AEMC acts to support metering coordinators
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published a new draft rule that’s intended to make work conditions less challenging for metering coordinators (MCs).
The action comes in response to rule change requests from Yurika, PLUS ES, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Intellihub. These organisations are asking the AEMC to make it easier for MCs to comply with:
- testing and inspecting obligations under the National Electricity Rules (NER); and
- repairing metering installation malfunctions within timeframes specified in the NER and AEMO’s Malfunction Exemption Procedure.
The draft rule recognises that MCs can find it difficult to meet their obligations to test and inspect metering installations and repair malfunctions within the NER timeframes in certain circumstances that are beyond their control. This specifically applies to circumstances where MCs require support from retailers and large customers to carry out their work and/or there are site issues, including a lack of site access and defects at metering installations.
The draft rule also recognises that the current process for MCs to obtain test certificates for high-voltage (HV) voltage and current transformers (VTs and CTs) is inefficient and costly.
To help resolve these challenges and improve compliance, the draft rule would amend the NER to:
- Introduce an obligation on the person who appoints an MC (generally, retailers or large customers) to support MCs in meeting their meter maintenance obligations.
- Expand the exemption framework for meter malfunctions and introduce an exemption framework for testing and inspections to allow MCs greater flexibility to manage situations where a metering installation is not accessible, safe or ready.
- Introduce an obligation for previous MCs to share the most recent test certificate, where available, with the new MC at a metering installation.
As a whole, the draft rule aims to enhance the efficiency of meter maintenance arrangements, while improving the accuracy of energy data across the NEM.
Stakeholders are invited to provide written submissions on the draft determination by 7 May 2026 via the AEMC website.
Call for Aust Government to ramp up electrification
In light of the unfolding global energy crisis, the Energy Efficiency Council is urging the...
Endeavour Energy deploys drones before bushfire season
The utility's bright orange drones will inspect more than 160,000 poles in bushfire-prone areas.
Why are large data centres facing new grid connection standards?
The AEMC has proposed new connection standards for large Australian data centres to avoid the...
