Backyard Aquaponics
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OK , couldn't think where to put this ,, I guess here is good enough.

I have justy had a "smart meter" fitted to my house supply. This meter knows what time it is and calculates the expense on "when" power is used.
Good news for AP ers ,, you get the cheapest rates 10pm - 7am

Here's a link to the basics ..http://www.energy.com.au/energy/ea.nsf/ ... +Res+Meter

Here's a PDF with more info...http://www.mce.gov.au/assets/documents/ ... 163300.pdf

Power is charged at 3 rates ..... OFF-peak , SHOULDER and PEAK.

For those with AP the heating requirements will fall mainly within OFF peak and it's around 5.61 cents per KWH , in AP terms you can have 3 X 300 watt heaters heating your tank ALL night for under 50 cents:)


Check it out!!!!

Sounds fantastic Chappo. You are lucky to have this service readily available. Although I will inquire of my provider here in Queensland, but I don't like my chances. The next best thing for me will be to get my pumps and heating onto the off peak service that I have my pool and solar hot water system element on. This is not the off peak service used by hot water systems as it is available most of the day and night. It just goes off for a couple of hours around dinner time and will also be off for a while in winter around the time people get up and turn all their air conditioning systems on . This service is charged at 8.4cents per kWh (ex GST) compared to 14cents per kWh (ex GST) charged for the peak service. 5.61 cents would be better though

Telephone your power supplier ,, I think it is being pushed across ALL Australia ,,.
I got my meter fitted just because I asked ,, otherwise I would have been on "the list" and probably waited a couple of years.
My " one cold one hot-water no compromise " thread just got one of the answers I needed ( cheap power).

Smiles

hey chappo,

nice find. i made a post on these a while back that some people may find informative.

not sure if they are the same though as i'm in Perth.

oops. heres the link:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2195&p=82717&hilit=smart+meter#p82717

Yep bio ,, exactly the same ..... we even consider WA as part of Australia ,, see how kind we are .....

Big savings if used correctly.

You need to contact your supplier if you want one now ,, otherwise you sit on the list and will be getting your in 2012?? 2020??

After talking with Energy Australia , I had mine within a 2 weeks.

I'll be using mine for cheap heating so i can run Jade Perch at optimal temps. I'm not much of a greenie or a tree-hugger but it was pointed out to me that just using power because it's cheap still causes green-house gases. I'm compromising on capping my tank heating to 8 kwh per day ,, I've saved more than that buying 5 star rated appliances , power saving lights etc , so my over-all usage will still be less. Actually I've always believed in leaving a small foot-print ..... guess I'm just adverse to the "tag" of greenie , perhaps because of the image of the few mad-radicals involved in that.
I guess as a responsible part of society we should all aim to substantially reduce our carbon output.It's a bloody hard thing to calculate. I've added 14 large tree's to thi house since mooving in , so that's a carbon sink. If i use electricity to warm the tank , I reduce our need to buy goods shipped by truck ,, calculating all this is ny on impossible.
I am thinking ,, keep electric use to the level it is now ,,,increase our own vegie self sufficiency from the current 30% up to 70% and increase our own protein self sufficiency from current 0% up to 70% and I've done more than my fair share.

had a quick look at the graphs............correct usage would be the key.......... if you were using in the wrong time slot then i'd say your bill could be 50% HIGHER `

Guarranteed first three bills lower,, usuage actually suits me as I'm a shift worker ,, and heating and water heater ( the big user) is used at night both fish and when needed people).
The big power uses are hot meals ( big oven) , hot water ,, yes we love our showers and general house heating. All these should mostly fall in the off-peak or shoulder rate in my opinion. The big roast dinners etc we eat are cooked on weekends and fall into the shoulder rate. Hot water is off-peak and we use very little house heating but if we do it would be in the cold of the night ( off-peak).
The 'trap" if there is one ,, is for people that use large amounts of power in the 2pm - 8pm period. You may need to have a slightly later dinner to get the most benefit.

yep, and the Reverse cycle AC used for heating in the PM and AM

Reversed cycle airconditioner??????
Geez I call myself non green ,, by a reverse cycle aircon in Sydney ,, that would just be environmental terrorism ,, totally unjustified.

as opposed to what other form of heating if any?

i was talking specifically about areas that needed heating in winter and didn't have (shiteful humidity )

I find an extra t-shirt and jumper is more than enough. Second blanket for bed.
We only use a heater maybe 3 or 4 nights a year , it's just not necessary.
I cannot speak for other's that choose to live in inhuman conditions ,, they will have to answer for themselves.
But i would be more than willing to suggest that any heating needs in those cold areas would maximise during the off-peak electricity times.

Chappo, what is the peak rate, and how does that compare to the standard rate if you didn't have a smart meter?

I ask because my uncle had one fitted and found his power bills went up, even when doing the washing at night and the like.

25c peak with smart meter

15 flat without

from memory...................

If washing at night ,, 12 cents 8pm - 10 pm , 6 cents 10pm - 6am.
Our washing machine is set to wash at 10pm , our dishwasher is set for 10pm our hot water ( off -peak ) turns on around 10pm.