Smart meter rollout recommended

Energy Networks Australia (ENA) has welcomed the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) recommendation to accelerate the rollout of smart energy meters to support the transition to net zero.

A 100% uptake of smart meters by 2030 is one of the recommendations put forward by AEMC in its draft report Review of the regulatory framework for metering services.

“The electricity market needs a critical mass of smart meters across households and businesses before we can introduce other significant advances necessary to reach net zero,” said AEMC Chair Anna Collyer.

Key recommendations in the draft report include potential changes to the energy rules to support a more coordinated program of meter replacements in addition to ensuring appropriate safeguards for privacy.

ENA CEO Andrew Dillon said the current smart meter rules had not delivered for customers and a new approach was needed.

“Smart meters are a key enabler of a smart grid. We can’t run a 21st-century grid with 19th-century meter technology,” he said.

“Customers with smart meters can take advantage of flexible pricing to tailor their use to when power is cheaper and save on their power bills.

“They also help networks identify, locate and fix faults and outages faster and make connection processes far simpler, which delivers better customer service.”

Dillon said the entire economy was adopting better technologies to aid in the transition to net zero and energy networks were an essential platform to deliver a decarbonised future.

The draft report from AEMC is now open to submissions with a final report expected early to mid-next year. 

Image credit: iStock.com/kenneth-cheung