Understanding The Smart Meter
As technology has advanced, there’s various aspects of our lives that are trackable automatically. How many steps you take, how many calories you consume, your heart rate, and even the data you use on a daily. So why isn’t your energy consumption? Malaysia is now taking the next step to make lives easier, with the smart meter. The smart meter basically helps households and businesses track their energy consumption and is pretty similar to conventional meters. The exception being that you can view and track their daily energy consumption levels with the smart meter. And of course, that’s via the myTNB app or portal.
Smart meters are certainly the first step towards a smarter, sustainable and greener future. But despite all these benefits and the potential it has for the future of our country, there is still some scepticism surrounding the smart meter. TNB are here to tell you some myths about Smart Meters to give you an accurate representation of the device;
Myth Number 1: Smart Meters can be injurious to health
Most digital devices – mobile phones, microwaves and even the WiFi routers – emit a certain amount of radio frequency (RF), all of which are far higher than what smart meters emit, which is a mere 0.1 Microwatts per square centimetre, well below the hazard threshold.
For devices to be safe around humans, the recommended RF level should be below 1,000 Microwatts per square centimetre. In fact, Smart Meters have undergone an in-depth review by the World Health Organization (WHO), who have conclusively proven that the small amount of RF produced is not harmful to human health. They have also been approved by SIRIM and SKMM, so rest assured with the knowledge that having a Smart Meter in your home is not harmful to your health.
Myth Number 2: Smart meters aren’t accurate
Smart meters are capable of tracking the electricity consumption data as per its usage. This means that Smart meters provide a far more accurate reading of your daily electricity consumption than before, which in turn means you will only pay for exactly the amount of energy you have used. The transmission of data on your energy consumption levels to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the ability to view how much energy is being consumed on the myTNB app or portal means that there is a great level of transparency involved in the billing process too.
With smart meters, there is a significantly lower margin of error when it comes to calculating your bill, as everything is measured digitally on a daily basis and not through someone taking an approximate reading at the end of the month. Indeed, all issued smart meters have been certified by the Energy Commission to ensure that it meets all international standards and are calibrated and certified against the Metering Guideline under the purview of the Energy Commission.
Myth Number 3: Smart Meters make me more vulnerable to spies and hackers.
The smart meter’s only function is to measure the amount of energy you use and to communicate that information to the utility provider.
To ensure the public’s safety is secured, smart meters undergo rigorous testing to ensure it meets industry standards. In adherence to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), features such as data encryption, authentication and password protection have been incorporated into the Smart Meter system and network, which is consistently assessed to ensure that the network cannot be compromised.
The function of the RF pole in the neighbourhood is only to enable communication of data between the
different meters and TNB.
To know more about TNB’s Smart Meters check out the myTNB app or read more on their website.
Courtesy of TNB.
