Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/32794-official-information-act-request-advanced-electricity-meters-smart-meters-safety-incidents-test-standards-record-keeping-2015-2022 on November 09, 2025 19:36

Official Information Act Request – Advanced Electricity Meters (Smart Meters): Safety Incidents, Test Standards & Record-Keeping (2015–2022)

SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to WorkSafe New Zealand

Currently waiting for a response from WorkSafe New Zealand, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: SPENCER JONES

Dear WorkSafe,

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I hereby request the following information from WorkSafe New Zealand regarding advanced electricity meters (smart meters) installed in New Zealand:

1. Incident / Investigation Records (1 January 2018 – 31 December 2022)

Any incident reports, investigations, notifications or enforcement actions received by WorkSafe (or its predecessor Energy Safety function) where an advanced electricity meter was identified as involved in or contributing to:

electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio-frequency (RF) disturbance;

voltage transients, surges or “dirty electricity” associated with the meter;

appliance damage, equipment malfunction or property damage directly attributed to a smart meter fault or replacement.

For each recorded event (to the extent available): date received, distributor/retailer, meter make/model (if recorded), nature of event (appliance damage, EMI, replacement, etc.), status/outcome (closed, enforcement, resolved, ongoing).

2. Test / Approval / Guidance Documents (1 January 2015 – 31 December 2022)

Copies of any internal guidance, test specifications, contractor reports or technical evaluations held by WorkSafe (or MBIE’s Energy Safety team) relating to smart meter immunity to EMI, surge immunity (IEC 61000-4-4, 61000-4-5), voltage transients or other power-quality issues associated with smart meters.

Copies of any meter approval, certification or audit documentation work that WorkSafe reviewed or referenced in relation to smart meters, including any test results for meter make/model approvals.

3. Record-Keeping / Search Methodology Disclosure

A summary of the systems and databases searched in providing your response in respect of items 1 & 2 (e.g., incident management systems, document repositories, email archives), including the date ranges and keywords used.

Confirmation whether any relevant records have been disposed of under the public records disposal authority (under the Public Records Act 2005) and, if so, under what authority and when.

Additional matters:

If full disclosure of incident records is refused for privacy or other reasons, I request a summary table of the logged events with personal identifiers removed (s 16 of the Act).

I request electronic delivery of the information, and ask for any withheld material to be clearly identified with the specific OIA withholding ground(s) and public interest test analysis (s 9(1)).

I believe this request is in the public interest as it concerns consumer safety, appliance and property damage potential, and regulatory oversight of smart meter technologies.

Kind regards,
Spencer Jones

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SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()

This Official Information Act (OIA) request seeks transparency from **WorkSafe New Zealand** about **electrical safety incidents, testing standards, and record-keeping practices** concerning advanced (smart) electricity meters.

It forms part of a coordinated, multi-agency inquiry into how smart-meter performance, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and power-quality issues are monitored and recorded across New Zealand’s regulatory system.

Purpose of This Request

WorkSafe is responsible for enforcing the **Electricity Act**, **Electrical Safety Regulations**, and the **Health and Safety at Work Act**. These laws require oversight of electrical incidents, product testing, and safety standards.

This OIA specifically asks WorkSafe to:

* Release any **incident or investigation records (2018–2022)** where smart meters caused or contributed to **EMI, surges, voltage transients, or appliance damage**.
* Provide **testing and approval documentation (2015–2022)** for smart-meter immunity to electrical or electromagnetic interference.
* Disclose its **record-keeping and search methodology**, including which databases were checked and whether any relevant records have been **disposed of under the Public Records Act 2005**.

Context & Linked OIAs

This request builds upon earlier OIAs where other agencies—**Electricity Authority (EA), PHF Science / ESR, MBIE, and the Ministry of Health**—each stated that **no New Zealand-specific smart-meter EMF or safety assessments exist**, despite public interest and ongoing consumer complaints.

Key linked OIAs:

* [#31857 – Smart Meter Safety Assessments & Incident Records (Electricity Authority)](https://fyi.org.nz/request/31857-smart-m...)
* [#31923 – Approved Smart Meter Type List, Test Standards & Fault Statistics (MBIE / WorkSafe Transfer)](https://fyi.org.nz/request/31923-approve...)
* [#31855 – EMF and Smart Meter Health Assessments (PHF Science / MoH)](https://fyi.org.nz/request/31855-officia...)

Together, these reveal a **regulatory gap**: each agency points to another, yet no one appears to hold the full safety record for smart-meter deployments.

Public Interest

This request is not adversarial—it simply seeks to verify how smart-meter incidents are logged, tested, and monitored, given their nationwide rollout and increasing reports of EMI-related appliance damage.

The outcome will help determine whether New Zealand’s regulatory framework:

* Maintains adequate **incident tracking and product-safety oversight**, and
* Meets its **Public Records Act duty** to retain full and accurate information about public safety matters.

*Status:* Request lodged — awaiting WorkSafe acknowledgment and clarification of search scope.
*Next steps:* Cross-reference responses from MBIE and EA to confirm whether any testing or incident data are being withheld or misclassified.

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
WorkSafe New Zealand only: