Power cut for refusing a smart meter

Our grid operator (OÖ Netz AG) cut off the electricity to our house and farm on 9 May 2019.

Since then we have been doing public relations work, supplying ourselves, looking for solutions and asking for help. Today is the 12th day after the disconnection. Since November 2016 we have been in contact with OÖ Netz AG by phone and letter about the installation of a smart meter (despite our decision for the “opt-out function”), because our meter was due for recalibration. Fairly soon the network owner mentioned:

“E-Control will then decide whether we cut off your electricity.”

Finally, on 7 May 2019, OÖ Netz AG called us and told us that they would come on 9 May 2019 between 8:00 and 10:00 and cut off the electricity. And that is what happened. (The electricity was cut off at the access point shown here in the header image.)

We have always paid on time. Our electricity costs used to be about €5.20 a day; at the moment we use almost 50 litres of diesel a day and constantly have to avoid peaks in consumption.

On the 7th day the STOP Smartmeter (German) interest group kindly provided us with a better generator.

We share all the concerns of the Chamber of Labour regarding data protection. Likewise, we share the statements of the Medical Association regarding possible radiation exposure. Furthermore, OÖ Netz AG explained to us that all smart meters have a main switch that can be operated remotely. The electricity must or can be switched off remotely in the event of:

• imminent danger
• breach of contract (late payment)
• a court order

We view the clause “by court order” with scepticism in peacetime. Are hidden power relations being demonstrated here? We somehow feel instrumentalised.

There are numerous reports that electricity bills measured with smart meters can be higher than before they were installed. It would be interesting to carry out a long-term measurement with a smart meter (service life approx. 10 years) and a tried-and-tested Ferraris meter (service life approx. 40 years) at the same time in one household. Then the advantages and disadvantages could quickly be seen.

We always thought that electricity was part of the basic rights of every citizen in Austria. But we notice that no help is coming from politics. It seems that politicians do not care how we – the citizens of the country – are really doing. You can lose all trust.

We have already had numerous media representatives at the farm.

Among other things, this resulted in a neutral short report by ServusTV in “Servus am Abend” (German), from minute 07:23. The report was available in the media library until 27 May 2019.

We are happy to answer any questions, and comments on our article here will of course also reach us.

Josef and Sonja Schimmerl Schimmerljuden 2, 5221 Lochen am See, Austria

Thank you to the GAIA editorial team for helping us to write this and for helping to spread the word on a subject that is important to us. We have been members since 2012 and are already longing for a breakthrough towards local, independent energy generation. Then “being self-sufficient” might be more worth living.