We welcome the Australian Energy Market (AEMC)'s draft rule determination to change meter minimum service specifications (‘min specs’), requiring that all new smart meters installed from 1 January 2028 are capable of communicating real-time data, at no additional cost to consumers.
In 2024, we proposed the AEMC amend the electricity rules to provide all consumers with access to their real-time data, at no additional cost, delivered in a manner and form that is meaningful to act upon.
We applaud the AEMC for bringing the implementation date earlier from the 2040 date proposed in the Directions Paper. We urge the AEMC to reject any attempt to push this date back, to ensure as many consumers as possible benefit from real-time data under the accelerated roll out of smart meters.
Our recommendations to the draft determination include:
- An obligation on retailers to provide real-time data to consumers in a meaningful format for consumers to act upon
- Ensuring consumers get access to their energy data in a format that makes sense to them
- Consumers should pay a regulated price if their smart meter was upgraded before 1 January 2028. Market competition is insufficient to keep prices down
- An exemption to charges for consumers who want to upgrade their meter early, for consumers at risk of or experiencing hardship
