Smart meters... what do recent changes mean for you?

What is a smart meter?

A smart meter is a new type of metering device that measures your electricity use digitally throughout the day and sends data back to your electricity provider.

For a while now, all new and replacement electricity meters have been required to be smart meters (except in Western Australia).

What’s changing?

To help modernise the energy system and facilitate the energy transition and continued uptake of Consumer Energy Resources such as batteries and solar, there have been some recent changes to the electricity legislation to accelerate the replacement of older, basic meters with smart meters for all residential and small business customers.

What does this mean for you?

We are currently updating our smart meter information and guidance on what these changes will mean for energy consumers.

In the meantime, here are a few important things for you to know about the changes.

• Your energy retailer may contact you to let you know that they will be replacing your meter with a smart meter. You will not be charged any upfront fees for the meter.
• You cannot opt out of this replacement, however you can request for the communications capabilities to be disabled (note this may attract ongoing meter reading fees).
• You need to provide safe and unhindered access to your meter for this replacement.
• Sometimes there can be defects at your premises that prevent your retailer from installing the smart meter. If this is the case, you do not have fix these defects, however this may mean you will not receive a smart meter.
• If you want a smart meter earlier, you can contact your retailer to request a smart meter (they will advise you if there are any upfront fees).
• If you have any issues or concerns we encourage you to contact your energy retailer or your local energy ombudsman for assistance.

Will this mean automatic changes to your electricity plan?

• Maybe. Retailers choose how to charge their customers, including whether they make any changes to your electricity plan once you have a smart meter. Some retailers are letting customers remain on their existing electricity plan, whilst others are shifting customers to a new plan, for example where charges change based on the time of usage.
• Your retailer is required to let you know about any changes to your electricity plan. If you’re unsure you can call them and ask.

How can Energy Made Easy help you when you move to a smart meter?

• We encourage energy consumers to regularly shop around and speak with their retailer to ensure they’re on the best retail energy offer for their circumstances. You can compare energy plans from the Energy Made Easy homepage. Just enter your postcode and off you go!
• When searching energy plans on Energy Made Easy, you will be shown all electricity plans by default, including those which may have eligibility restrictions. Eligibility restrictions for plans can include meter restrictions, meaning you need to have a certain meter type to be eligible for the plan. If you’re unsure whether a plan has any eligibility criteria, click into the plan and select the ‘More Info’ tab. You can also call the retailer offering the plan to ask them if there are any eligibility criteria.