What a smart meter does
An older accumulation meter is a counter. It adds up every kWh you use and someone reads it every quarter. A smart meter records usage in 30-minute intervals, or shorter, and sends the data back over a mobile or radio network. That changes three things on your bill:
- No more estimated bills. The meter is read remotely, so bills use actual readings.
- Time-based pricing becomes possible. Time-of-use plans and free midday offers such as the Solar Sharer Offer need interval data.
- You can see when you use power. Most retailers show your half-hourly data in an app or online account.
Connections and disconnections can also be done remotely, which makes moving house quicker.
The national smart meter rollout
- 2009 to 2014
Victoria goes first
Victorian networks installed smart meters at almost every home under a state-mandated program.
- December 2017
Competition in metering
New rules made retailers responsible for arranging meters, and new and replacement meters had to be smart meters.
- November 2024
AEMC final rule
The AEMC made a rule to accelerate deployment, with networks required to replace remaining old meters on a set schedule.
- By 2030
Universal deployment
The target for smart meters at almost every home and small business in the National Electricity Market.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory
These states sit outside the National Electricity Market and its metering rules. Western Power in WA is installing advanced meters across its network under its own program.
Your rights when a smart meter is installed
- No upfront charge for a meter replaced under the accelerated rollout.
- Notice before the install, including when it will happen and how long the power will be off.
- Two years on your current tariff type. A retailer cannot move you to a time-varying tariff for two years after a rollout install unless you give explicit, informed consent.
- Access to your data. You can ask your retailer for your usage data, and many give it to you online.
If an installer cannot fit the new meter because of a problem with your switchboard, you may need an electrician to fix it first. Ask your retailer what support is available before paying for the work.
Smart meters: the trade-offs
What you gain
- Bills based on actual readings
- Usage data to find where your money goes
- Access to time-of-use, free midday and battery plans
- Faster connection when you move
What to watch
- Time-of-use pricing can cost more if your usage is mostly in the evening
- Some retailers offer fewer flat rate plans to smart meter homes
- Tariff changes after the two-year protection ends
Our time-of-use guide shows how to work out whether a time-based plan suits you once your meter is in.
Questions about smart meters
In the National Electricity Market, networks are replacing old meters with smart meters on a schedule set under AEMC rules, with the aim of almost every home having one by 2030. When your meter is due for replacement, it will be replaced with a smart meter.
There is no upfront charge for a meter replaced under the accelerated rollout. Metering costs are recovered through your electricity charges over time. If you ask for a meter outside the rollout, check with your retailer whether a fee applies.
Not straight away. Under AEMC rules, a retailer cannot move you to a time-varying tariff for two years after a rollout install unless you give explicit, informed consent. After that, read any notice about tariff changes and compare plans.
Yes. Your retailer must give you your usage data on request, and most show half-hourly data in an app or online account. It is the best way to see whether time-of-use or a free midday plan would suit you.
A smart meter has a digital display and no spinning disc or dials, and your bill will show actual reads every period with no meter reader visits. Your retailer can also tell you. A digital display alone does not guarantee it is a smart meter.
Smart meters must meet Australian standards, and their radio emissions are well below the limits set by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. They are installed by accredited technicians.
You need a meter that records the power you export as well as the power you buy, so you can be paid a feed-in tariff. An old accumulation meter cannot do this. When solar is connected, your retailer arranges a suitable meter, which today is normally a smart meter working as a net meter.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.