What is a smart meter?
The way we use energy is changing. Australians moved from analogue to digital TVs, from landlines to smart phones, and now we are now upgrading our old electricity meters to the current technology as part of a national rollout.
A smart meter records your electricity use throughout the day and sends readings to your electricity company. This means no more manual meter reads.
When will I get a smart meter?
Many homes and small businesses already have a smart meter — especially if you have solar panels or your home was built after 2017.
The national smart meter rollout aims for everyone to have one by 2030.
This rollout covers New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia. In Victoria and Tasmania, smart meter rollouts are already finished or close to complete.
When it’s your turn – whether you own or rent your home or premises – your electricity company will contact you to arrange the installation and let you know what to expect.
You can contact your electricity company for more information about how installations are being scheduled in your area.
Why am I getting a smart meter?
Our old electricity meters weren’t designed to work with new technologies like smart appliances, solar panels, and batteries. Smart meters are an important step towards getting these new technologies set up in your home or business, giving you more options to manage costs.
Over time, smart meters are also expected to help bring costs down for everyone by making the electricity system work better.
How does the installation process work?
For most people, the upgrade is a simple swap. An installer will replace the old meter in your meter box with a new smart meter, which usually takes about an hour.
Sometimes, installers find safety or other issues with existing meter boxes — like old wiring, asbestos or damaged covers that don’t protect the wiring from the weather. These problems need to be fixed before they can install a smart meter. If this happens, your electricity company will contact you about your options and next steps.
Want more information?
Contact your electricity company for details about your smart meter installation.
To understand what this means in your state or territory, see below:
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- Australian Capital Territory
- South Australia
Are you an organisation who supports people who will receive a smart meter as part of the national roll out? Email us to receive a stakeholder pack including a fact sheet, videos, social tiles, PowerPoint deck and translated resources.
FAQs
A smart meter is a small box with a digital screen, usually mounted in your meter box on the outside of your property. Older meters use spinning dials to record your electricity usage. You can also contact your electricity company to find out if you have a smart meter.
Smart meters record your electricity use throughout the day and send readings to your electricity company, meaning no more manual meter reads. They are also a step towards getting new technologies like solar panels and batteries, and can provide more options for you to manage your costs.
Smart meters also open up new opportunities, including:
- installing new technology such as solar panels and batteries in your home or small business
- understanding your electricity use through the apps and online portals offered by many electricity companies (these can show when you use the most electricity, which can help find ways to save on bills)
- more choice in electricity plans, such as time-of-use plans, which can offer cheaper rates for people for using electricity at off-peak times
- a more efficient, effective energy system with fewer costly new poles and wires, bringing down costs to all consumers in the future.
For most people, the upgrade will be a simple swap. An installer will replace the old meter in your meter box with a new smart meter, which usually takes about an hour.
There’s no upfront cost to you where the smart meter is installed as part of the national rollout. This means your electricity company cannot ask you to pay any extra fees or charges for the smart meter at the time it’s installed.
The cost of the upgrade is part of your regular electricity bills if you own or rent your property — similar to poles and wires, and existing meters. Your electricity company will be able to provide further information about smart meter costs.
If repairs are required (e.g. if there are safety or other issues with the existing meter box) and you own the property, you are responsible for wiring and electrical fittings and the cost of an electrician. Under the national rollout, it’s your decision whether to make repairs or not so that a smart meter can be installed.
If you would like a smart meter before the national rollout reaches your area, you can ask your electricity company about upgrading early. It is important to know that if you request an early installation, your electricity company may charge an upfront fee. Upfront fees may also apply if your property is newly built and being connected to electricity for the first time.
Rental properties are also getting smart meters as part of the national rollout. If the electricity account is in your name, your electricity company will contact you to arrange the installation – not the homeowner.
In apartments and townhouses, all the meters are usually grouped together in one place — like a shared meter room or switchboard. If you share an electricity connection with your neighbours, smart meters should, where possible, be installed in groups to make the process easier for everyone.
Your electricity company — the one that sends you your bill — is responsible for arranging the installation. They will send a qualified installer to safely do the work.
They will send you a letter, text or email at least four business days before the installation.
The notice about your installation will specify a time window of five business days when the work will be done. If you have specific needs in relation to, for example, access to your property or business trading requirements, you can talk to your electricity company about options for scheduling your installation
For most people, the installation will be a simple swap. You should check that the area around your meter box is clear and easy to get to. If there are locked gates or fences, make sure the installer can safely access them. If your meter box is safe and easy to access for the installer, there’s nothing you need to do.
If your meter box is easy and safe to access, you don’t need to be home on the day — just like when your meter is read manually. If it is inside your property, or there are other access issues, you may need to be home to help the installer access the meter. If you are home, you can ask the installer for photo ID. They will never request any personal details or payments. If you’re unsure, contact your electricity company to check and make arrangements.
Yes. Customers are not able to opt-out of a new meter under the rules for the national rollout. If you prefer, you can ask your electricity company to install a smart meter with its remote communications turned off.
Sometimes, installers find safety or other issues with existing meter boxes — like old wiring, asbestos or damaged covers that don’t protect the wiring from the weather. These may need to be fixed before they can install a smart meter. If this happens, your installer may leave a note at your property about the issues they have identified, your options and next steps. Your electricity company may also contact you electronically to let you know.
Under the national rollout, property owners cannot be forced to make repairs for a smart meter to be installed, providing there are no safety issues. If the property owner does not make the necessary repairs, the existing meter can continue to be used until it fails.
If your meter box or wiring is in very poor condition and could cause a fire, electric shock, or other safety risks, you may receive a notice about the defects that need to be fixed by an electrician to keep you safe and your electricity connected. If there is an immediate safety risk, your electricity may need to remain off until it can be fixed. However, if there is no safety risk and the issues only need to be fixed for a smart meter to be installed, you cannot be forced to make the repairs.
If you own the property, you are responsible for wiring and electrical fittings and the cost of an electrician to make repairs. If you rent, it is the responsibility of your landlord to address these issues.
Getting a smart meter will not automatically change the way you are charged for your electricity use. If you do notice unexpected changes in your bill, talk to your electricity company who can help work through it with you.
Your electricity company cannot change the retail tariff structure in your electricity plan without your consent for two years after the smart meter is installed. This protection applies for smart meters installed between 2025 and 2030 as part of the national rollout.
This means, for example, that you cannot be changed from an electricity plan with a tariff where you are charged the same price for the electricity you use regardless of the time of day you use it (a flat rate tariff), to one where you are charged different prices depending on the time of the day (such as a time-of-use tariff).
Your electricity company can help you with questions about your smart meter, the installation process or your electricity bill. Their contact details will be on your regular electricity bills as well as in the notice they will send you in the mail or electronically before the smart meter installation. Electricity companies are sometimes also called energy retailers.
Start by contacting your electricity company. The installation notice they sent you explains how to make a complaint. It’s best to try to fix the issue with them first. If the problem isn't solved, or you're not happy with their response, you can contact the independent energy ombudsman in your state for help.
This information has been created as part of a collaboration with the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Energy Consumers Australia and state/territory government representatives to help households and small businesses access important information about smart meters.
