Digital devices ready to reduce banana disease spread

New remotely read Ergon Energy power meters are helping farmers fight the battle against Panama disease in Queensland’s Far North.

The Palaszczuk Government is rolling out the digital devices over the coming months, with Ergon Energy due to install up to 600 meters at sites in the Tully and Innisfail areas.

Energy Minister Mark Bailey said in light of Panama TR4 biosecurity concerns and strict quarantine measures, Ergon Energy made the decision to stop all entry of their contract meter readers onto farms and use digital meters that could be read remotely.

“Digital meters are a significant step in preventing the spread of Panama disease which is a threat to the region’s important banana industry. There will be no cost to banana producers for the meter switch over,” Mr Bailey said.

“The meters will be read remotely using the 3G/4G telecommunication networks and where availability of those networks is limited, farmers will be asked to perform self-meter reads and communicate that information to Ergon.

“The digital meters will also allow faster access to data - this can be used by farmers to make better decisions on tariff options and improve their energy consumption.”

Few properties are expected to be self - meter reads. Those that are will still be required to have an annual read performed by a meter reader.

Ergon is writing to all affected banana farmers advising access to their properties will be required to install the new meters.

Mr Bailey said Ergon crews would follow strict quarantine measures and go on site at agreed times.

“They will temporarily interrupt power to the property, remove the old meter and install the new one,” he said.

“Ergon will be working to transition all eligible growers to new meters over the next few months.”

About 85 per cent of Australia's bananas are produced within a 100-kilometre radius of the Tully Valley, between Cairns and Townsville.

Panama disease is a fungus that affects the tissues of the banana plant that can make the fruit un-marketable and eventually kills the plant.

“It poses a serious threat to Queensland’s banana industry,” Mr Bailey said.

“Digital meters will avoid the need for meter readers to enter properties and therefore prevent the spread of the disease.”

Growers wanting more information on the digital meter program should contact Ergon on 13 74 66 during business hours.

The roll out is expected to be completed by December.

Background:

Farmers generally have quarterly and monthly billing – quarterly for the house on the property (residential) and monthly for the packing shed (the business).

ENDS

Media contact, Dominic Geiger, 0447355565