• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
Home

New rule allows meter self-reads

by Elisa Iannunzio
October 26, 2018
in Billing and CRM, Electricity, News, Policy, Retail
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
electricity meter
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The AEMC has made a new rule where retailers must accept meter reads provided by customers without smart meters who think their estimated electricity or gas bill is wrong.

Currently, energy retailers may base bills on estimated usage if meter readers have been unable to carry out an actual read because of access problems like locked gates or a dog in the yard.

In the new rule starting 1 February 2019, retailers must also let customers know they can provide their own meter reading if they want, instead of accepting retailers’ estimates.

The rule was made to reduce the risk of customers being exposed to the financial shock of inaccurate estimated bills.

Enabling customers to do meter self-reads in these situations will reduce the risk of customers being exposed to higher bills based on overestimated energy use, or having to repay significant sums due to previous bills based on underestimated energy use.

The rule covers small customers with gas meters or older-style accumulation electricity meters. Retailers will be able to extend this service to customers with smart electricity meters if they choose to do so for meters that can’t be remotely read.

The AEMC recommends new civil penalties if retailers fail to comply with any of the new obligations.

Although only a small percentage (less than five per cent) of energy bills are based on estimated reads, state energy ombudsmen and consumer groups have advised that billing disputes about inaccurate estimates are one of the most frequent categories of customer complaints.

This should diminish over time as advanced meters that are capable of being remotely read are progressively rolled out under the AEMC’s Competition in metering rule. However, there will continue to be some instances where meters need to be manually read, for example if the customer has opted out of getting an advanced meter.

This final rule is the result of a rule change request from former Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg on behalf of the Australian government. It has been consolidated with two other requests from individuals related to inaccurate estimated meter reads. The final rule addresses issues raised by all three proponents.

Allowing meter self-reads is part of a package of initiatives following the Australian Government’s round table discussions with energy retailers last year.

For more information see the AEMC’s consumer protection action plan.

Related Posts

NEAC director, Stephen Craig with a Living Lab participant. Image: CSIRO

CSIRO opens energy transition analysis centre

by Katie Livingston
July 17, 2025

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has launched vital new research infrastructure to support, accelerate and de-risk Australia’s complex energy transition.  ...

Image: Engineers Australia Chief Engineer, Katherine Richards. Image: Engineers Australia 

CSE25: Where engineering meeting impact

by Katie Livingston
July 15, 2025

Climate change is no longer a threat; it’s a baseline consideration in many engineering decisions.   From transport systems and...

Image: Habibur/stock.adobe.com

Navigating the energy trilemma

by Katie Livingston
July 15, 2025

As the sector reflects on the recent Australia Energy Week conference, several key themes and trends echoed those seen internationally....

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Energy is a thought-leading, technology-neutral magazine, developed to help the industry answer some of the Energy sector critical questions it is currently grappling with.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Energy

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Digital Magazine
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Renewable Energy
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Networks
  • Sustainability
  • Gas

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Newsletter

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited