A leading industry figure has warned that the replacement of old electricity meters with smart meters could damage household appliances or even cause fires in homes.
George Kyriacou, president of the Cyprus Electrical Contractors Association, has expressed concern about potential technical problems during the meter replacement process that could lead to appliances being damaged when power is restored.
Citizens have already reported such incidents, and there has been one case of a house fire, Kyriacou told Phileleftheros.
He explained that the danger primarily affects three-phase homes, where improper neutral connection or equipment failure could cause appliances to receive excessive voltage during power restoration.
“Instead of 220 volts, they might receive 415 volts, resulting in burnout,” he said.
The contractors’ association has requested that the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) compile a list of available professional electricians who can respond quickly, as EAC technicians are not permitted to intervene in private electrical installations.
Kyriacou clarified that the risk does not stem from the smart meters themselves, which are safe, but from the replacement procedure and power restoration process.
He advised homeowners to be present during smart meter installations to disconnect electrical appliances while EAC crews are working, though he noted this practice does not fully guarantee problem prevention.
According to Kyriacou, the only way to ensure such issues do not arise is for EAC crews to perform checks before restoring power. He stressed that the problem could be resolved by establishing a specific protocol with step-by-step procedures for EAC crews to follow during smart meter installation.
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