Victorian Government  program FAQ 
General smart meter FAQ
Smart meter installation FAQ 
Solar panels and smart meters FAQ
Time of Use tariffs FAQ
Smart meter health and safety FAQ

Victorian Government program FAQ 

Why is the Victorian Government initiating a smart meter rollout?

The Victorian Government is working with the energy industry to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy future. Part of this initiative will help Victorians better manage their energy use with new technologically-advanced electricity smart meters.

The rollout of smart meters supports an important part of the Victorian Government's future energy strategy. Smart meters will assist energy customers to manage their own energy use and broaden the community's ability to respond to climate change. For more information on the Victorian Government's energy policy, visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy

What is the Victorian smart meter program?

The smart meter rollout program is scheduled to run from 2009 to 2013, during which time all Victorian electricity customers will have a smart electricity meter installed at their property and supporting telecommunications infrastructure will be installed across Victoria. When the rollout is due to begin in your area, you will be advised directly by your electricity distributor SP AusNet via written notification.

General smart meter FAQ 

What is a smart meter?

A smart meter is a new digital meter that has the ability to:

• record electricity consumption by the half hour
• be remotely read so a meter reader is not required to visit
• provide greater detail around consumption
• enable remote connection of your electricity, such as when you move to a new address
• help your electricity distributor detect and locate outages and restore power supply more quickly

What does the term "remotely read" mean?

Smart meter communications technologies allow your meter to be read from a central point via a telecommunications network, instead of a meter reader needing to visit and physically read your electricity meter. While there is no requirement for access to your premises to read the smart meter once installed, access to the smart meter may occasionally be required for future testing and maintenance purposes.

A smart meter will be a similar size to the meter you have now, but the display is digital and there are no dials. There will be different types and models of smart meters. All smart meters have an internal antenna, and will require an external black antenna. Some smart meters may have small lights that indicate meter activity. These lights show the meter is operating as normal, similar to other electronic devices with lights, such as a mobile phone.

Once a particular smart meter is installed at your property, please refer to the information pack you receive following its installation, which will advise how to read the new meter.

How much will a smart meter cost me?

You will not be required to pay any up-front costs to have a smart meter installed, however the costs of the smart metering system will be recovered over time via your electricity bill (from your electricity retailer) via a supply charge. This will be done in a similar way that costs are recovered for other equipment that supply a customer's electricity, including distribution wires, poles and transformers.

On October 30 2009 the Australian Energy Regulator released its finalised metering charges for meters for 2010 and 2011, with different prices for the different electricity distributors based on the choice of communications technology, network characteristics and associated costs of rolling out smart meters.

 For SP AusNet customers, the current pricing would result in an $86.10 annual charge for the average small customer with a single phase single element meter in 2010.

To view these prices, go to http://www.aer.gov.au/ and select ‘AER makes final determination on Victorian smart meter costs and charges' link under ‘News releases.'

Do I have to have a smart meter?

Yes - to improve our electricity delivery and management, the Victorian Government has mandated that all residential and small business electricity customers have a smart meter installed by the end of 2013. Ensuring the universal application of smart meter technology will allow the development of smarter electricity supply infrastructure on a state-wide basis. The smart meter, like your existing electricity meter, is owned by SP AusNet, your electricity distributor.

Smart meter installation FAQ 

What is the process when a new smart meter is installed?

Once your area is selected for the smart meter installation, you will receive introductory letters from the Victorian Government and SP AusNet to introduce the purpose of the smart meter program and how the rollout will work. SP AusNet will then advise you of when the smart meter installation will take place - providing a 10-day period when the meter installation will occur. During the installation, a qualified meter installer will remove your old meter and replace it with a new smart meter. The installation of your smart meter will require a short power interruption of approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Once installed, you will receive instructions on how to read your new smart meter.

Can I volunteer to get my smart meter installed now?

No - to maximise the efficiency of the smart meter rollout across the state, customers will not be able to request the specific timing of the installation of a smart meter. When the rollout is due to begin in your area, you will be advised directly by your electricity distributor SP AusNet via written notification.

What do I need to do?

You don't need to do anything different from usual meter reading:  You need to make sure the meter installer has clear and safe access to the meter box.  You will also need to make sure that the meter enclosure and wiring is safe.

If you have concerns about your wiring, you should engage a registered electrical contractor to inspect the wiring prior to your meter exchange.

I live in an apartment/ unit. Will I receive a smart meter?

Yes, providing you purchase your electricity directly through, and are billed directly by, a licensed electricity retailer.

Will I receive a smart meter if I am currently transferring to a new electricity retailer?

All Victorian residential and small business customers will get a smart meter regardless of whether you change your electricity retailer. It is unlikely that you will receive a smart meter at the same time you change retailer. It will depend on when smart meters are rolled out in your area.

I currently have two meters, what will happen?

In general, your two meters will be replaced with one smart meter. The specific metering arrangement for your premises will be determined when the new smart meters are being installed at your property.

When will I get the smart meter?

Smart meters are being installed progressively by electricity distribution businesses from 2009 to 2013. Replacing the meter in every Victorian home and small business is a big job. Therefore this means smart meters will be installed a few suburbs at a time,

About one to two months prior to your meter installation, you will receive a series of letters from SP AusNet informing you of when your installation is due.

When will the smart meter have remote functionality?

In the early stages of the smart meter rollout the meter may not have full functionality (eg. Remote connections and half hourly data). The meter will continue to be manually read until the supporting telecommunications network and computer systems are fully operational.

Will they knock on my door before they start the work?

Yes.  Prior to beginning the meter installation, the meter installer will advise that the works are about to begin. You will also be advised when the meter installation is complete.

Will my electricity be interrupted during the smart meter installation, and if so, for how long?

Yes. As with any meter replacement, the installation of your smart meter will require a short power interruption of approximately 30 to 60 minutes. If there are any unusual circumstances and the interruption takes longer, you will be advised. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you. 

After the power interruption you will need to reset your digital clocks and other electronic devices.

Do I need to be home for the smart meter installation?

You do not have to be home when the smart meter is installed at your property. However, your electricity distribution business will require clear and safe access to your meter box to complete the smart meter installation.

If you believe that a meter installer cannot gain unrestricted access to your meter, please contact us.

I'm at work all day. How will you get access to my meter?

You do not have to be home when the smart meter is installed at your property. However, your electricity distribution business will require clear and safe access to your meter box to complete the smart meter installation.

If you believe that a meter installer cannot gain unrestricted access to your meter, please contact SP AusNet.

What happens if someone on my property is on life support?

If you have completed and lodged the necessary forms with your electricity retailer, they will have informed your electricity distribution business of your life support status.

If you are unsure, please contact your electricity retailer as soon as possible.

All customers will be given a notice period of at least four business days prior to the smart meter installation occurring - via the meter exchange notice letter.

In addition meter installers will knock on your door and show identification before commencing the meter exchange to inform you that the meter exchange is about to occur.

What if there is a problem with either the smart meter or my electricity supply after the smart meter is installed?

After the smart meter has been installed, we will provide details regarding who to contact if you have any problems.

Solar panels and smart meters FAQ

Will all AMI smart meters types be able to register exported and imported energy?

Yes, all AMI smart meter types will have ‘bi-directional capability'. This means they have the capability to record separately a customer's net load and their net generation. However only when a generator is "registered" with SP AusNet will net generation recording be activated. Until a customer registers their generator any generation will raise an alarm with the Distributor.

Will there be a charge for the meter re-program?

When a customer has a smart meter already installed there will be no charge if the meter can be reprogrammed remotely to record generation. However:

• if the customer does not have a smart meter the normal charge for a meter change will apply
• if the customer has a smart meter, but the Distributor does not yet have the capability to reprogram the meter remotely to record generation, the normal charge for a site service visit may apply

Can I order a smart meter for my solar panels now?

No. When a customer's solar panel generator is registered, and the customer does not have an appropriate meter, SP AusNet will install an appropriate meter. 

If at the time there is not an appropriate smart meter available, then the non-smart meter installed will be replaced with a smart meter later.  Irrespective of whether the meter installed is a smart meter or not, the normal charge for a meter change will apply.  No additional charge will be applied for AMI smart meters installed later as part of the mandated government rollout. 

Is my existing solar meter a 'smart' meter?

No - your existing solar meter (if installed prior to December 2009) is a bidirectional meter, but does not have 'smart' capabilities. This existing bidirectional meter will be replaced with a smart meter as part of SP AusNet's broader smart meter rollout.

Time of Use tariffs FAQ

The Victorian government announced a moratorium on Time of Use Tariffs on March 22 2010. Why? What does this mean for the smart meter program?

While the Minister for Energy, Peter Batchelor, announced the moratorium on Time of Use tariffs, this will not affect the actual physical roll out of the smart meters nor their ability to be remotely read in the future. The introduction of the Time of Use pricing structure will be delayed indefinitely until further notice and direction from the Government. It will not affect the roll out of smart meters across Victoria.

Minister Batchelor announced the moratorium after consulting with consumer groups in an attempt to ensure Victorians are fully aware of new electricity network Time of Use pricing structures associated with smart meters and that there are initiatives in place for vulnerable members of the community. SP AusNet agreed to the moratorium as we would like to see steps put in place by the Victorian Government that ensure vulnerable Victorians are not impacted adversely by the Time of Use tariffs, and that all community members can understand their potential benefits.

I heard in the media the smart meter program will not go ahead. Why did I get a letter about the smart meter installation at my premises?

The smart meter program is going ahead, as will the installation of smart meters across Victoria. Energy Minister Peter Batchelor has asked the Essential Services Commission (ESC) to review regulations on smart meters to ensure appropriate pricing structures regarding smart meters are put in place.  This does not mean that the program or the roll out of smart meters will discontinue. You recieved a letter to inform you about the upcoming installation of the smart meter at your premises.

What is the difference between the current Flat Tariff and Time of Use tariffs?

Currently, SP AusNet charges the majority of its customers based on a flat tariff for the use of its network. This means that the same price is applied regardless of when electricity is used. Under this flat rate tariff structure, people who use electricity during the off-peak periods (85% of the year) are subsidising people who use electricity at times of peak (15% of the year), as it is only usage during peak periods that drives SP AusNet's future costs (through having to provide increased network capacity to cater for ‘peak' periods). Network tariffs that more closely mirror the costs associated with providing network capacity reduce this cross subsidy.

How will Time of Use tariffs help electricity customers?

SP AusNet's Time of Use tariff increases prices in peak periods, roughly 15% of the year, compared to the flat rate, and reduces them to a third of the flat rate for 85% of the year. This will only affect a small number of customers at first, in line with the smart meter roll-out. The impact on individual customers will depend on when they use energy and whether the retailer reflects the full price signal in their customer's bills.

In particular, those customers who have a higher proportion of their usage in ‘off peak' periods than an ‘average' customer will see reductions in their bill, relative to a flat rate tariff structure, whilst conversely, those customers that use a higher proportion of their energy in peak periods than an average customer may experience higher bills. A Time of Use tariff structure presents a powerful incentive for people to use energy as efficiently as possible, particularly during peak periods - even those consumers who may experience a lower bill as a result of the introduction of the Time of Use tariff structure. Moreover, it provides incentives for manufacturers of electricity appliances to produce smarter, more efficient, appliances.

Who approves tariffs?

The AER (Australian Energy Regulator) approved tariffs for 2010 that include a Time of Use tariff, although no customers are on this tariff as yet. The proposed tariffs for 2011 also include Time of Use tariffs. The proposals in front of the AER also reflect forecast increases in costs and so overall prices. The AER will decide whether to accept these proposals by October 2010.

Is it true that only wealthy people will benefit from smart meters?

The Victorian Government has pledged it will introduce new initiatives to ensure vulnerable Victorians can access the full benefits smart meters will provide. This will include campaigns that deliver simple, clear and helpful advice to assist all Victorian consumers to change their behaviour in order to maximise the benefits of smart meters. The Government's intention is that the smart meter program will help reduce electricity bills for the community in the long term and also help reduce greenhouse emissions.       

Smart meter health & safety FAQ

Smart meters use radiofrequency (RF) communication... Is this safe?

The smart metering equipment meets Australian safety standards. The smart metering system makes use of low power radio (RF) transmitters to communicate meter readings in the range of 900MHz, 2.3GHz or 2.4GHz. These communications frequencies are well within Australian guidelines and are governed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

How do smart meter RF emissions compare to other RF sources in my home?

Smart meter RF emissions are less than most other sources in the home such as those produced by mobile phones, cordless phones and wireless routers.

How can I find out more about Australian RF emission guidelines?

Visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority website for more information.

What is WiMAX?

WiMAX is a wireless metropolitan-area network standard. WiMAX is primarily aimed at making broadband network access widely available and is an alternative to cables and digital subscriber lines (DSL). WIMAX networks enable a variety of options for broadband connections including fixed and mobile connections.

Will WiMAX technology have any impact on the health and safety of my family when the meter is installed at my premises?

Radio waves emitted by WiMAX systems are subject to the same standards that are applied to radio products such as mobile phones and their base stations. The World health Organisation (WHO) recommends the standards, which governments and health agencies around the world have adopted.

These standards establish exposure limits to which products must comply and include substantial margins of safety to protect consumers and the general public.

For more information visit:

-Visit the World Health Organisation for an international report.

-WiMAX forum website.

Is my usage information secure and will it remain confidential?

Yes, Victoria's electricity distribution businesses have developed their systems to ensure that smart meters and associated communication networks are equipped with security features to prevent unauthorised access. Access to data will be restricted, and compliance with the Privacy Act and National Privacy principles including security processes and staff security checks are mandatory.

Why does the smart meter have an antenna?

The smart meter has an antenna to facilitate communications directly from the meter to the network, similar to walkie-talkies and mobile phones.

Can I nominate where the antenna is installed?

In order to comply with electrical regulations, the smart meter installer has three options for the mounting of the antenna: on the top, side and front; which consider electrical regulations, antenna performance and aesthetics on an individual installation basis.

Can I paint over the antenna?