Meter reading
Ausgrid has about 140 meter readers, approximately 85 percent of whom are contracted to provide this service.
Meter readers visit about 1.6 million homes and businesses at least four times each year – that’s about 27,000 properties every working day. On average, one meter reader will read about 200 meters a day. Ausgrid attempts to read your meter at least once every three months. According to the rules set down by the National Electricity Market, we must read your electricity meter at least once every six months.
How we read your meter
Electricity meters are read by one of three methods:
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Manually
A meter reader sights the meter and types the reading into a handheld device that sends the data directly to our metering and billing systems. The reading is then validated and sent to your electricity retailer who calculates your final bill.
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Automatic probes
An optical port is attached to an interval meter (sometimes also called time of use meter, smart meter or advanced meter) and it automatically collects energy readings over 30-minute periods. That information is automatically sent through to our metering and billing systems via a hand held device. The reading is then validated and sent to your electricity retailer who calculates your final bill.
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Remote Readings
We have installed about 4,000 advanced smart meters across our network. These meters can be read remotely without having to visit the customer's property. We are installing up to 30,000 more of these types of meters as part of the Australian Government's Smart Grid, Smart City project. Bills for these customers are calculated from routine probe reads.