From 1 December 2017 changes were made to increase competition in the electricity metering market as the Australian Energy Market Commission’s ‘Power of Choice’ regulations came into effect.
For metering services, it means increased competition in the metering market, from 1 December 2017.
Under these rules, energy retailers - the company you choose to send you your bills - will be responsible for installing any new and replacement meters. For residential and small business customers any new or replacement meter will be a smart meter (also known as digital or advanced meters).
Ausgrid | Retailers | |
Installation of new smart metering equipment | × | ✔ |
Meter reading of smart meters |
× | ✔ |
Meter reading of traditional accumulation meters and interval meters | ✔ |
× |
Testing of smart meters | × | ✔ |
Testing of traditional accumulation meters and interval meters | ✔ | × |
Replacement of non-compliant or faulty traditional accumulation meters and interval meters | × | ✔ |
Replacement of non-compliant or faulty smart meters | × | ✔ |
Metering upgrades e.g., new solar installation | × | ✔ |
Ausgrid is responsible for:
We will continue to provide reading, testing and maintenance services for meters owned by Ausgrid. This includes all meters that were installed by Ausgrid or an agent of Ausgrid or our predecessor organisations.
If we have identified that Ausgrid metering at your premises is no longer compliant with the National Electricity Rules (for example, not accurate enough or damaged) and requires replacement, we will send a notification to your retailer who are then required to contact you and arrange for the metering to be replaced with a new smart meter.
Where a new smart meter is to be installed, under Power of Choice rules you can request that your retailer install it without the remote communication hardware. The retailer will then be responsible for arranging for the meter to be manually read.
Ausgrid is obligated under the National Electricity Rules to provide a standard set of terms and conditions to electricity retailers. These outline the terms and conditions on which Ausgrid will agree to act as the initial metering coordinator with respect to Type 5 and 6 metering installations connected to our network. More information can be found in the Ausgrid Metering Coordinator Services Terms and Conditions below.
Ausgrid published its initial terms and conditions to act as the initial Metering Coordinator for Type 5, 6 and 7 Metering Installations on 1 September 2017, as required by the National Electricity Rules. After feedback from retailers, these are the updated terms and conditions. Download
How to read your meter |
Meter Upgrades |
Smart Meters in NSW |
Australian Energy Regulator FAQs on Smart Meters |
Responsibility for meters - 'Meters are your retailer’s responsibility' - AEMC |