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Accelerating Smart Meter Deployment - Final and Draft determination

Department/Agency
Australian Energy Market Commission

Topic
Energy

Type
Ministerial Forum / Standard Setting Body

Announcement date
4 April 2024 - Draft 

28 November 2024 - Final 

Link to announcement 
Accelerating smart meter deployment | AEMC

Problem being addressed
The Australian Energy Market Commission (the Commission) undertook the Review of the Regulatory Framework for Metering Services (2023). The Review found a range of issues across the current metering framework: 

  • misaligned incentives between stakeholders to install smart meters, slowing their adoption 

  • process inefficiencies in smart meter deployments, leading to higher costs 

  • poor customer outcomes in the transition to smart meters, damaging customers’ experiences with retailers and the energy system 

  • a lack of access to the data provided by smart meters, constraining the benefits that smart meters offer

  • a slower roll out speed than required to achieve the potential benefits and support the energy system's transition.

Proposal
In response to the Review, the Commission has released a Draft Determination which proposes:

  • mandatory 100% roll out of smart meters by 2030. 

  • better access to power quality data from smart meters

  • improving customer safeguards to protect customers from potential cost risks

  • Improving the customer experience around smart meter installation and operation

  • Reducing barriers to the installation of smart meters

  • Improving meter testing and inspections

The Draft Determination is open to submissions until 30 May 2024 on the AEMC's website- Accelerating smart meter deployment | AEMC

Assessed Impact Analysis outcome
Compliant consultation RIS

On 28 November 2024, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) made a final determination and final rules for the Accelerating smart meter deployment rule change project (Accelerating smart meter deployment | AEMC). The Office of Impact Analysis (OIA) did not formally assess the final determination and final rule as a Decision Regulation Impact Statement, following changes to the Regulatory Impact Analysis Guide for Ministers’ Meetings and National Standard Setting Bodies in June 2023.