News & Views

Overview

On 6 December 2018, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) made a more preferable final rule requiring retailers to provide small customers with new or replacement electricity meters within set timeframes, or face penalties. 

Final determination

The key features of the more preferable final rule are: 

• Retailers must provide a meter installation for a new connection or perform a simple meter exchange by a date agreed with the small customer. If no timing can be agreed, then the retailer will need to install the meter within six business days for a new connection, or within 15 business days if the customer has requested a simple meter exchange. 

• For complex meter exchanges where connection alteration is required, retailers must provide a complex meter exchange by a date agreed with the small customer and the distribution network service provider (DNSP) where the DNSP is providing the connection alteration. If no timing can be agreed, then the retailer will need to install the meter within 15 business days. Where the DNSP is providing the connection alteration, it must coordinate with the retailer to allow the retailer to meet its timeframe obligations.

• Retailers must inform small customers of the new timeframe requirements for customer-initiated meter installations.  

• Metering coordinators must replace or repair a small customer's malfunctioning meter as soon as practicable, but no later than 15 business days after they have been notified of the meter installation malfunction. 

• A retailer and DNSP may engage with a small or large customer to agree either a date range of five business days or a specific date, for a planned interruption to occur. Where a person residing at the customer's premises requires life support equipment, the party arranging the planned interruption may only agree on a specific date.  If the customer does not agree to the timing, then the retailer or DNSP will need to provide a minimum of four business days' notice of the planned interruption to the customer.

The rule commenced on 1 February 2019. 

For more information, look at the AEMC Website: aemc.gov.au/rule-changes/metering-installation-timeframes