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SMART METER, DUMB APPLIANCES
Reporter: Gordon Harcourt
If you haven't already got a new smart power meter at your place, it's on the way. The smart power future could be a wonderful place, but what can that meter do for you now?
One West Auckland mum reckons her new Genesis Energy Advanced Meter has given her a horrendous power bill. Genesis says no. It blames an expensive oil heater, poor insulation and a cold winter.
Genesis is the biggest player in the smart meter game - 200,000 rolled out already and 300,000 more on the way. Genesis says right now the advantages are accurate bills, no estimates, no intrusive readings for those with internal meters, and the ability to view usage online.
But rival retailer TrustPower says smart meters have no advantages right now. You can get lots more information, but there's not a lot you can do with it. You can't invite people round for dinner then tell them they won't be eating till 11pm when the power is cheaper.
Genesis seems very proud of its new meters but it wouldn't do a TV interview. Instead lines company Vector showed us their home of the future - an Auckland apartment kitted out with smart appliances, solar panels, a wind turbine, and whizzy computer kit to control it all. In the smart power future, your house will be like that, with the smart meter and smart appliances talking to each other to figure out the cheapest power to use when.
That's the future, but right now our Auckland mum Hayley still has a huge power bill she just can't pay.
We also have a warning tonight - if you've got an old mechanical meter, it might be running slow. That means your power bill now is TOO LOW and you're in for a nasty shock when it changes.
ONLINE FREEMIUM GAMES
Reporter: Hannah Wallis
Listen up all parents and grandparents of cyber savvy children.
Beware of downloading so-called "free games" onto i-pads, smart phones and the like.
Seems the adults are lured by the idea that fun won't cost anything. But in the hands of the kids it most certainly can as some of our viewers found out.
KASHAN & DANTE UPDATE
Reporter: Gordon Harcourt
You'll remember Kashan & Dante from our story a few weeks back. Their house burnt down and their insurance from Lumley via Westpac wouldn't pay. This week we have an update.
