Clampdown on electricity meter installation delays

The Turnbull Government is submitting a rule change request to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) to introduce maximum time frames for meter installations. The rule change will see electricity customers avoid delays in getting new or replacement smart meters.

Previously networks, including in South Australia, had a service condition imposed on them to install new meters within six days, but since the responsibility has shifted to retailers, there is no longer a maximum time frame for installation, according to a statement by Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg.

Consumers have a right to expect that when they want a new smart meter, it should be installed promptly and without unnecessary delay.

Timely installation means that customers will be able to experience the benefits of new technology and energy services as quickly as possible, helping them to manage their electricity bills and to get the most from their solar, storage and other energy technologies, said the statement. Smart meters also present an opportunity to link energy systems with smart devices in homes and businesses, providing a foundation for multiservices architecture for the Internet of Things.

The government’s National Energy Guarantee aims to cut electricity prices by: ending subsidies for energy; creating a level playing field that ensures all types of energy are part of Australia’s mix; providing certainty for investors; and reducing volatility, by ensuring reliable energy sources which provide power when it’s needed.

It is truly technology-neutral, offering a future for investment in whatever technology the market needs — solar, wind, coal, gas, batteries or pumped hydro storage, said the statement.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Maxim_Kazmin