the wall citing radiation safety. The meters are all aged and beyond their life span. To relocate would require major works including driveway reconstruction at considerable cost which they are not willing to share. Due to the separation of units the inconvenience will solely be borne by unit 2,3 and 4. What are our rights? Does implied easements and common property come into this?
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Just to clarify, does “on the external wall of unit 1” mean that inspecting or altering them requires access into unit 1?
Also, have the owners of unit 1 indicated what type of radiation emanates from smart meters but not mechanical meters?
NSW Government remarks “concerns about smart meters”
I googled “smart meter radiation”. Smart meters emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation. The amount of radiation is smaller than what is emitted from a mobile phone. American Cancer Society is not concerned about it.
Last year, there were reports of people having their electricity plan changed without their knowledge or consent after a smart meter was installed. The changed electricity plans resulted in unexpectedly high bills. If anyone is switching to a smart meter, please talk to your electricity company immediately to get the best available plan for your circumstance.
Is their claim of radiation real or just an excuse not to install smart meters.
Smart meters emit no more radiation than old meters.
You also have a choice whether to entertain the invitation from your energy retailer to install smart meters. But the regulator has decreed that by 2029 all old meters must be replaced by smart meters. Better to do the changeover on your timing.Relocationof meters would be a shared expense between all 4 lots. Remember in strata it’s the majority that has the sway. Even if one lot disagrees with a relocation, the majority prevail.
You could look at relocating the meters within each lot. Smart meters an be read by radio,so access to them is not required.
Still some cost involved.
Smart meters have a computer and some other electronic equipment in them that, unless carefully shielded, radiate miniscule amounts of non-ionising electro-magnetic energy at various frequencies. Some types communicate by sending low-power RF signals along the electricity supply cables. Many can be read electronically with hand-held devices, again using low-power RF signals. Mobile phones give off much more RF energy than smart meters yet people willingly hold them close to their heads.
NSW readers should note that moving the meters (as distinct from updating them) would be a change to the infrastructure and would require passing as a special resolution at a general meeting with not more than one-quarter by value of the votes cast against it.