What is a smart meter?
A smart meter digitally measures the electricity flowing in and out of your home every 15 minutes to half-hour and send it straight to your electricity distributor.
This is how they can see how much energy your solar system has generated.
Digital meters are not necessarily ‘smart’. Some digital meters are merely electronic. Smart meters are also connected to the internet.
What are the benefits of smart meters?
They eliminate the need for a meter reader to visit your property.
Smart meters are a requirement for feed-in tariff eligibility.
Installing a smart meter ahead of solar installation will provide more detailed usage data for the design of suitable solar and battery systems.
Another benefit is that it lets you connect and disconnect remotely, avoiding delaying with swapping electricity retailers.
Power outages can be identified and fixed more quickly.
More accurate meter readings mean you don’t pay for energy you didn’t actually use.
You can get more accurate information about your usage as it happens – more about this below!
How is my smart meter installed?
Your electricity will be temporarily turned off.
You should receive notification from your retailer at least 4 business days before this happens.
You are just required to provide safe access to the installation site.
How can I get a smart meter?
You can get a smart meter when
- 1. You take up a new energy contract with a retailer that includes a smart meter
- 2. You decide to install solar and you don’t have a smart meter yet
- 3. Your home is new and has a new connection point
- 4. Your meter is faulty beyond repair
- 5. You’d like a smart meter
How to read your smart meter
Your retail will have a website portal or app where you can see your electricity use in near real time.
What to expect from the retailers smart meter apps
AGL has a feature on their app called ‘Solar Command‘ specifically for customers who have solar.
Origin Energy has their own app. So does EnergyAustralia.
Is my smart meter data private?
Your energy data and personal information are protected under the National Electricity Law and the Privacy Act 1988.
